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KEF’s acclaimed Reference Series
Under new ownership in 1992 KEF Audio found
itself equipped with new ideas, new personalities
and new products. But the same philosophies of
solid engineering and innovation to provide the
finest quality product available at its particular
price-point remained firmly at the bed-rock.
In 1994 and 1995 the company brought out the
versatile and appealing Q Series, offering all the
benefits of a third generation Uni-Q driver but
in a shielded format for AV use, together with
the multi-award winning Model 100 Centre
Loudspeaker, the Model 90, the new Model
200C and the Reference Series Models One,
Two, Three and Four. KEF also introduced the
new entry level Home Theatre System for true
audiophile home theatre sound at a price to fit
most pockets. At the end of 1994 the company
had quietly launched three loudspeakers that
were to become one of the most spectacular
success stories in recent KEF history.
These were simply called Coda; affordable
loudspeakers that took the world’s Press by
storm, the baby Coda 7 clinching the coveted
UK Magazine What Hi-fi?’s “Best Buy”
Loudspeaker of the of the Year Award for 1995.
KEF’s founding father, Raymond Cooke O.B.E.,
sadly died during 1996, but with the knowledge
that all of his original and noble principles
remained intact, and would always do so.
Recognition that year for the Reference Series
Model Four had reached a peak with world-wide
acclaim. Reviews by internationally famed and
respected writers were quick to praise the
merits of the company’s new flagship model with
its fourth generation Uni-Q driver and to point
out the sheer engineering excellence of the
company - an unswerving KEF attribute for over
30 years. Comments such as “the best I’ve had in
my listening room.” from the US magazine
Stereophile and “KEF’s best yet” from UK
magazine Hi-fi News were just two of the many
plaudits showered on the Model Four.
The home theatre series boomed and the
company introduced the Model 20B, a baby
brother for the Model 30B active subwoofer.
The Coda Series, particularly the Coda 7,
continually outsold competing brands
throughout the world. 1996 also saw the launch
of the new Q Series and the new Monitor
Series, superbly crafted loudspeakers to meet
the challenges of the next century. Both ranges
epitomise KEF’s total commitment to
engineering qualities beyond all. As the 90’s drew
to a close, KEF introduced the Reference Series
Model 109 - The Maidstone. Over thirty five
years of technical excellence, innovation in
design and award winning engineering
combined in one stunning loudspeaker.
(Pictured Opposite).
The 1990’s
