MARLBORO, NJ — May 20, 2005 — Fresh from being awarded the highly prestigious European Imaging and Sound Association Award (EISA) in the Home Theatre Innovation category for 2004-5, the KIT100 scored a second win in North America by netting the coveted RAVE Award from Home Theater Magazine. The RAVE (Recognition of Audio and Video Excellence) Awards are open to all manufacturers whose components have been reviewed over a 12-month period, and the editors of Home Theater Magazine recognized the KIT100 for its outstanding performance, value, ergonomics and features. Winners received their awards on April 28 at a celebration held during Home Entertainment 2005 at the New York Hilton Hotel in New York City.
At the awards ceremony, Home Theater editor, Maureen Jenson stated: “The Home Theater team feels it is important to recognize excellence in the design and manufacture of superior audio and video componentry. I asked the reviewers to nominate gear that impressed them so much that they would love to have it as part of their own reference systems.”
Alec Chanin, president of KEF America, accepted the prestigious honor and exclaimed: “What an incredible year we are having with the KIT100 Instant Theatre System!” “Our engineers set out to prove that impressive surround sound is achievable with just two speakers and a subwoofer, and judging by the positive feedback from editors, dealers and consumers alike, they have succeeded beyond our highest expectations. The KIT100 is a clear winner providing full-fledged surround sound in a compact and elegant design. And it’s a breeze to install.”
The KEF Instant Theatre is a complete DVD-based system that gives the listener everything required to experience 5.1 digital surround sound from just two compact front speakers and a hide-away subwoofer — enjoying the same detailed 3D sound image anywhere in the room. The KIT100 could not be easier or more convenient to set-up and use. In less than 10 minutes most consumers will have it working, with no configuration or menus required — just load a selected disc and press ‘play’! It could not be simpler. And — best of all — it comes at a suggested retail price of $1,499.
By combining KEF’s proven Uni-Q ‘point source’ driver array from the award-winning KHT line, with a unique application of NXT flat panel technology, KEF engineers have discovered a way to deliver all the subtleties and spatial depth encoded in today’s digital formats from a compact system set-up — doing away with the need for a multi-speaker arrangement, which can be quite intimidating and intrusive to many consumers.
The concept is simple. The vertical NXT flat panels behind the main arrays generate the sound of rear speakers, while the Uni-Q drivers create a perfect ‘phantom’ center speaker right in the middle of the screen. The center channel effect is accentuated by use of Uni-Q drivers for the front speakers, which spread the sound image over a much larger area than the narrow ‘sweet spot’ of a conventional speaker. Consistent sound coverage is achieved throughout the entire room, no matter where the listener sits, and ‘vocal intelligibility’ allows users to clearly understand every single word uttered — no more pausing to explain what was said in the last scene. In addition to delivering hefty bass punch throughout the room from a 10″ bass driver, the unobtrusive subwoofer contains the system’s five high-power amplifiers, allowing the DVD player to be exceptionally compact.
The rear effects signal is directed to NXT panels mounted vertically behind the main drivers. KEF’s innovation is to use freestanding (rather than wall-mounted) NXT panels, allowing the sound to reflect off the sidewalls to the back of the room. Like the dipole rear speakers of high-end home cinema systems, this generates the wide, diffused soundfield needed for convincing ambient effects.
The head unit is about the same size as the front speakers, and styled to match. Whatever is played – DVDs, CDs or MP3s, it automatically recognizes what’s been loaded. The decoding circuits also give the full benefit of Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II and DTS surround sound from any other equipment played through the system. With clear VFD displays and intuitive controls, the unit also has an AM/FM radio with RDS, alarm and sleep functions. With built-in amplifiers for all channels alongside the 10″ bass driver, the omni-directional subwoofer can be placed wherever it suits the user — behind the TV or next to a wall. Completing this amazing package, the KEF instant theatre system comes equipped with its own full-function remote control.
About KEFAudio
KEF was founded in 1961 by an electrical engineer named Raymond Cooke in a Nissen Hut on the premises of a metal working operation called Kent Engineering & Foundry (hence KEF), on the banks of the River Medway, near Maidstone in Kent. From the beginning KEF was destined to become a company with a flair for uniqueness and innovative in terms of loudspeaker engineering, design and use of materials. The four cornerstones of KEF’s success over 45 years are Quality, Honesty, Dedication and Innovation.
The company is professional from top to bottom. Still occupying the same river-bank site in Kent, the company services export markets throughout the world, manufacturing high performance speakers for home cinema, hi-fi and custom installation applications. The company firmly and passionately remains true to its proprietary, proven technologies such as Uni Q and ACE. It is these characteristics, traditions and above all sound quality that have ensured that KEF’s reputation for audio excellence is among the finest in the world.
About KEF America, Inc.
KEF America is the wholly own subsidiary of KEF Audio, an award winning British manufacturer of quality, audiophile-standard speakers and home theater systems. Headquartered in Marlboro, New Jersey, KEF America has built the KEF brand by offering loyal North American audiophiles a stream of innovative speakers and components unmatched in the industry. Many KEF products have won awards from both sides of the Atlantic, as KEF is a brand name long associated with quality and technical innovations.
For additional information on KEF America and its award-winning products, please visit www.kef.com/kefamerica/home.html.
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