What is a Point Source?

Point source in audio is, put simply, when sound appears to radiate from a single given point. Think of your favourite band performing on a stage. You know precisely where the twangs of the guitar, the pounding of the drum and the hum of the vocals are coming from. With point source technology, you get the exact same experience with a speaker too.

You might think that any given speaker is a point source; however, that’s not quite right. The average speaker actually has several point sources, with multiple drivers producing a single note.

With traditional loudspeakers, there is a sweet spot where all frequencies meet to give you the sense of coming from a single point. However, sit even an inch away from this spot and the illusion of a single point is broken.

With our single apparent source technology you can sit and listen wherever you like to indulge in point source audio. This is thanks to the Uni Q driver array, which seats the tweeter at the centre of the midrange cone, so mid and high frequencies share one acoustic centre.

See our guide to Single Apparent Source technology to learn more about the tech behind our iconic KEF sound.

Imagine you’ve gathered your friends and loved ones for a party. Perhaps you’re watching a big football game, or perhaps you’re snacking and chatting as music plays in the background.

You want all of your friends to enjoy an equally pleasant experience, right? No one having a better time than anyone else?

If your speakers don’t have a single point source, each of your party guests will have a different sonic experience, with only the person lucky enough to be sitting in the sweet spot enjoying the music or TV audio to its fullest.

With a point source speaker, each person in each part of the room experiences seamless sound, with each frequency blended to perfection. The score of the movie, the vocals in the song, all experienced in exactly the same way by everyone, for a true collective moment.

Every KEF speaker has some degree of a single point source, as each speaker in our collection possesses the incredible Uni Q driver array. However, if you want true single source, our Blade and LS60 Wireless speaker models elevate the Uni Q array by incorporating the bass driver into the structure. All drivers across these loudspeakers are configured to make each frequency appear to radiate from a single source.

High-fidelity sound is ever-growing and ever-improving, becoming more immersive and realistic to emulate an in-person audio experience as the artist intended. Point source is just one of the many ways in which this faithfulness to the original audio increases.

Setting up your speakers properly can elevate the audio further. Our guide to setting up your HiFi speakers can help you to choose the perfect positioning, connect your speakers to your chosen audio source and more for the listening experience you want.

Point source speakers boast excellent versatility, allowing them to work in various configurations for spaces of different shapes and sizes. Due to their simplicity and effectiveness, they’re also incredibly popular for smaller rooms.

Take the next step in your sound journey and bring a KEF point source speaker into your home today.