The Benefits Of KEF's Metamaterial Absorption Technology™

What is Metamaterial Absorption Technology™?

Metamaterials are engineered materials with unique properties that allow for control and manipulation of energy, specifically sound waves. In KEF speakers, MAT™ features a complex maze-like structure that eliminates unwanted sound from the rear of the driver, resulting in a purer, more natural performance.

Traditionally, when sound emanates from a tweeter, nearly 50% of the sound waves bounce backwards, reflecting off surfaces inside the speaker’s enclosure and exiting through the bass port(s), leading to distortion. This is where MAT™ plays a crucial role.

The technology employs up to 30 intricate, maze-like channels, known as absorbers, each tuned to absorb specific sound frequencies. Together, these channels capture and dissipate 99% of unwanted noise, allowing listeners to experience the purest sound, free from distortions.

What Problems Does Metamaterial Absorption Technology™ Address?

As part of our mission to deliver crystal-clear, perfectly balanced sound from treble to bass, our engineering team tackled the challenge of distortion caused by sound waves from the rear of the tweeter.

When a loudspeaker driver unit operates, its diaphragm vibrates to generate sound. This produces an equal amount of sound energy from both the front and rear of the driver unit. If untreated, some of this rear sound energy reflects back to the diaphragm or exits through the bass port(s), leading to distortion.

“We aim to absorb the sound behind the drivers so that we hear the music, not the artifacts created by the driver or the cabinet,” says Dr Sébastien Degraeve, Senior R&D Engineer.

This issue has plagued speaker design for years. Traditionally, most loudspeakers have relied on porous materials, such as foam or wool, to dampen internal reflections. KEF was a pioneer in this technique back in the mid-1960s. However, the drawbacks include material inconsistency and the acoustic volume these materials occupy.

Another approach is to extend the enclosure to redirect sound energy away from the driver unit. This requires a long enclosure behind the driver to be effective, but its impact is limited to certain wavelengths, as it functions as a single channel. In contrast, KEF uses up to 30 channels in the Meta disc to absorb unwanted frequencies effectively.

How Does KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology™ Work?

The development of Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™) was a collaborative effort between KEF engineers and the Acoustic Metamaterials Group (AMG). This innovative technology is centred around the absorber disk, which is integrated into the back of the Uni-Q driver array.

Key Features of MAT™:
 

• Absorber Design: Each absorber consists of up to 30 maze-like tubes that are precisely tuned to absorb different sound frequencies. This intricate design allows for effective broadband absorption, covering a wide frequency range starting from 620Hz and upwards.
• Reduction of Distortion: By absorbing sound waves that would typically reflect back into the speaker, MAT™ significantly reduces distortion, resulting in a clearer and more natural sound experience for the listener.

This breakthrough technology has been recognised for its impact on speaker design and audio quality, showcasing KEF's commitment to innovation in sound engineering.

What Are The Benefits of MAT™ For Listeners?

It’s true that when listening to a tweeter alone, particularly at frequencies above 3 kHz, it may seem underwhelming. However, if you were to listen to any loudspeaker without the tweeter connected, you would notice that the sound becomes muffled, making it difficult to distinguish between different instruments and voices, and diminishing the sense of space. Our hearing relies on high-frequency sounds to provide detail, and this detail is delivered by the tweeter. The better the tweeter, the more enjoyable the experience of listening to music, watching films, or immersing yourself in video games.

Thanks to our MAT™, the overall sound is cleaner, especially at higher frequencies, allowing for a purer, more natural performance with minimal distortion.

The Impact of MAT™ On Your Listening Experience

For audiophiles, the benefits of MAT™ are transformative. MAT™ enables KEF speakers to deliver sound that is not only clearer but also more detailed. Listeners can experience everything from the subtlest notes in a string quartet to the powerful bass of a dance track with remarkable clarity and precision. The broadband absorption provided by MAT™ creates an expansive, immersive soundstage.

Whether you're a music lover, a home cinema enthusiast, or a professional audio engineer, KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology™ enhances your listening experience, offering precision and clarity that were previously unattainable.

Now featured in many of our leading ranges, our award-winning MAT™ technology is incorporated in the BLADE Meta, The Reference Meta, R Meta HiFi Speakers, LS60 Wireless, LS50 Collection, and most recently, the Q Meta models.