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. It will come as no surprise to any regular reader that the Award-winning passive LS50s are the basis for this design. The good news continues higher up the range with a transparent and fluid midrange and insightful highs. 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. Loading dense service libraries, navigating its clean and logical interface and switching inputs proves a pleasant and reliable experience. The rest of the enclosure is made from MDF. © A complete high-end audio system in a box. 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. The good news (as you may have guessed...) is that such a product does now exist: KEF’s LS50 Wireless. KEF LS50 Wireless HiFi Speakers deliver a clear, accurate and transparent sound that creates an intense, rich, and multi-dimensional soundstage experience. 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. What Hi-Fi? All rights reserved. $3,000.00. KEF’s revisions have paid off; these sequels are among the most thrilling speaker systems we’ve heard. KEF LS50 Wireless review: a complete system hi-fi system wrapped in a neat and brilliant package – read the review at What Hi-Fi? Save $1203. Bookshelf Loudspeaker Pair LS50 Meta is a highly precise, emotionally engaging loudspeaker built on revolutionary acoustic technology. However, first impressions suggest it’s a positive replacement for the often-glitchy Stream app on the LS50 Wireless. It has taken the award-winning LS50s and made them an even better proposition. In fact, you would perhaps need to look at the underside of the new LS50s to tell them apart from their predecessor. We used QED Reference XLR interconnects, Audioquest Type4 and Kimber PR8 speaker cables. The quality of the recording is everything, hi-res doesn't cure a bad recording. 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). There was a problem. 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. Please refresh the page and try again. 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? $120 off wireless Solo Pro at Best Buy. We try the LS50s in less optimised positions and manage to use the app to make the results sound balanced. KEF’s highlight in 2020 is LS50 Wireless II. I can’t think of any better wireless speakers for most people. The LS50 Wireless’ Achilles heel, if they have one, is the in-house coded smartphone app. This time the KEF LS50 series is divided into two versions. It’s even-handed yet refined enough to make the most of less than optimal recordings or sources. 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. Award. and 2) integrates cable management. The LS50 was created to celebrate our 50th anniversary. 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. 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. The wireless edition of KEF LS50 is really better than the original. Summary of Contents for KEF LS50 Wireless Page 14 CAUTION Danger of explosion if battery is incorrectly replaced. KEF was founded on innovation and new technology. 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. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! KEF has taken these attributes to another level here. It takes a broad range of talents for this to happen. Wish you guys would get off the hi-res bandwagon, CD quality is all you need for perfect reproduction. The KEF Connect app means that you can tailor the sound to your chosen environment and the left and right speakers … Their clarity and cleanliness enlivens the tuneful baseline and unequivocally cutting rap, complementing the track’s clinical production. Bath BA1 1UA. Visit our corporate site. 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. It’s important to note that the app doesn’t switch between physical inputs, as it only operates the KEFs in streaming mode. This manual comes under the category Speakers and has been rated by 1 people with an average of a 9.7. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive news, updates, free stuff and new releases by email 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. Make no mistake; you will want to live with them. As the name suggests, the LS50 Meta is a development of the original LS50, and again redefines what a small monitor loudspeaker can do. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. 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. You can even select your favourite source to wake up LS50 Wireless II whenever it … The best OLED TV deals: LG, Sony, Vizio, 55, 65 and 77-inch TVs, Huge Beats headphones deal! England and Wales company registration number 2008885. BA1 1UA. There are just the two fully active speaker boxes, arranged in a master and slave configuration. Connect wirelessly via dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth 4.2, digital (To slink) input, or … The latter is especially useful if one wants to use their PC as the source. 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 In our review of the original LS50 Wirelesses, we noted their “clean and precise” manner and “neatly layered and nicely defined” soundstage. While hi-fi has certainly improved and been developed over the decades, on a fundamental level, arguably, it’s barely evolved at all. 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. To change input, you need to use the supplied remote or the touch controls on the master speaker. The KEF LS50 Wireless packs a ton of features but let’s go over what features make it sound so good. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! LS50 Wireless benefits from KEF's near-six decades of experience in acoustic research and design. They’re informative but always musical with it. The considerable advancements KEF has made for this sequel are belied a little by the familiar aesthetic. A 30W Class A/B circuit feeds the tweeter while a 200W Class D module powers the mid/bass unit. 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. 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. 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. 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. When someone says the words ‘hi-fi system’, what do you think of? What Hi-Fi? KEF has upgraded the compact LS50 and the wireless version LS50 Wireless, with MAT, and made several other improvements. 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. 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. www.sevenoakssoundandvision.co.uk Al ears Moderator. It’s heavily braced and strongly damped to minimise any resonances. Neat. Award. 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. Each ‘path’ in the structure is a certain size and length and ‘tuned’ to absorb a specific range of frequencies. 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. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. The LS50 Wirelesses sound clean and precise. Just add mains power. 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. KEF LS50 Wireless Support documents and downloads. These are true active speakers where each drive unit has a dedicated power amplifier. 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. For a speaker that stands 30cm tall and has a mid/bass unit that’s just 13cm in diameter, it’s an impressive result. 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. 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. 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. 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. Both speakers are said to be an innovative evolution from previous iterations. 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. 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. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? KEF says that, together, the various paths effectively act as an ‘acoustic black hole’, absorbing 99 per cent of the unwanted sound. 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. That app looks nice, is well laid out and easy to use. While these KEFs are better than most, you still have two mains leads – one for each speaker – and the connecting lead between them. 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. In 2018, when KEF introduced its LSX speaker system – essentially a miniature version of the LS50 Wirelesses – it replaced the physical inter-speaker cable with a wireless connection that could play files (up to 24-bit/192kHz) across a maximum 24-bit/48kHz resolution. Hall of Fame entry – and it has every right to be. There was a problem. 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. 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. The Wireless IIs don’t simply address their predecessor’s imperfections, though. KEF LS50 Wireless Bookshelf Loudspeakers With Blue Uni-Q Drivers - Black Gloss (LS50WIRELESSB-OPENBOX) $1,797. Overall, these speakers have the insight to unravel a recording yet never go so far as to tear the music apart. Vocals are delivered with passion while percussion comes through with bite and composure. It’s fine for occasional use: system setup (‘onboarding’) […] Shouldn't every self respecting hi-fi system at the very least support aptX HD? A streamer, so that any music stored on a NAS unit or computer connected to your home network could be replayed. You can even select your favourite source to wake up LS50 Wireless II whenever it … Normally we’d recommend sticking to the wired network option for greater stability but we used the twin-band (2.4gHz/5GHz) wireless option for most of our test without issue. Bath Where else did they cut corners? On a purely technical level they have clear performance benefits, and they certainly reduce the box count. The KEF LS50 Wireless allow for a large degree of freedom in terms of sources. The crowning achievement is the signature Uni-Q driver array, providing beautifully natural sound to every seat in the room. The KEF LS50 Wireless is an outstanding active speaker package that offers outstanding hi-fi sound, minimal fuss and a whole lot of convenience. To access that information, just use the drop down menu to select the relevant product category and then the product itself. 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. In-Store Only. Available in three striking finishes, the KEF LS50 Wireless speakers make an attractive addition to your room without dominating it. In 2017, we introduced LS50 Wireless using the LS50 platform and brings hifi sound to the digital lifestyle. 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. 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. 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). Our review sample only has access to an early version of the app, so some functionality – including music server discovery – isn’t available. Anything I have streamed through bluetooth has been horrible. You will receive a verification email shortly. We don’t tend to talk much about ports, but the one here is unusual in that it’s flexible in a bid to reduce distortion. Moving onto Massive Attack’s Angel shows the LS50’s impressive bass performance. 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. Each option comes with a contrasting colour on the Uni-Q driver array. Perfectly matched electronics provide the engine for the Uni-Q, ensuring that Receive news and offers from our other brands? 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. We’re struck by the KEF’s subtlety and their ability to generate strong dynamic shifts without stress. 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. Make no mistake, this is a sequel of rare quality. The LS50 Wirelesses are rhythmic too, delivering the song’s unmistakable momentum with determination. 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. 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. Choose from black with blue drivers, titanium grey and red or white and copper for the style that most appeals to you. They never sound too pushy either, allowing the song’s natural flow to come through. 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. They’re a complete system wrapped in a neat and brilliant package. 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. 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. We certainly hope so. Cyber Monday deals: see all the best offers right now! The name of KEF’s latest all-in-one system leaves no doubt as to their heritage. Great sound, no strings attached. 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. Great sound, no strings attached. About the KEF LS50 Wireless View the manual for the KEF LS50 Wireless here, for free. And yes I do have some hi-res files... waste of money. We listen to Adrienne Lenker's Symbol and it is a more captivating affair through the Wireless IIs. 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. All rights reserved. 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. 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. KEF LS50 were driven by a Cambridge Audio Azur 851A connected to a Matrix X-Sabre Pro DAC running Tidal Hi-Fi. Listen in style, with the versatile KEF LS50W award-winning speakers. 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. Why? and the Wireless IIs are keen to show off their improved punch and agility as well as their enhanced subtlety. So if you’re using the remote to change input there’s no way (apart from counting clicks) to know what input the LS50 has settled on. My 851n has aptx HD as well as my phone. KEF has done a terrific job here. Once set-up properly we think KEF’s engineers have struck a really nice tonal balance. If one is looking or doubting between these two models and thinking which one would be better to buy, I would immediately mention that they are essentially different speakers. Final Clearance. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. It’s a little glitchy and feels unresponsive at times. There are three cabinet options: the Titanium of our review samples, gloss black and gloss white. It controls the streaming (DLNA as well as Tidal) functionality and allows plenty of scope to fine-tune the speaker’s performance in a given environment. Reg. Take a look at the back of the right speaker and you’ll find stereo analogue, optical and USB Type B connectors. Nov 23, 2008 … We also don’t like the sliding volume control. I was so disappointed with it my BT dongle just gathers dust in a drawer. MORE: How to buy speakers and set them up for the best sound. Limited Quantities. 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. These choices can be made from the dedicated iOS/Android app too. 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. MORE: 10 affordable ways to upgrade your hi-fi system. 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). They dig up so much detail and deliver it in an organised and stable manner. What looks like a grille in front of the tweeter is, in fact, a waveguide that improves its performance. But not only are the new LS50 Wireless II speakers untethered, they also come with a new and improved app. 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. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Those that offer a range of inputs usually add an extra connection hub that transmits the signal wirelessly to the speakers. 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. This arrangement helps to produce an even dispersion of sound and improves integration between the two drivers. 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. Still, they remain a neater solution for getting high-quality sound into the home than traditional separates. To our ears they sound at least as good as the best comparably featured separates combinations available for similar money. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer. All sources connect to the right (master) speaker, which is then linked to the left by means of a supplied ethernet cable. 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. Only the optical input is limited to 96kHz signals, but that’s not unusual. 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. is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Sale Ends: 2020-12-05. 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. Physically connecting the right (master) and left (slave) speakers via the included ethernet cable increases native playback to 24-bit/192kHz.

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