KEF Q100 User manual

Q Series

an unrivalled pedigree
The pioneering inventiveness of KEF
loudspeakers was undeniable. During
the 1960s and early 1970s, KEF’s
reputation was further enhanced by
its outstanding performance. From the
mid 1960s, KEF collaborated with the
BBC in developing new materials for
high-end loudspeakers - the results
being embodied in the classic LS3/5a
monitor which generated worldwide
sales of more than 100,000 systems.
For decades audiophiles around
the world have revered KEF (Kent
Engineering and Foundry) for
its innovative, high-performance
loudspeakers.The company was
founded in 1961 by Raymond
Cooke OBE (1925-1995),
a former BBC electrical engineer,
widely acknowledged in the audio
industry as a leading authority in
transducer technology.
KEF’s Uni-Q®technology was
introduced in 1988 and since then
KEF has maintained its position at the
forefront of loudspeaker and home
theatre systems.
The core values of KEF: innovation,
quality and performance have ensured
that KEF has one of the best
international reputations for audio
excellence.
2

5
The all new Q Series from KEF
represents a quantum leap in terms
of listening pleasure.
At its hear t is a brand new Uni-Q
driver array. Derived from the
Concept Blade project, with a new,
larger, high performance vented
tweeter mounted at the acoustic
centre of a new metal cone LF/MF
driver, it combines lavishly extended
bandwidth with effortless dynamics,
The multiple award-winning Q Series has always
exemplified KEF’s conviction that new materials and
technologies can, when applied with intelligence
and imagination, reproduce recordings so perfectly that
they sound indistinguishable from the live event. This is
more true now than ever before. As the latest expression
of this design philosophy, the new range immerses you
in three-dimensional imagery of a richness and clarity that
until now has been the exclusive preserve of speakers
costing many times more.
imperceptible distortion and
outstanding acoustic clarity.
These are speakers with the power
to strike a chord in your heart.
Off-axis dispersion is unrivalled, so
everyone in the room enjoys the
same exceptionally realistic sonic
imaging, wherever they sit. And with
30% larger capacity cabinets for even
gutsier bass and minimalist crossovers
assuring deliciously uid transitions,
new Q is both more eloquent and
a class above
more emotive than its illustrious
predecessor.
Movies or music, Mahler or Massive
Attack, what you experience is the
captivatingly sweet, accurate and
natural live sound of the original
performance.

Thanks to the latest computer
modelling techniques, years of
painstaking development and a dash
of design genius, the new iteration of
the Uni-Q concept packs a
formidable complement of design
innovations. Based on the state-of-
the-art HF driver developed for
Concept Blade, the new Q boasts a
much larger (25mm/1 in. dome)
tweeter for increased sensitivity and
distortion-free power handling. It
plays as loud as it plays true.
All new
Uni-Q array.
Sweet, spacious and true,
wherever you sit.
The vented tweeter design allows
upper registers to be reproduced
with startling clarity and smoothes
the transition to midrange
frequencies.The dome assembly is
cleverly braced, pushing the rst
breakup beyond the audible range so
that the sound you hear is awlessly
accurate. And to make sure everyone
in the room enjoys the benet, KEF’s
distinctive ‘tangerine’ waveguide over
the dome maximises Uni-Q’s
exceptionally wide dispersion
characteristics.
At lower frequencies, the superlight
new aluminium cone of the LF/MF
drive unit delivers noticeably faster,
cleaner response.This is enhanced by
KEF’s unique Z-ex surround, which
allows the extreme excursions
needed to deliver a truly visceral
thump while also maintaining a
seamlessly smooth surface to disperse
the high frequencies from the tweeter.
The ensemble is a masterpiece of
modern acoustic engineering.Vocals
suddenly seem much more immediate
– more open and natural. Surrounded
by sound of such clarity, you star t
hearing things you never did before.
Nuances in the way an instrument’s
played.The sound of a distant cricket
in an outside scene. A breath, even.
And best of all, you don’t have to be
in a little ‘sweet spot’ to experience it.
With KEF Uni-Q, you can sit where
you want and not miss a thing. All you
hear is what the artist intended.
76
The brilliantly innovative engineering of the new
Q Series surrounds you with a spacious sonic
image of astonishing purity.
A groundbreaking new Uni-Q array
that conjures up a uent, spacious and
incredibly realistic 3D sound stage
you can enjoy wherever you sit. A
spectacular new high performance LF
driver that delivers deeper, cleaner
and more accurate bass.
And a ‘total design’ approach, with
obsessive attention to detail and the
pleasures of ownership.These are the
qualities that set the new Q Series
apart.
technology with soul

The performance envelope of these
sensational new drive units is so
generous that the signal needs
minimal intermediation – simple rst
order crossovers are all that’s
required, as you can tell from the
transparency of the sound and the
inaudibly uent transitions.
You can see KEF’s legendary attention
to detail everywhere. Gold plated
bi-wire terminals for the clearest
possible signal transmission, for example.
Or the spikes on the oorstanders –
they’re adjustable from the top
instead of the bottom to make
levelling easier.Thoughtful touches.
As you might expect from a company
of perfectionists, we see more to the
ownership experience than simply
luxuriating in the best possible sound.
We think about the environment too.
When you unpack your new
Q speakers, you’ll nd that the
packaging that protects them is
ecologically sound. Because the
crossover circuit boards are smaller,
the materials impact is reduced.
And when you admire their
sumptuous nish – in Black Oak,
English Cherry or European Walnut –
you can do so in the knowledge that
what looks like a ne exotic
hardwood veneer is in fact recycled
wood bre.
This total design approach is another
aspect of the difference with KEF. It’s
all about weaving truly great sound
into the fabric of the lives we live now.
Featuring rigid new aluminium cone
technology just like the Uni-Q array,
the new Q Series advanced bass
driver is a tour de force in its own
right. A die-cast aluminium chassis
rigidly locates the high efciency
vented magnet assembly to prevent
unwanted resonance, and the large
(50mm) voice coil ensures impressive
power handling. Its musicality is
impeccable: seductively tuneful
and well controlled, and on the
oorstanding models, complemented
by dedicated front-ring auxiliary bass
radiators (ABRs).
Deep, fast and powerful, this
outstanding bass response is
enhanced by new enclosures with
massive internal bracing to eliminate
resonance – and importantly, over
30% more volume than their
predecessors. For movie effects, this
noticeably enhances the realism of
the sound when combined with the
newly assertive midrange.
98
Total system
design.
Deeper, tighter and more
accurate bass.
A holistic approach with
no compromises.
Advanced bass
technologies.

Floorstanders.
towering performers
intermediate Q700 and a class-
beating 200mm (8in.) in the agship
of the range, the magisterial Q900.
As front speakers in a home theatre
system, these effortlessly assertive
performers are capable of ooding
the room with an intricate and
intensely physical soundstage.
As a viewer, you notice the striking
clarity of the vocals and uidly
There are three full-size new Q
oorstanders to choose from, each
sharing the same audiophile-grade
technology in the same basic
conguration: a new generation
Uni-Q MF/HF array paired with a
long-throw bass driver of equal size,
and two matching ABRs.
The difference is the size of the
drivers: 130mm (5.25in.) diameter in
the Q500, 165mm (6.5in.) in the
articulate midrange response.With
massive bass extension heightening
the drama and awless 3-D imaging
that faithfully tracks the action on
screen, the illusion of being there is
phenomenal.
All you have to do is decide which
model is best for you, bearing in mind
the size of the space and your
personal listening preferences.
Q900. Q700. Q500.
13

Bookshelf models.
compact versatility
Whether as main speakers, music
speakers for your study or family
room, rear speakers in a home
theatre system or general purpose
speakers for multi-room set-ups, the
two new Q bookshelf models open
up a world of audiophile quality
sound at a surprisingly affordable
price.
The sound they make is even more
surprising: lush, spacious and precisely
dened, with compelling midrange/HF
response and solid, immaculately
controlled bass.The two models –
Q100, with a 130mm (5.25in.) Uni-Q
array and Q300 with the 165mm
(6.5in.) variant – deliver all the
benets of the Uni-Q ‘point source’
conguration in its latest and most
rened form: a more accurate sound
image dispersed more evenly
throughout the room than is possible
with any conventional speaker.
Subjectively, it makes a huge
difference. Because everyone in the
room is enveloped in the same
beautifully integrated three-
dimensional sound image, viewing
becomes more of a shared
experience – and you no longer have
to stay in the same spot to get the full
enjoyment from your favourite tracks.
Q300. Q100.
14

Q800ds. Q600c. Q200c. Q400b.
17
home theatre redefined
Reproducing most of the soundtrack
narrative, the centre speaker is by far
the most important in any home
theatre surround sound system, and
the Q200c and Q600c are
engineered accordingly.
With a new generation 130mm
(5.25in.) and 165mm (6.5in.) Uni-Q
driver array respectively, anked by a
low distortion bass unit and an ABR
of the same size, they combine raw
power with the subtlety to convey
moments of great delicacy.
What you notice is how convincingly
the larger new metal dome tweeter
captures the emotional range of the
human voice – mood and character
shine through with real clarity.
Your involvement in the action is
noticeably enhanced by the addition
of the Q800ds dipole to convey the
left and right rear channels. With the
two 130mm (5.25in.) Uni-Q arrays
on each speaker playing out of phase,
ambient 3D effects are completely
diffused throughout the listening area
to create an uncanny illusion of
actually being there, whether that’s
deep in the rainforest, in a concert
arena or driving along a gritty urban
back street.
The nal ingredient of your new
Q system is of course the seductive
Q400b subwoofer. A closed box
design housing a 250mm (10in.)
woofer driven by a 200W on-board
Class-D amplier, this discreet cube
creates spectacular bass imagery –
eloquent, musical and addictively
physical. Anchoring the whole sound
performance in an all-embracing
sensation of immediacy, it completes
the acoustic picture.
Centre and dipole rear effects speakers and the
powered subwoofer.

the perfect system
for your space
that includes three full-size
oorstanding models, two versatile
bookshelf speakers, a dipole rear
effects speaker and a magnicent
powered sub, you can congure a
Q Series 5.1 or 7.1 system that
exactly suits your budget, room size
and personal preferences.
You want your home entertainment
audio system to get the best out of
high denition TV, 3D technologies
and other new broadcasting and
replay formats – and with a range 21
Q300 5.1 Package. Q500 5.1 Package.
Q700 7.1 Package. Q100 5.1 Package.
Q900 7.1 Package.

specifications
English Cherry. European Walnut. Black Oak.
2322
Model Q900 Q700 Q500 Q300
Design Two and a half-way bass reex Two and a half-way bass reex Two and a half-way bass reex Two-way bass reex
Drive units 200mm (8in.) aluminium Uni-Q
38mm (1.5in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
200mm (8in.) aluminium LF
2 x 200mm (8in.) aluminium ABR
165mm (6.5in.) aluminium Uni-Q
25mm (1in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
165mm (6.5in.) aluminium LF
2 x 165mm (6.5in.) aluminium ABR
130mm (5.25in.) aluminium Uni-Q
25mm (1in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
130mm (5.25in.) aluminium LF
2 x130mm (5.25in.) aluminium ABR
165mm (6.5in.) aluminium Uni-Q
25mm (1in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
Frequency response (±3dB) 32Hz - 40kHz 36Hz - 40kHz 40Hz - 40kHz 42Hz - 40kHz
Crossover frequency 1.8kHz 2.5kHz 2.5kHz 2.5kHz
Amplier N/A N/A N/A N/A
Amplier requirements 15 - 200W 15 - 150W 15 - 130W 15 - 120W
Sensitivity (2.83V/1m) 91dB 89dB 87dB 87dB
Maximum output (SPL) 114dB 112dB 110dB 110dB
Impedance 8Ω8Ω8Ω8Ω
Low pass lter variable N/A N/A N/A N/A
Low level signal inputs N/A N/A N/A N/A
Internal volume N/A N/A N/A N/A
Power requirements N/A N/A N/A N/A
Power consumption N/A N/A N/A N/A
Weight 22.1kg (48.7lbs) 17.2kg (37.9lbs) 15kg (33.1lbs) 7.7kg (17.0lbs)
Dimensions
(H x W x D)
1060 x 244 x 322 mm
(41.7 x 9.6 x 12.7 in.)
920 x 210 x 302 mm
(36.2 x 8.3 x 11.9 in.)
870 x 180 x 272 mm
(34.3 x 7.1 x 10.7 in.)
355 x 210 x 302 mm
(14.0 x 8.3 x 11.9 in.)
Dimensions with plinth
(H x W x D)
1107 x 359 x 322 mm
(43.6 x 14.1 x 12.7 in.)
967 x 325 x 312 mm
(38.1 x 12.8 x 12.3 in.)
917 x 295 x 312 mm
(36.1 x 11.6 x 12.3 in.)
N/A
Q100 Q600c Q200c Q800ds Q400b
Two-way bass reex Three-way bass reex Three-way bass reex Three-way dipole Closed-box subwoofer
130mm (5.25in.) aluminium Uni-Q
25mm (1in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
165mm (6.5in.) aluminium Uni-Q
25mm (1in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
165mm (6.5in.) aluminium LF
165mm (6.5in.) aluminium ABR
130mm (5.25in.) aluminium Uni-Q
25mm (1in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
130mm (5.25in.) aluminium LF
130mm (5.25in.) aluminium ABR
2 x 130mm (5.25in.) aluminium
Uni-Q
2 x 25mm (1in.) vented aluminium
dome HF
1 x 250mm (10in.)
49Hz - 40kHz 45Hz - 40kHz 50Hz - 40kHz 100Hz - 40kHz 28Hz - 140Hz
2.5kHz 500Hz, 2.5kHz 500Hz, 2.8kHz 300Hz, 2.5kHz N/A
N/A N/A N/A N/A 200W built-in Class-D
10 - 100W 15 - 150W 15 - 130W 10 - 100W N/A
86dB 87dB 85dB 85dB N/A
107dB 110dB 108dB 107dB 110dB
8Ω8Ω8Ω8ΩN/A
N/A N/A N/A N/A 40Hz - 140Hz, 4th-order
N/A N/A N/A N/A RCA phono sockets
N/A N/A N/A N/A 23.2 litres
N/A N/A N/A N/A 100 - 240V ac ~ 50/60Hz
N/A N/A N/A N/A 200VA
5.9kg (13.0lbs) 14.1kg (31.1lbs) 11.0kg (24.3lbs) 7.4kg (16.3lbs) 13.6kg (29.9lbs)
300 x 180 x 272 mm
(11.8 x 7.1 x 10.7 in.)
210 x 629 x 302 mm
(8.3 x 24.8 x 11.9 in.)
180 x 525 x 260 mm
(7.1 x 20.7 x 10.2 in.)
180 x 348 x 180 mm
(7.1 x 13.7 x 7.1 in.)
335 x 330 x 330 mm
(13.2 x 13.0 x 13.0 in.)
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

PM-Q-SB-EN-10
www.kef.com
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GP Acoustics (UK) Limited
Eccleston Road,Tovil, Maidstone,
Kent, ME15 6QP U.K.
Telephone: + 44 (0) 1622 672261
Fax: + 44 (0) 1622 750653
Email: [email protected]
China
GP Acoustics (China) Limited
Unit 4910, Diwang Commercial Centre,
Shenzhen, China 518008.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Europe (EMEA)
GP Acoustics GmbH
Am Brambusch 22, 44536, Lünen,
Deutschland.
Telephone: [phone]
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Email: [email protected]
France
GP Acoustics (France) SAS
39 Rue des Granges Galand - BP60414,
37554 Saint Avertin CEDEX, France.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: info[email protected]
Hong Kong
GP Acoustics (HK) Limited
6F, Gold Peak Building,
30 Kwai Wing Road, Kwai Chung,
N.T., Hong Kong.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Japan
KEF JAPAN, 1-11-17, Honcho, Koganei-city,
Tokyo, Japan. 184-0004.
Telephone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
USA
GP Acoustics (US) Inc.,
10 Timber Lane, Marlboro,
New Jersey 07746 U.S.A.
Telephone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
KEF and Uni-Q are registered trademarks. Uni-Q and
other KEF technologies are protected by worldwide
patents. All text and image copyrights reserved. KEF
reserves the right, in line with continuing research and
development, to amend or change specications.
E&OE.