I'm still Meet a pair of kef speakers that I didn't like. Brand preferences for providing rigidity and music bass, warm, smooth midrange and easy treble expansion allow for LS50 (9/10, Wired recommended), LSX (9/10, wired recommended), wired R3 meta, and more. The wireless model is retained. (Recommended by Wired, September 10th) Among my favorites in the market. These reliable Sonic features reside in the new Q Concerto meta.
In addition to the fantastic sound, Kef's Q series aims to give you more for the money equivalent to the driver's bounty in the case of concertos. I don't often see three-way bookshelves speakers at this price, but the Concerto delivers products in an efficient composition. You can get Kef's signature concentric tweeter fallen from some of the best of the brand, including the Highfalutin R3, a mid-range driver at its heart, and a heavy woofer at its heart.
The Concerto quickly evokes the R3, from the aesthetics of design to support KEF's “meta” absorption technology aimed at eliminating the frequency of unnecessary cabinetry. The similarities end there. The sound of the concerto (of course) cannot approach R3 heights, but the vinyl-wrapped façade feels more budgeted than Kef fans would expect. Still, this is the perfect package for money, offering a competitive sound with an exemplary balance of tones and a strong bass focused on powerful bass.
Loaded for naked
I was actively fussing about unleashing a sparkling new pair of Kef's latest bookshelves, but my excitement was softened when I loosened the concerto from their form home. The vinyl cabinet (black, white and walnuts are available) looks clean and relatively sharp, but most of the speakers I have tested in my class, and even the steps below, can do better. Compared to SVS's ultra-evolution luxury piano gloss (9/10, wired recommended), or the funky leather and wood grain panels from the Focal Vestia No. 1, the Concerto has a more bargain basement feel. Attaching the plain jane magnetic grille will push them even further against the boxy ambiguity.
Photo: Ryan Waniata
To be fair, these are intentional corner cuts to invest more in hardware, and I think the Concerto certainly has where it matters. The 3-pack driver per side includes a 6.5-inch hybrid aluminum cone woofer, a 4-inch aluminum cone midrange driver, and a .75-inch concentric tweeter with KEF's 12-generation UNI-Q design. (“Place Q” in the Q series).
The driver claims a frequency response of 48 Hz to 20 kHz, spanning 450 Hz in bass and 2.9 kHz in treble (more on this later). Behind the driver is KEF's metamaterial absorption technology (MAT), which claims to eliminate “99% of unnecessary frequencies.” It's cool to see the technology spread across the brand's top hi-fi speakers with friendly models. MA aside, most unwanted frequencies are likely to come from the listening room, so you should consider some tips for audio file gear guides like effective and relatively affordable acoustic panels.
The concerto is quite large for the bookshelves speakers, 16.3 inches tall, 8.3 inches wide, 12.4 inches deep, and weighs over 20 pounds each. We recommend ensuring a sturdy stand with a stand that is suitable for a considerable footprint. (Kef is happy to sell a $700 pair designed for the R3.)