and the Wireless IIs are keen to show off their improved punch and agility as well as their enhanced subtlety. This time the KEF LS50 series is divided into two versions. The brand-new dedicated KEF Connect app controls LS50 Wireless II on a day-to-day basis, including intuitive sound settings so you can tune the sound to your own personal tastes. Such a device would certainly need Bluetooth, and perhaps even streaming services such as Tidal built-in. All rights reserved. A complete high-end audio system in a box. Each ‘path’ in the structure is a certain size and length and ‘tuned’ to absorb a specific range of frequencies. Is this what the hi-fi system of the future should look like? Product Archive If you can’t find a KEF product on our main website, we may have archived that product. Great sound, no strings attached. Connect wirelessly via dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth 4.2, digital (To slink) input, or … Their Uni-Q driver array, beautiful Carbon Black, Titanium Grey, Mineral White and Crimson Red Special Edition finishes, and curved front panel all combine to create a thorough head turner. We play Mac Miller's What's The Use? They have threaded inserts in each corner, allowing them to lock onto the top of the new KEF S2 Floor Stands (£400/$449/AU$800 per pair). Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, And yes I do have some hi-res files... waste of money. Replace only with the same or equivalent type WARNING Do not ingest the battery, Chemical Burn Hazard (The remote control supplied with) This product contains a coin/button cell battery. MORE: 10 affordable ways to upgrade your hi-fi system. It’s a little glitchy and feels unresponsive at times. What Hi-Fi? Hall of Fame entry – and it has every right to be. The KEF LS50 Wireless packs a ton of features but let’s go over what features make it sound so good. For a speaker that stands 30cm tall and has a mid/bass unit that’s just 13cm in diameter, it’s an impressive result. Save $1203. KEF LS50 Wireless ‘Nocturno’, by Marcel Wanders The LS50 currently includes LS50 Wireless speakers , a wireless active variant with a built-in amplifier, and a D/A converter. Upon their launch in 2016, KEF’s LS50 Wirelesses highlighted the appeal of an all-in-one stereo system over a system of separates at the modest end of the market, and the LS50 Wireless IIs simply improve on that concept. Physically connecting the right (master) and left (slave) speakers via the included ethernet cable increases native playback to 24-bit/192kHz. We start off with Arvo Part’s Tabula Rasa and are deeply impressed by what we hear. The name of KEF’s latest all-in-one system leaves no doubt as to their heritage. Support for DSD256 is also onboard this time, too, as is MQA decoding for the playback of compatible downloaded files and hi-res Tidal Masters. KEF LS50 Wireless review: a complete system hi-fi system wrapped in a neat and brilliant package – read the review at What Hi-Fi? LS50 Wireless II Overview Inputs Connection between Primary and Secondary Streaming support DSP Processing EQ Settings Desk & Wall Modes Treble Trim ... KEF, the original LS50 was born. That app looks nice, is well laid out and easy to use. Why? LS50 Wireless II is more than a high-performance loudspeaker; it’s the perfect all-in-one speaker system, streaming from any source thanks to wireless compatibility with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and more, plus wired connections for your TV, games console and turntable. Even if we take out WiFi, Ethernet and Bluetooth, the LS50 Wireless still offer compatibility with RCA inputs (both phono and line), optical and USB. Overall, these speakers have the insight to unravel a recording yet never go so far as to tear the music apart. There are three cabinet options: the Titanium of our review samples, gloss black and gloss white. This swapping around of controllers gets a little annoying if you switch sources a lot, particularly as the app has to reconnect with the LS50s every time you switch back, rather than just working straight away. KEF’s highlight in 2020 is LS50 Wireless II. KEF is clearly proud of the fact that its LS50 Wireless IIs are sequels to a product that we regarded highly enough to be our first What Hi-Fi? Neat. I was so disappointed with it my BT dongle just gathers dust in a drawer. However, first impressions suggest it’s a positive replacement for the often-glitchy Stream app on the LS50 Wireless. Make no mistake; you will want to live with them. There was a problem. They dig up so much detail and deliver it in an organised and stable manner. Great sound, no strings attached. It will come as no surprise to any regular reader that the Award-winning passive LS50s are the basis for this design. You know what would also be nice? Once set-up properly we think KEF’s engineers have struck a really nice tonal balance. KEF claims a maximum sound pressure level of 106dB, which should be loud enough for most people in most circumstances. We listen to Adrienne Lenker's Symbol and it is a more captivating affair through the Wireless IIs. That beautifully built and finished enclosure is the same as the passive version too, bar a couple of centimetres of additional depth to accommodate the electronics and heatsinking. MORE: Best speaker deals - hi-fi, Bluetooth, wireless. The LS50 Wirelesses sound clean and precise. Following the success of KEF LS50 wireless, lox includes a 4″ Unit-Q driver to deliver astoundingly clear sound over 160 degrees of coverage and an fee designed cabinet with hidden Heatsink. The crowning achievement is the signature Uni-Q driver array, providing beautifully natural sound to every seat in the room. And, of course, a pair of active speakers only goes so far - you still need to add a preamp and a range of sources too. Wish you guys would get off the hi-res bandwagon, CD quality is all you need for perfect reproduction. Reg. In fact, you would perhaps need to look at the underside of the new LS50s to tell them apart from their predecessor. The wireless edition of KEF LS50 is really better than the original. Mirroring the LS50 Wirelesses’ configuration, a new 100W class A/B amplifier powers the tweeter, while 280W of power is available to the mid/bass driver. The KEF LS50 Wireless is an outstanding active speaker package that offers outstanding hi-fi sound, minimal fuss and a whole lot of convenience. There are also controls for adjusting the sound for different speaker placements with options for close-to-wall or free space positioning as well as the choice between desk or stand supports. You’ll also find a subwoofer connection, in case you want to add more low frequency output, and an Ethernet socket for connecting to your network. We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. They’re a complete system wrapped in a neat and brilliant package. Moving onto Massive Attack’s Angel shows the LS50’s impressive bass performance. KEF LS50 Wireless Support documents and downloads. However, considering the design is based on the passive LS50s, one of the most recognisable and striking loudspeakers around, that familiarity is no bad thing. Very troubling that KEF is reusing the same awful Bluetooth 4.2 chips from 2016. They’re never quite as good as the optimal position in terms of outright clarity or stereo imaging, but tonally we still get a balanced presentation. We are recognised in the history of loudspeaker development as one of the most important contributors and a great deal of our research has been published at well respected professional institutions, including the Audio Engineering Society and the Institute of Acoustics. Sale Ends: 2020-12-05. It’s heavily braced and strongly damped to minimise any resonances. Such well-equipped active speakers would not only get rid of the clutter of traditional hi-fi but also, if done properly, could potentially deliver a performance broadly equivalent to a similarly priced separates rig. It would also be nice to be able to see an indication of the input chosen when sitting at the listening position – the only indicator is out of sight on the right speaker’s top panel. The new KEFs lay bare more intricacies in the guitar work, while disclosing the distinctive fragilities in her vocal. Award. Remember, here there are no extra electronics to house or cables to hide, just a pair of beautifully built speakers on (ideally) a pair of stands. Despite ditching the USB Type-B computer connection, KEF has hardly shortchanged future owners in terms of connectivity, replacing it with an HDMI eARC socket to make it more TV-friendly. What Hi-Fi? That extra spaciousness isn’t at the expense of cohesiveness either – a hallmark quality of the Uni-Q driver’s tweeter-inside-the-mid/bass-cone design. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! Anything I have streamed through bluetooth has been horrible. They have been designed to squeeze even more performance out of the familiar chassis and Uni-Q driver arrangement through the introduction of a new KEF innovation called Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT). The rest of the enclosure is made from MDF. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Great sound, no strings attached. We play a whole range of music from the heartfelt grit of Bruce Springsteen’s Terry’s Song and sparse electronica of xx’s Stars right through to large scale symphonies from the likes of Stravinsky and Beethoven; these speakers take it all in stride. The KEF LS50 Wireless allow for a large degree of freedom in terms of sources. Please refresh the page and try again. These KEF Wirelesses are way more than just active versions of the award-winning LS50s. To access that information, just use the drop down menu to select the relevant product category and then the product itself. The good news continues higher up the range with a transparent and fluid midrange and insightful highs. Visit our corporate site. My 851n has aptx HD as well as my phone. We used QED Reference XLR interconnects, Audioquest Type4 and Kimber PR8 speaker cables. LS50 Wireless II is more than a high-performance loudspeaker; it’s the perfect all-in-one speaker system, streaming from any source thanks to wireless compatibility with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and more, plus wired connections for your TV, games console and turntable. As the name suggests, the LS50 Meta is a development of the original LS50, and again redefines what a small monitor loudspeaker can do. It’s important to note that the app doesn’t switch between physical inputs, as it only operates the KEFs in streaming mode. The best OLED TV deals: LG, Sony, Vizio, 55, 65 and 77-inch TVs, Huge Beats headphones deal! We’re struck by the KEF’s subtlety and their ability to generate strong dynamic shifts without stress. The digital signal path is 24-bit/192kHz capable and there’s a dedicated DAC for each drive unit. In 2017, we introduced LS50 Wireless using the LS50 platform and brings hifi sound to the digital lifestyle. LS50 Wireless benefits from KEF's near-six decades of experience in acoustic research and design. This arrangement helps to produce an even dispersion of sound and improves integration between the two drivers. While we’ve reviewed powered and actives options from the likes of Dynaudio, Dali, Linn and Meridian before, none of them has combined such a wide range of features in such an elegant two-box format. It’s no surprise to see this more convenient method used in the LS50 Wireless IIs, although the wireless limit has been upped to 24-bit/96kHz, meaning they only need to downsample files above that resolution – peak file support is 24-bit/384kHz. Where else did they cut corners? That’s not the case here. But what if you didn’t need to add those extras? KEF has taken advantage of the internal DSP by phase correcting the crossover and using the software to allow the speakers to play loud and true while minimising distortion. KEF has upgraded the compact LS50 and the wireless version LS50 Wireless, with MAT, and made several other improvements. We certainly hope so. Tidal is one of many streaming services directly accessible from the new KEF Connect app – you have Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer and Spotify, as well as internet radio and UPnP servers, at your fingertips too. $3,000.00. Both speakers are said to be an innovative evolution from previous iterations. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Physically, this technique sees a round piece of plastic with a maze-like structure placed behind the tweeter. Though it can supposedly support high bit rates it always sounded horribly compressed and dead. They’re informative but always musical with it. It can shock on occasion. The LS50 Wirelesses launched in 2016 as an active speaker system take on KEF’s legendary passive LS50 speakers – a pair of wireless stereo speakers packed with built-in amplification and streaming smarts – and their impressive execution of this appealing concept earned them a five-star review and a What Hi-Fi? © Essentially, MAT is a clever way of absorbing sound waves that radiate from the rear of the tweeter dome so that they don’t distort the unit’s forward output. If we could go back 40 years and ask the same question, we suspect any enthusiast would have given a very similar answer - minus the digital sources, of course. It’s even-handed yet refined enough to make the most of less than optimal recordings or sources. www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk Al ears Moderator. KEF LS50W were used as a solo all-in-one system and in combination with X-Sabre Pro to make a more objective and real comparison to the LS50. You could own these KEFs and have little need for the dedicated app, considering the LS50 Wireless IIs support AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast and Bluetooth, and are also Roon Ready. The Ultimate Wireless HiFi Speakers LS50 Wireless II is more than a high-performance loudspeaker; it’s the perfect all-in-one speaker system, streaming from any source thanks to wireless compatibility with AirPlay 2, Chromecast and more, plus wired connections for your TV, games console and turntable. That curved front panel still looks unusual and is made of DMC (Dough Moulding Compound: a polyester resin combined with glass fibre and calcium carbonate). About the KEF LS50 Wireless View the manual for the KEF LS50 Wireless here, for free. These choices can be made from the dedicated iOS/Android app too. Each option comes with a contrasting colour on the Uni-Q driver array. None of these things are anywhere near serious enough to be deal breakers for us, but they make living with the speakers a fussier experience than it should be. While hi-fi has certainly improved and been developed over the decades, on a fundamental level, arguably, it’s barely evolved at all. We try the LS50s in less optimised positions and manage to use the app to make the results sound balanced. This absorption technique has been used in other fields before, but this joint initiative with smart materials and acoustics company Acoustic Metamaterials Group marks its first application in a loudspeaker. These aren’t big speakers so you won’t get really deep floor shaking bass, but they generate low frequencies that are taut, articulate and punchy. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. It takes a broad range of talents for this to happen. In-Store Only. What looks like a grille in front of the tweeter is, in fact, a waveguide that improves its performance. MORE: How to buy speakers and set them up for the best sound. In addition to Wireless II, there is also a model called Meta, which is a passive speaker version. Loading dense service libraries, navigating its clean and logical interface and switching inputs proves a pleasant and reliable experience. Alongside it are coaxial (24-bit/192kHz), optical (24-bit/96kHz) and 3.5mm aux inputs and a subwoofer output – which round off the LS50 Wireless IIs' comprehensive spec sheet. These are true active speakers where each drive unit has a dedicated power amplifier. The KEF Connect app means that you can tailor the sound to your chosen environment and the left and right speakers … It has also been implemented in the new KEF LS50 Meta passive speakers. All rights reserved. It doesn’t change the volume until you lift your finger, so you don’t know how loud the sound is going to be until you hear it. You will receive a verification email shortly. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Bookshelf Loudspeaker Pair LS50 Meta is a highly precise, emotionally engaging loudspeaker built on revolutionary acoustic technology. The quality of the recording is everything, hi-res doesn't cure a bad recording. KEF's LS50 bookshelf speaker range gains a pair of all-new models in the LS50 Meta and LS50 Wireless II models. Shouldn't every self respecting hi-fi system at the very least support aptX HD? Similar sharpness and attention to detail is evident as we switch to Peter Broderick's Moment, the piano sequence aching with meticulously written melody as the LS50 Wireless IIs more deftly define the start and finish of notes. There was a problem. The KEF LS50 Wireless II also come with an infrared remote control, with which you can skip tracks, fast forward, rewind and play/pause your music, adjust the volume, and toggle through audio sources. While conceptually similar stereo speaker systems have come into the market since the LS50 Wirelesses’ arrival, none we’ve seen are neater than this next-generation version. They weren’t perfect: they came with some control app hiccups, and the need for a cable to connect the two speakers was a small blip in an otherwise neat package. These speakers use a Uni-Q array, where the 25mm aluminium dome tweeter sits in the centre of a 13cm magnesium/aluminium mid/bass cone. In our review of the original LS50 Wirelesses, we noted their “clean and precise” manner and “neatly layered and nicely defined” soundstage. All sources connect to the right (master) speaker, which is then linked to the left by means of a supplied ethernet cable. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. Among other things, the crossover filter has been changed and small tweaks have been made to the 13 m large Uni-Q element, which is used in both versions of the LS50 Meta. Take a look at the back of the right speaker and you’ll find stereo analogue, optical and USB Type B connectors. The LS50 Wirelesses launched in 2016 as an active speaker system take on KEF’s legendary passive LS50 speakers – a pair of wireless stereo speakers packed with built-in amplification and streaming smarts – and their impressive execution of this appealing concept earned them a five-star review and a What Hi-Fi? Bath Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, With numerous technological breakthroughs, LS50 took the original LS3/5a studio monitor concept and brought it into the living room. If you’re anything like us, you’ve just pictured a combination of separates comprising source – maybe a streamer, CD player or record player – an amplifier and a pair of speakers. BA1 1UA. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, 10 affordable ways to upgrade your hi-fi system, Best speaker deals - hi-fi, Bluetooth, wireless, How to buy speakers and set them up for the best sound, Best gaming headsets 2020: great sound for PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X, Best HDR TVs 2020: the ultimate high dynamic range TVs. Award. and 2) integrates cable management. The considerable advancements KEF has made for this sequel are belied a little by the familiar aesthetic. Mids are cleaner-cut and bass more defined, their extra refinement making the originals sound a touch crude. KEF LS50 Wireless HiFi Speakers deliver a clear, accurate and transparent sound that creates an intense, rich, and multi-dimensional soundstage experience. Cyber Monday deals: see all the best offers right now! Active speakers, while nothing new, could be a building block for an alternative solution. As a new product following in the footsteps of such a huge success, the KEF LS50 Wireless IIs arrive with a world of expectation on their shoulders – but they well and truly meet those expectations. KEF says that, together, the various paths effectively act as an ‘acoustic black hole’, absorbing 99 per cent of the unwanted sound. But many enthusiasts don’t like the lack of easy upgradability or the low perceived value - active speakers are, inevitably, always far more expensive than their passive relatives due to the cost of the power amplification inside. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? Available in three striking finishes, the KEF LS50 Wireless speakers make an attractive addition to your room without dominating it. The Wireless IIs don’t simply address their predecessor’s imperfections, though. At US$2200, the KEF LS50 Wireless should have rival loudspeaker manufacturers quaking in their boots. The latter is especially useful if one wants to use their PC as the source. Those that offer a range of inputs usually add an extra connection hub that transmits the signal wirelessly to the speakers. The new KEF LS50 Wireless II is a fully active wireless stereo system that delivers pristine, KEF sound coupled with instinctive usability and high-performance wireless capability. Listen in style, with the versatile KEF LS50W award-winning speakers. To change input, you need to use the supplied remote or the touch controls on the master speaker. The drive units remain unchanged. To our ears they sound at least as good as the best comparably featured separates combinations available for similar money. The whole presentation has been opened out, that extra room not only filled with subtler, more precise detail, but also allowing for greater instrument separation that makes its delivery sound much less congested in comparison. Admittedly, it costs twice as much, but it is worth it because it is easier to get it to play optimally, and then it sounds better than the wired edition from 2013. Nov 23, 2008 … KEF has taken these attributes to another level here. It has taken the award-winning LS50s and made them an even better proposition. $120 off wireless Solo Pro at Best Buy. Please refresh the page and try again. The Class D design was chosen for its combination of high power and low heat output – heat generation is an important consideration in a product as crammed as this. Just add mains power. There are just the two fully active speaker boxes, arranged in a master and slave configuration. Needless to say, we look forward to hearing more products using MAT technology in the future. These sonic advancements are not only a credit to KEF's engineering but also representative of how far such speaker system concepts have come in recent years. You will receive a verification email shortly. KEF’s LS50 Wireless are a thrilling and ultra-convenient way to step into stunning audiophile sound, offering what just may be the best performance … We also don’t like the sliding volume control. Choose from black with blue drivers, titanium grey and red or white and copper for the style that most appeals to you. KEF was founded on innovation and new technology. The LS50 Wirelesses are rhythmic too, delivering the song’s unmistakable momentum with determination. Perfectly matched electronics provide the engine for the Uni-Q, ensuring that Final Clearance. This manual comes under the category Speakers and has been rated by 1 people with an average of a 9.7. These are small speakers but they manage to fill our medium sized listening room with high volume levels. The extra space between her vocal and the strings is in relative contrast to the originals, where it sounds as though they're fighting against one another for attention. DMC was chosen for its inertness and ability to be shaped. I can’t think of any better wireless speakers for most people. That £2000 price tag looks pretty hefty for such compact speakers, but remember that money also buys you a dedicated streamer, a Bluetooth module, 24-bit/192kHz DAC, preamp and four power amplifiers with a total of 460W of output. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news, updates, free stuff and new releases by email You can even select your favourite source to wake up LS50 Wireless II whenever it … The good news (as you may have guessed...) is that such a product does now exist: KEF’s LS50 Wireless. BA1 1UA. Bath KEF’s revisions have paid off; these sequels are among the most thrilling speaker systems we’ve heard. Limited Quantities. The 12th generation of KEF’s patented Uni-Q is not only defined by MAT but also a reworked motor system, for which KEF has optimised its bespoke digital signal processing algorithm system. It’s fine for occasional use: system setup (‘onboarding’) […] The effect of MAT is clearly heard in the cleanliness of the treble, although the difference in purity can be heard across the frequency range. KEF LS50 were driven by a Cambridge Audio Azur 851A connected to a Matrix X-Sabre Pro DAC running Tidal Hi-Fi. A 30W Class A/B circuit feeds the tweeter while a 200W Class D module powers the mid/bass unit. The company was founded in 1961 by Raymond Cooke OBE (1925 - 1995) and was initially headquartered in a Nissen Hut on the premises of Kent Engineering & Foundry (from where the name KEF is derived) a metal-working company on the banks of the River Medway, near Maidstone in Kent. LS50 Wireless benefits from KEF's near-six decades of experience in acoustic research and design. Completely re-engineered and capable of playing any source seamlessly, LS50 Wireless II is the only hi-fi system you will ever need, contained within two KEF has unveiled its LS50 Wireless II speaker, which comes with advanced Digital Signal Processing – KEF’s Music Integrity Engine and a claimed 380W of amplification. Designed around the Uni-Q 12th Generation with Metamaterial Absorption Technology driver array, this solid, compact loudspeaker is capable of delivering detailed sound anywhere in the room.