Are These Compact Speakers the New Kings of Affordable Hi-Fi?

The seek for the right lively speaker system will undoubtedly lead you towards the KEF LS50 Wireless II. For years it has been thought of the gold customary for lively audio system — taking the place of its predecessor, the LS50 Wireless — delivering the last word mixture of energy, sound constancy and flexibility. You can stream music to them nonetheless you need. You can hook them as much as mainly something, be it your turntable, laptop or TV. And they’ll sound very good.

If there’s a problem with the KEF LS50 Wireless II audio system, it’s that they’re costly and huge. The pair prices $2,500 and the audio system, that are the dimensions of studio screens, collectively weigh almost 45 kilos. The excellent news is that KEF additionally affords the LSX II, which is basically a extra compact and extra reasonably priced model of the LS50 Wireless II. A pair prices $1,400.

If that’s nonetheless too wealthy to your blood, KEF launched an much more reasonably priced lively speaker system in early 2024: the LSX II LT. It prices $1,000 and is almost an identical to the LSX II. The audio system are the identical dimension and form, they usually have the identical UniQ driver array — which locations the tweeter proper smack within the heart of the mid/bass driver — that’s signature KEF. They even have many of the identical streaming capabilities and analog connections.

“The LT is sort of a cool factor — it comes out of the automotive [industry],” says Jack Sharkey, a Senior Technical Engineer at KEF. “If you purchase the LT model of no matter you’re getting one thing that’s perhaps obtained rather less trim, perhaps it doesn’t have seat heaters or leather-based, issues like that, nevertheless it’s nonetheless the identical trip and it’s nonetheless going to get you someplace.”

Of course, KEF made some compromises to shed $400 off the value of its LT lively audio system. But in accordance with Sharkey, these tradeoffs aren’t as large of a deal as you would possibly suppose. And relying the way you’re planning on utilizing the audio system, they won’t be a problem in any respect.

Only one LT speaker requires energy

KEF-LSX-II-LT — The major speaker homes all of the analog connections, energy provide, amplification and DSP. The secondary speaker is only for stereo sound.

The largest design distinction with the LSX II LT is that, in contrast to the LSX II, all of the amplification is constructed into one speaker and thus just one speaker must be related to energy. This doesn’t imply that the LT audio system are considerably much less highly effective, nonetheless.

The LSX II LT has 200 watts of whole energy similar to the LSX II — KEF gave the LSX II LT’s major speaker an upgraded energy provide to deal with all of it. Each speaker remains to be powered by a 30-watt Class D amplifier for the highs and a 70-watt Class D for the mids and lows.

“[The LT] remains to be working two bi-amp sections for every speaker, it’s simply that they’re each residing within the major speaker, ” says Sharkey. “Whereas within the LSX II, they’re separate — every speaker cupboard has its personal amplifier part.”

Putting every part (energy provide, amplification and DSP) in a single speaker fairly than two is without doubt one of the key components for KEF with the ability to decrease the value.

They sound virtually pretty much as good

kef lsx ii speakers — We examined the LSX II audio system (above) after they had been launched in 2022. They can be found in additional finishes.

The LSX II LT audio system sound virtually pretty much as good because the LSX II. They have the identical drivers, identical energy and help many of the identical audio codecs, together with FLAC, WAV, DSD recordsdata and lossless audio as much as 24bit/384kHz. When listening to the 2 completely different audio system, it’s going to be robust to inform the distinction.

If you’re greedy for straws, Sharkey says the LSX II audio system are slightly higher for essential listening.

“You’ll hear slightly bit higher separation,” he explains. “The audio system are going to really work slightly bit simpler [since] they’ve their very own amplifier, nevertheless it’s not an actual large distinction sonically. Somebody with very well educated ears might be going to select up slightly bit higher readability, however I’m actually hesitant to go that far as a result of it’s such a minimal distinction.”

There are two caveats, nonetheless. Unlike the LSX IIs, the LT audio system don’t help Master Quality Authenticated (MQA) tracks they usually aren’t Roon Ready. So should you take heed to a lossless streaming service with MQA tracks, like Tidal, or you may have a Roon system at house, the LSX II audio system are going to be a greater guess.

Both audio system have to tethered collectively, at all times

The different large design distinction with the LSX II LT system is that each audio system have to be tethered collectively — by way of an included USB-C cable — always. This is because of the truth that all of the parts are built-in into the first speaker; the secondary speaker can’t perform with out being hardwire to it.

This is completely different from the LSX II system, which works whether or not the 2 audio system are tethered collectively or not. If the 2 LSX II audio system are tethered collectively by way of the USB-C cable, they will play slightly high-resolution lossless audio, nonetheless.

The important draw back of this tethered connection is that it provides you much less flexibility to put the LSX II LT audio system anyplace you need in your room. There’s an included 9-foot cable within the field, however KEF sells a good longer C-Link cable straight for individuals who want it.

They’re finest paired together with your laptop or TV, however not your turntable

The LSX II and LSX II LT programs are clearly fairly comparable. When requested who ought to contemplate shopping for the LSX II LT over their dearer siblings, Sharkey says it comes down to 3 issues: sound high quality, value and turntable connectivity — the latter of which is the final large tradeoff.

Unlike the LSX IIs, the LT audio system lack an analog AUX enter. This makes them tougher to hook up with an older analog supply — particularly a turntable. You can nonetheless use a USB-C port to simply join them to your laptop computer — or an HDMI ARC to attach them to your TV and use them as an alternative choice to a soundbar. Sharkey suggests they’re finest used as laptop audio system, TV audio system or simply normal house wi-fi audio system.

“If you’re an individual who’s, perhaps not an audiophile, however you continue to wish to expertise that actually crisp high-quality sound, that’s actually the place [the LTs] are going to fall,” he says. “They’re for someone who desires that heightened expertise however isn’t on the price range simply but to do this.”

KEF LSX II LT

The KEF LSX II LT is a extra reasonably priced model of the implausible LSX II lively speaker system. The LTs have many of the identical wi-fi and wired capabilities. The large distinction is that every one the facility and amplification is constructed into the first LT speaker and thus the 2 audio system have to be tethered to one another always. That’s a welcome tradeoff contemplating these new audio system are $400 cheaper.