Daniel J SaitSpecifically designed to deliver work with the next gen 3D sound concept that is Dolby Atmos, the R50 incorporates KEF’s full-range Uni-Q driver array, featuring a 25mm (1-in.) aluminium vented-tweeter and ‘tangerine waveguide’, positioned at the acoustic centre of a rigid magnesium/aluminium 130mm (5.25-in.) bass/mid driver.
The drivers all operate as a single integrated voice, designed to deliver deep lows, fast and clean midrange response and pure high frequencies with clarity.
The wedged shape cabinet design of the R50 has been configured to angle the Uni-Q driver array up at the ceiling to create the projection and beaming of sound effects, necessary for Dolby Atmos to work, so the listener hears sound in a 3D dimensions space, from behind, the sides and from above.
Dolby has endorsed two approached to use the technology, one that uses angled speakers like the KEF module to reflect sound off the ceiling and another where extra speakers are placed in the room including the ceiling to deliver the sound.
Whilst the extra speakers approach is technology in its most pure form, the reflected approach actually works very well as CE Pro witnessed recently in a demo at Dolby HQ.
The R50 also provides a more straight-forward route to installation, by simply being placed on top of existing floor-standing or bookshelf speakers and is not only suitable for KEF’s R Series and The Reference Series Dolby Atmos configurations, but any Dolby Atmos system where a Dolby Atmos enabled speaker is required.
KEF also offers a flexible range of custom installation, in-ceiling speakers including the Ci160QR, Ci200QR and THX Ultra-2 certified, Ci200RR-THX models. These serve to maximise the potential configuration possibilities of Dolby Atmos.