KEF held the grand opening of its flagship store, KEF Music Gallery Tokyo, in Aoyama, Tokyo, on December 9, 2023.Founded in 1961 in Maidstone, Kent, England, KEF is a speaker brand established by Raymond Cooke, a former audio engineer at the British public service broadcaster BBC. Cooke's commitment to preserving the artists’ and producers’ "original sound" as heard in the studio, has been the enduring mission of KEF. This dedication has persisted from the time when Cooke crafted speakers by hand in a small factory in Maidstone.
The newly opened KEF Music Gallery Tokyo provides an opportunity to physically experience various KEF models, including hi-fi speakers and wireless hi-fi speakers. Under the concept of a "high-fidelity sound experience center," the gallery aims to serve as the company's communication hub, regularly sharing content created through collaborations with various creators.
Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, co-founders of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa) and designers of this flagship store, and Masumi Fukushima, commercial director of KEF Japan, discuss the brand's philosophy and their thoughts on the store.
──What sets KEF apart from other speaker brands?Masumi Fukushima: The most distinctive feature of our products is KEF’s signature speaker driver, Uni-Q. Traditional speakers have separate units for high, mid, and low frequencies. However, KEF's unique speaker driver, Uni-Q, enables stable sound reproduction thanks to the combined high and mid frequencies. In addition, the Uni-Q's "Tangerine Waveguide," a propeller-like wing in the center of the speakers, distributes sound evenly throughout a room. This allows for a consistent acoustic experience from any part of the room, so there is never a fight for the sweet spot of the sound (laughs).
KEF LSXII KEF also actively collaborates with renowned designers such as Michael Young, Ross Lovegrove, and Eric Chan, resulting in speakers that boast sophisticated designs beyond what one might expect. These days, with the diversification of devices and the evolution of broadband, the range of ways people enjoy audio and visual content is expanding rapidly. In response, KEF has developed and marketed a wide range of products to meet the needs of listeners, from earphones and headphones to 23 million yen flagship models.
Masumi Fukushima, says she was shocked when she listened to music through KEF speakers for the first time.──What is the background behind the opening of KEF Music Gallery Tokyo as a directly- managed store of KEF?Fukushima:
We aim for the store to be a high-fidelity sound experience center. Acoustics is, after all, about the "experience". Our philosophy is that providing listeners with the most immersive and accurate acoustic experience is the quickest way for them to understand our brand. For this reason, it makes sense to open a flagship store in Aoyama, the fashion center of Tokyo. We have relocated from Yurakucho with a strong desire to not just sell products but create a place where people can experience the KEF sound.
Astrid Klein, says she tried to create a space that would help people imagine a “life with KEF speakers.”──I was surprised to see that the storefront looks like a speaker. Could you elaborate on the concept that Klein Dytham architecture had in mind while designing the store?
Astrid Klein:
Before the renovation, I had thought that the building was already shaped like a speaker so I jokingly suggested “Why not just make it look like a speaker?” Surprisingly, the idea was accepted (laughs). As a result, I believe we’ve not only effectively conveyed KEF's message, but also created an impactful and surprising design that makes everyone passing by say, "What is this?"
──What is the layout like on each floor?
Mark Dytham:
The first floor is designed as a "gallery" showcasing mainly the latest models, including wireless HiFi speakers, headphones, and collaboration products with the British sports car brand Lotus. We aimed to create an open space that welcomes everyone, including passersby, to feel free to enter.
Moving towards the back of the store, you'll find the listening room in the lower ground. This space allows visitors to experience KEF's flagship model, Muon. In the center of the building, we installed a shelf tower, allowing people to move along the stairs and look back on KEF's history through various exhibits. The second floor serves as an event space, where we plan to regularly share content created through collaborations with various artists.
Klein:
We had a common understanding that we wanted the store as a whole to convey a homey atmosphere. As Ms. Fukushima mentioned earlier, each listener approaches music differently. Our goal was to create a space where we could present speakers tailored to a diverse range of lifestyles, ensuring that visitors can easily imagine life with KEF speakers.
──Can you tell us your thoughts about KEF?Fukushima:
When I first listened to music through KEF speakers, I was shocked by the acoustic quality, which was unlike anything I had heard before. The depth and breadth of the sound gave me a sense of immersion that made me think “What on earth was I listening to up until now?” (laughs). I am by no means an audiophile. I am just an ordinary music lover. I believe there are many people like me out there, and it truly feels like a missed opportunity for anyone who hasn't experienced these speakers. It's no exaggeration to say that I continue this job solely because I want as many people as possible to experience the KEF sound.
(L-R) Astrid Klein and Mark Dytham, co-founders of Klein Dytham architecture (KDa)
(Photo by Kimi Mikawa)Klein:
I am also an average listener when it comes to music, and personally, I prioritize design over acoustics (laughs). But when I first saw KEF speakers, I was like, "How cool are these speakers?!" Perhaps the form was the result of functionality, but I fell in love with the beauty of KEF speakers’ art-like design.
Dytham:
What surprises me is that not only the front but also the back of each speaker is beautiful. You don't need to place them against a wall, you can put them anywhere. My personal favorite is the Muo, an aluminum-cased Bluetooth speaker designed by Ross Lovegrove which was released in the early days of KEF. The form of that speaker was very beautiful. My daughter also liked it so much that she took it to her college dormitory (laughs). So I am now using LS50 at home and everyone who visits comments on the sound quality.
Mark Dytham says KEF speakers are beautiful not only on the front but also on the back.──This article will also be available in English. In closing, could you give a message to foreign visitors to Japan?Fukushima:
Our goal is to continue to reach out to a wide range of audiences so that “high-fidelity sound” becomes a commonplace experience. Rather than just selling products, we believe it is important to collaborate with a variety of creators, including artists, producers and engineers, and to spread our story through their perspectives. Currently, KEF’s directly-managed stores are only available here in Tokyo and Hong Kong but we will continue to share content that will make them places that people will want to visit again and again so please feel free to come and visit us whenever you can.
KEF MUSIC GALLERY TOKYOAddress: 5-5-6 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Open hours: 11:00-19:00
Access: 3 minutes walk from Tokyo Metro Omotesando Station Exit A5
www.kef.com
KEF Music Gallery
Tel: 03-3409-2150
