KEF is a British company specializing in high-end audio products, including HiFi speakers, subwoofers, wireless speakers, architectural speakers, and headphones. Founded in 1961 in Maidstone, Kent, by Raymond Cooke, a former BBC engineer, the company's name stands for Kent Engineering and Foundry, its original location. KEF was acquired in 1992 by the Hong Kong-based Gold Peak Group, with ownership now under GP Acoustics, a Gold Peak subsidiary. Product development, acoustic technology research, and manufacturing of signature products still occur at the original Maidstone site.
KEF has been at the forefront of audio technology, pioneering the use of computers in loudspeaker design and measurement. In 1988, KEF introduced the Uni-Q driver array, the world's first coincident-source speaker driver, now in its 12th generation and a feature in nearly all its speakers. The company was also the first in the HiFi industry to use Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT) to eliminate unwanted sound from the rear of a speaker driver. Recent news includes the launch of new Q Series loudspeakers featuring Metamaterial Absorption Technology and the introduction of new colors for the LSX II wireless speakers. As of June 2025, Stephanie Scola was promoted to Executive Vice President of KEF America, with Alec Chanin elevated to Deputy President of KEF Audio Group.
