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REFERENCE 3 Floorstanding Speaker Pair - Open Box
Special Price
$10,499.99
Regular Price
$13,999.99
Mid-sized three-way floorstander
Reference 3 has the uncanny ability to generate an intricate, emotionally compelling three-dimensional soundstage that places you right at the heart of the original performance.
"Open Box" product is diligently inspected and tested before being offered for general sale. All packaging is complete and all products are certified by our service technicians to be 100% functional. KEF's standard warranties and terms and conditions apply. Some product may have slight cosmetic blemishes but are sonically un-blemished.
All orders THE REFERENCE are special order.
Available in Copper Black only. Please call for availability inventory is extremely limited.
Product Features
A CLASS APART
The Reference is the physical embodiment of KEF's Total System Design philosophy. Every component is optimised both within itself and as part of the whole, while every drive unit is given the chance to perform to the best of its considerable ability. The result is a loudspeaker that performs far beyond the sum of its parts.
SOUND
Two 165mm (6.5 inch) bass drivers positioned above and below KEF's latest 125mm (5 inch) MF/HF Uni-Q driver array means that fidelity across the midrange and treble is outstanding. Everyone in the room can enjoy the same rich, spatially precise imagery and it puts them right at the heart of the original performance.
Two drivers, a single point
At the heart of The Reference is the Uni-Q™ point source driver array. A state-of-the-art vented aluminium dome tweeter at the exact acoustic centre of a highly sophisticated midrange driver that delivers flawless natural sound across a wider listening area.
A strong foundation
Clean, rich and articulate bass is the foundation of great stereo or multichannel sound. KEF's Reference Series bass driver has a massive vented magnet assembly, a large aluminium voice coil and an exceptionally light and stiff alloy cone. Whatever the volume, dynamics and power handling are superb.
The smallest details, revealed
Shadow Flare drastically reduces harmful cabinet diffraction, allowing the Uni-Q to work at its highest level. A precision-designed surface extends the waveguide effect of Uni-Q for improved clarity, particularly when it comes to the subtle nuances of plucked strings and other percussive sounds.
Computer-modelled perfection
Hand finished in pair-matched wood veneers, The Reference cabinets have computer-optimised bracing geometry to minimise secondary radiation from the sides and Constrained Layer Damping to turn what little vibration is left into heat.
Fighting turbulence
Flexible port technology is used to reduce port resonance. Each port is adjustable to allow users to modify the sound to suit their room. The flare and profile of each port is calculated by computational fluid dynamics to avoid turbulent air noise that might colour the sound.
Hand-picked components
KEF’s engineers use advanced software to model the ideal crossover. But every component is auditioned by the ultimate measure: the human ear. Perfection takes time, but the results are plain to hear. Reference crossovers are even decoupled from the cabinet to minimise vibration and crosstalk.
MADE IN MAIDSTONE
Since 1973, Reference has been designed, engineered, and crafted in Maidstone, Kent. When you experience The Reference, you don't just experience the best: you experience all of the history that has gone into the creation of the benchmark.
Reviews
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Spec
| Model | REFERENCE 3 |
| Design | Three-way Bass Reflex |
| Drive units | Uni-Q driver array: HF: 25mm (1in.) vented aluminium dome MF: 125mm (5in.) aluminium Bass units: LF: 2 x165mm (6.5in.) aluminium |
| Frequency range free field (-6dB) | Short port: 38Hz - 45kHz Long port: 35Hz - 45kHz |
| Frequency range typical in room bass response (-6dB) | 28Hz |
| Frequency response (±3dB) | 43Hz – 35kHz |
| Crossover frequency | 350Hz, 2.8kHz |
| Amplifier requirements | 50-300W |
| Sensitivity (2.83V/ 1m) | 87.5dB |
| Harmonic distortion 2nd & 3rd harmonics (90dB, 1m) |
<0.5% 40Hz – 100kHz <0.2% 200Hz – 10kHz |
| Maximum output (peak sound pressure level at 1m with pink noise) |
113.5 dB |
| Impedance | 8Ω (min. 3.2Ω) |
| Weight | 51.3kg (113.1 lbs.) |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) (with grille and terminal) |
1155 x 205 x 470 mm (45.5 x 8.1 x 18.5 in.) |
| Dimension (H x W x D) (with grille, terminal & plinth) |
1202 x 349 x 470 mm (47.3 x 13.7 x 18.5 in.) |
| Available Finishes | Silver Satin Walnut, Copper Black Aluminum, Blue Ice White, Deep Gloss Black |
** KEF reserves the right, in line with continuing research and development, to amend or change specifications. E&OE. **
Press and Awards
| Review and Reviewer's Choice Award |
| "For its price, the Reference 3 is damn near impossible to fault as an accurate, high-definition loudspeaker... I suspect the Reference 3 will be all that most people will ever need who want accuracy, detail, and honest sound from a loudspeaker." |
| Year: 2017 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: SoundStage! Hi-Fi |
| Country of Publication: United States |
| Product: Reference 3 |
| Home Cinema Choice Reference Status, High End Hero |
| "This system is British surround high-fidelity at the utter state-of-the-art. And it’s easily worthy of its Reference name." |
| Year: 2016 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Home Cinema Choice |
| Country of Publication: United Kingdom |
| Product: Reference 3, Reference 5, Reference 4c, Reference 8b |
| DIAPOSON D’OR 2015 Award |
| "Realistic, deep, a highly-precise breath-taking stereo image. Outstanding reproduction." |
| Year: 2015 |
| Magazine / Issuing Body: Diapason |
| Country of Publication: France |
| Product: Reference 3 |
Downloads
| THE REFERENCE Brochure | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE Manual | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE Information Sheet | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE White Paper | • Open In New Window • Download |
| THE REFERENCE 3 Product Drawing | • Open In New Window • Download |
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