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KEF's meta material gimmick?

Hi,

A thought just occured to me recently. Is KEF's Meta material just a genius marketing gimmick? I mean everyone and their grandmas reviewed the KEF LS50 Meta and they spent way too much time explaining the purpose of the meta material. I know white papers were published with conclusive results. KEF is beloved by the "measurements first" crowd so nobody bats an eye. The illustrations for the Meta material portray an intricate maze made of a some kind of gel. But isn't that just $1 piece of molded rubber? It's just a coaster relax. 

I wanna bet real money that the 365+ cork coasters from IKEA ($2.50 for 2) would accomplish the exact same thing. Cork is a great sound absorbing material. It's complex. Just glue that at the back of the driver. Mission accomplished? Am I missing something? 

 

kokakolia
kokakolia's avatar
kokakolia OP
198 posts
 

@yyzsantabarbara I have transmission line speakers. I want that back wave. It amplifies the bass. 

I listened to the LS50 Meta Wireless in a shop and they were really good! They definitely have a more "Hi-Fi" sound than my Closer Acoustics OGY. But I think the OGY just sound more natural and less try-hard. I would be happy with either. 

mike_in_nc
1,166 posts
 

 

erik_squires
16,598 posts
 

I think there are tens of thousands of terms used by speaker makers to assure the buyer that they are buying the most modern technology possible. The term I saw Focal use was "perception of modernity" I believe.

Is any speaker in 2023 much better than any speaker in 2000? Meh.

As the Kef videos show however, they are tackling a real problem in a new way, which is the backwave from a tweeter. B&W did it with a tube, others with absorbent stuffing and unique sound chambers (ScanSpeak AirCirc for instance).

So, yeah, but what’s the problem? Speaker makers always hype something. Why pick on KEF in particular here?  If you really wanted to complain about KEF it's their impedance curves.  🤣

fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,638 posts
 

I see no problem. Just an appeal for a counterparty for a bet.

Not me.

wolfie62
354 posts
 

Meta sounds like Aerogel.

 

Aerogel is often cited as the world’s lightest solid, but that’s not entirely accurate. It’s a low-density network of interconnected pores, with each pore filled with air. Despite its fragile appearance, aerogel is incredibly strong. It can support up to 4,000 times its weight and has a compressive strength of 10,000 psi. Aerogel has been used as an impact-absorbing material in bulletproof vests to spacecraft.

So how does this solid and lightweight material made? The process begins with a silicon-based compound combined with a solvent to form a gel. The gel is then supercritically dried, removing the solvent at a pressure and temperature above its critical point. This leaves behind a network of air-filled pores, resulting in up to 99% air material.

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