KEF BLADBlade Ultimate High Performance Loudspeaker ESNWH User Manual

KEF BLADBlade Ultimate High-Performance Loudspeaker ESNWH

Installation and operation

Unpacking, handling, and aftercare

BLADE ONE Meta & BLADE TWO Meta speakers are packed one speaker per carton. Prior to unpacking, please ensure that the serial numbers of the speakers supplied match
each other. Then, unpack the speakers carefully following the instruction printed on the carton, and inspect for any sign of damage. Your speakers left KEF in perfect condition. If any damage is apparent, you should notify your retailer or consultant immediately. Retain the packaging in case a need arises for you to transport the speakers at a later date. You will notice that a special KEF care pack is included with each pair of speakers.
This pack contains a cleaning cloth and all the required accessories for connecting and positioning your speakers. The care pack also contains the unique product build cert if cate. This is a valuable document and guarantees the quality and craftsmanship of your speakers. The cabinets are finely finished and should be treated with the same care with which you would treat fine furniture.A suitable cleaning cloth is included in the customer care pack to maintain the original
finish and luster. Each Blade Meta speaker is supplied with KEF-designed substantial spikes and locking nuts (also in the care pack). This enables fine adjustment of level, depending on your preferred location of the speaker whatever the covering carpet tile or block wood. In addition to the spikes and locking nuts each Blade Meta speaker also comes with pucks to protect wood f loors.

Adjusting the feet and/or spikes

Under normal circumstances, your speakers will be commissioned by your retailer or consultant, who will have been trained in their installation by KEF.
KEF strongly recommends that you do not attempt to level your speakers single- handedly. Recruit the assistance of another adult or consult an authorized KEF Blade Meta outlet for assistance which may be chargeable if the purchase was not made through them originally. The spike/locking nut combination supplied is designed to provide small adjustments, not to compensate for seriously irregular floors.A spirit level is provided at the rear of each Blade Meta speaker to gauge when the speaker is perfectly level.A rigidly-sited speaker performs better than one that can move because it enables the cabinet to remain f ixed while the drive units are allowed to move as determined by the source signal. Best results will be obtained if the speakers are level and stable. Check the general stability of each speaker by gently rocking it from side to side, front-to-back and diagonally. Often, you will find that the speaker is close to vertical, but rocks because one spike (or two spikes diagonally) seems
too short.If the general stability is good, but the speaker is leaning to the lef t, right, backward or forward, then equal minor adjustments to the two spikes opposite to the direction of lean should be made.

Speaker placement

The listening room is one of the most variable elements in the hi-f i chain and its effect cannot be emphasized too strongly, nor can its effect be reliably predicted. Spacing the speakers approximately 2m – 3m (6f t. – 10f t.) apart will allow the stereo images to develop fully. You should sit at a distance at least equal to, and preferably greater than, the distance between the speakers. Posit ironing the speaker in a corner or near to a sidewall is not recommended as the significant bass boost caused by this position will affect the sound and cause the stereo image to deteriorate.
It is best to place the speakers symmetrically within the room, relative to the walls, ceiling, and floor, where possible.Be aware also that sof t furnishings near to a speaker will deaden the sound – similarly, nearby reflective surfaces may brighten up the sound. Move the speakers until you are satisfied that the should is right and that the stereo image is well defined. As Uni-Q has a wide, uniform dispersion, we recommend that you star with the speaker facing f lat into the room with no toe-in. A more focussed center image may be achieved in your room with a small degree of toe-in, but overall soundstage width may be reduced. It is worth taking the time to experiment with what works best for you and your room.

Amplifier to speaker connections

All connections should be made with the amplifier switched OFF. Ensure the integrity of all connections prior to switching the amplifier ON. KEF Blade Meta speakers are fitted with purpose-designed silver-plated Bi-wire/Bi-amp terminals which will accept bare wire, spade or 4mm connectors. Most good- quality speaker cables have some indication, such as color-coding or ‘ribbing’ on the insulating conductor is ‘+’ or positive. Connect ion to the speakers can then be made as follows: The left channel amplifier output terminal marked ‘+’ or colored RED connects to the left speaker terminal marked ‘+’. The left channel amplifier output terminal marked ‘-’ or colored BLACK connects to the left speaker terminal marked ‘-’. Similarly, these instructions should be followed between the right channel amplifier output and the right speaker. Correct polarity, or phase, is vital to the proper operation of the system. If the connections are not made correctly the sound will deteriorate giving poor bass output and a diffuse presentation of the soundstage. Bare wire connections are the simplest to achieve and involve stripping 12.5mm (0.5in.) of insulation to expose the speaker wire core. (You should twist together, using clean fingers, the ends of each multi-stranded core prior to the next stage to ensure a good signal contact). Having unscrewed the lower terminal cap, push the wire through the exposed hole in the terminal body and screw the cap down t lightly. Make sure that no stray strands come into contact with the opposite terminal; this could cause a short circuit between the terminals and may damage your amplifier. Be aware that a higher quality run of cable will always give a more rewarding presentation than multiple runs of an inferior cable.

Amplifier requirements and power handling

In KEF literature and in the specif at ion table within these instructions are listed a range of amplifier power outputs to match your Blade Meta  (room size, type of program, preferred listening level) and the nature of the speaker/amplifier interface vary so widely that it is not possible to lay down hard and fast rules about amplif iers and the speakers they drive. KEF speakers are built to rigorous standards of quality and consistency and the upper requirements shown are those which the speaker in question should handle without distress or damage when used If higher than specified amplifier powers are used, great care should be taken to avoid abnormal conditions such as switch-on surges or gross distortion, either of the amplifier or the speaker, resulting in power peaks greatly in excess of the ratings specified. Care should be taken as the possibility still exists under certain conditions (such as excessive bass or treble boost caused by the tone and/or loudness controls, graphic equalizers, etc.) that the speakers can be overloaded and damaged. The lower limits of amplifier power are those necessary to give a reasonable sound pressure level under domestic conditions. Remember it is easier to damage the speaker by using a small amplifier driven into a distorted ion by too much volume, possibly with bass and treble boost, than by using a larger amplif ier that has power in reserve. If in doubt,
ask the advice of your retailer or consultant.

Single, bi-wire, and bi-amp connections

Speaker cables. Poor quality cables can seriously compromise the overall sound of your hi-f I system.  It is good practice to keep the cables as short as possible. The left and right channel speaker cables should, wherever possible, be the same length otherwise there may be a perceptible change in output level between the speakers.

Specifications

References

• KEF US | KEF USA

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