Product highlights
each channel contains a three-way speaker system:
- KEF Uni-Q driver with 3" bass/midrange driver and 5/8" tweeter
- 3" woofer
- 3" passive bass radiator
- 3 sets of gold-plated spring post speaker terminals (one set per channel)
- banana plugs not supported
- rigid aluminum enclosure
- gloss black finish
- 37-13/16"W x 4-3/4"H x 3-3/8"D
- weight: 13.2 lbs.
- warranty: 5 years (6 years with registration)
What's in the box
- Passive soundbar loudspeaker
- Wall-mount bracket
- 2 Metal kick-stands
- 2 Rubber feet
- 2 Threaded posts
- Hex-key
- Installation Manual
- Registration Card
- Wall-Mount Template
About this item
Written by Crutchfield's Emily S.
Incredible KEF audio for your front soundstage
I've been awed by the room-filling sound of KEF's LS50 speakers every time I've heard them. So I was excited to see KEF include some of those signature technologies — especially their Uni-Q drivers — into one streamlined sound bar.
The HTF8003 combines individual left, center, and right channels into a single acoustically inert aluminum cabinet. Its glossy, black finish and slim oval profile will look cool whether it's wall-mounted or sitting on your TV stand. But remember — it's passive, so you'll need a home theater receiver to power it.
All the spots are sweet with Uni-Q
Each of this sound bar's three channels includes KEF's patented Uni-Q driver, which places the tweeter in the acoustic center of a bass/midrange driver. This single, focused audio source means the sound is more evenly distributed throughout your room. In short, the “sweet spot” is wherever you happen to be sitting.
A thorough test drive by a Crutchfield expert
When fellow writer Dave Delamere offered to take the KEF HTF8003 for a spin and give me the rundown on it, I was stoked. As the leader of our Demo Days team, Dave regularly helps us get hands-on here at Crutchfield HQ, so I knew he would provide some great insight. He did not disappoint. Here's what he had to say about this passive sound bar from KEF:
The facts
"I hooked it up to my older Yamaha AVENTAGE receiver (110 watts/channel), and I have a 3.1 configuration in my 700-square foot apartment. Source is an Xbox One for Blu-ray, streaming audio and video, and gaming."
Initial thoughts
"When taking it out of the box, I could tell it was well-made. A serious speaker. The aluminum cabinet has some heft, and it has a nice finish to it. It comes with wall-mounting hardware, as well as rubber wedges for placement on a shelf or stand (which is how I used it). These wedges let you control some of the angle, which is handy when it's lower on a shelf. Great option for my tight space."
Connected and cranking
"I had the movie Sleepy Hollow going, and the HTF8003 had really good direction. The dialogue was clear, while not overly bright. The effects were solid and impactful, even at low volume. What impressed me the most was the dynamic control. Quiet passages were super-quiet, but when it had to deliver sound quickly, it went at it full-force. Note: You need a subwoofer. There's no getting around that. I switched my sub off, and this sound bar doesn't offer much on the low-end, which was never its intent."
"I was most interested in music. Overall, sound bars aren't known to be very good with it. I switched on SomaFM (the Lush, Left Coast 70's, and Secret Agent channels) for some streaming tunes. The HTF8003 didn't have the spaciousness that a conventional 2-speaker system would, which I expected. However, the Uni-Q drivers provided the consistent, accurate output that I've also heard from the KEF LS50 and Q350 speakers I've listened to. Very smooth and natural. I found myself listening longer than I thought I would… and enjoying it."
The bottom line
"For someone who has limited space for a front speaker array and who wants the power and versatility of a home theater receiver, the KEF HTF8003 sound bar would be a great addition to their surround sound system."
— Dave Delamere, Crutchfield writer