Everyone loves bass. Whether in a song or a movie, very few things in the entertainment world top the thrill of deep, tight bass at just the right moment. It’s the pursuit of that magic that sometimes leads to bloated, inaccurate, one-note bass. An under-performing or poorly set up subwoofer can do an amazing amount of damage to the fidelity of even the most expensive audio system.
For the movie or music lover, this is where KEF’s 64-year pursuit of extreme audio fidelity pays off: We understand the importance of the complementary role your subwoofer plays in producing those magical moments you are chasing. We redefine the immersive audio experience by adding the missing piece a one-note subwoofer steals away: Accuracy. We do this with thorough engineering based on a deep understanding of the entire audio reproduction chain.
For the movie or music lover, this is where KEF’s 64-year pursuit of extreme audio fidelity pays off: We understand the importance of the complementary role your subwoofer plays in producing those magical moments you are chasing. We redefine the immersive audio experience by adding the missing piece a one-note subwoofer steals away: Accuracy. We do this with thorough engineering based on a deep understanding of the entire audio reproduction chain.
It starts with KEF’s Music Integrity Engine (MIE), an in-house designed Digital Signal Processor (DSP) that seamlessly works with the driver, amplifier and cabinet geometry to get not only every ounce of low frequency possible out of it all but does so as accurately as any product you would expect from KEF.
The Music Integrity Engine has several ground-breaking features that elevate Kube’s performance far above its price point. KEF’s smartLimiter measures the input signal and makes minimal gain adjustments to maintain dynamics and accurate output. You’ll never hear the changes, as they are done quickly and subtly, but smartLimiter eliminates common subwoofer issues like hard-limiting (clipping) that can cause harsh, inaccurate output. This allows Kube subwoofers to play far louder and more dynamically than you’d expect, without distortion and over-excursion. In a power-obsessed audio world, it’s not the amount of power you apply to a driver, it’s the amount of power you correctly apply to a driver that gets the results you’re looking for. A well-designed 300 Watt subwoofer is simply going to outperform a subwoofer that tries to mask it’s weaknesses with unnecessary power.
The Music Integrity Engine has several ground-breaking features that elevate Kube’s performance far above its price point. KEF’s smartLimiter measures the input signal and makes minimal gain adjustments to maintain dynamics and accurate output. You’ll never hear the changes, as they are done quickly and subtly, but smartLimiter eliminates common subwoofer issues like hard-limiting (clipping) that can cause harsh, inaccurate output. This allows Kube subwoofers to play far louder and more dynamically than you’d expect, without distortion and over-excursion. In a power-obsessed audio world, it’s not the amount of power you apply to a driver, it’s the amount of power you correctly apply to a driver that gets the results you’re looking for. A well-designed 300 Watt subwoofer is simply going to outperform a subwoofer that tries to mask it’s weaknesses with unnecessary power.
Room placement is the biggest subwoofer installation headache – poor subwoofer placement kills bass response! However, a compromise is often made between where a subwoofer looks best and where it sounds best. To solve this problem, we measured the effects on performance with placements in different parts of a room and then calculated specific EQ curves based on these measurements. The three-position Room Placement Equalization feature ensures you get the same performance from Kube no matter where it is placed – in free space, next to a wall, in a corner, or in a cabinet.
Every audio enthusiast will tell you that you can get more bass from a subwoofer placed against a wall or in a corner, but that extra bass comes at a price: It makes your subwoofer boomy and reduces accuracy (nothing is ever free!).
The front-firing Kube series of subwoofers are perfect for even the most challenging installations, including in a cabinet. Position-based MIE/DSP EQ settings assist with placement by introducing custom-designed low-frequency roll-off to compensate for placement location. If the subwoofer is placed against a wall, start with the EQ in the ‘Room’ position and experiment with the ‘Wall/Cabinet’ position to reduce the boominess that can sometimes occur when a subwoofer is placed against a boundary. The extra-bass effect is doubled when the subwoofer is placed in a corner, so the Kube MIE also features a ‘Corner’ setting to help smooth out the extra bass energy. Of course, these settings are simply there for your convenience – experiment with all three until you get the performance you want!
Every audio enthusiast will tell you that you can get more bass from a subwoofer placed against a wall or in a corner, but that extra bass comes at a price: It makes your subwoofer boomy and reduces accuracy (nothing is ever free!).
The front-firing Kube series of subwoofers are perfect for even the most challenging installations, including in a cabinet. Position-based MIE/DSP EQ settings assist with placement by introducing custom-designed low-frequency roll-off to compensate for placement location. If the subwoofer is placed against a wall, start with the EQ in the ‘Room’ position and experiment with the ‘Wall/Cabinet’ position to reduce the boominess that can sometimes occur when a subwoofer is placed against a boundary. The extra-bass effect is doubled when the subwoofer is placed in a corner, so the Kube MIE also features a ‘Corner’ setting to help smooth out the extra bass energy. Of course, these settings are simply there for your convenience – experiment with all three until you get the performance you want!
To ensure there is a KEF Kube MIE perfectly suited to your needs and budget, they are available in four driver sizes (15”, 12”, 10”, 8”).
There are subwoofers and then there are KEF subwoofers. Go beyond the boom and experience unparalleled precision as every nuance comes to life. Feel the action and amplify the emotion with a KEF Kube subwoofer.
There are subwoofers and then there are KEF subwoofers. Go beyond the boom and experience unparalleled precision as every nuance comes to life. Feel the action and amplify the emotion with a KEF Kube subwoofer.
By Jack Sharkey for KEF
