I first reviewed the unique KEF LSX again in 2019 and had nothing however good issues to say about it. True, wi-fi audio system have been comparatively new at that time. There weren’t a ton of rivals in the marketplace, and on the time I felt like KEF nailed the sound, look, and expertise. Since then, I’ve nominated the LSXes a number of occasions for Golden Ear awards, and I nonetheless suppose they maintain up as improbable streaming audio system with nice sound. Obviously, when requested to overview the KEF LSX IIs ($1399), I principally dropped every thing, instructed my household I might not converse with them for a minimum of a month, collected canned items and bottled water, and started to hibernate with nothing however an Internet connection and a few acoustic-treatment panels. Were the KEFs value this self-imposed and completely pointless (additionally not actual) break from actuality? Probably, but it surely by no means occurred, so we’ll by no means discover out.
Like the unique model, the LSX IIs are compact bookshelf audio system. My overview samples have been wrapped in a gorgeous material across the high and sides, with a clean matte end on the baffle. Three fashions are material coated, one has a gloss purple end, and one has a satin matte enclosure. The Uni-Q driver is the actual star and central focus, with solely a small LED gentle that is still off more often than not however acts as a perform sign. My overview pair have been Cobalt Blue—truthfully, they seemed unbelievable—however there are 5 colours to select from. Visually, they’re not drastically completely different from the unique LSX, which is an efficient factor as a result of KEF obtained their appears proper the primary time. The again of the first speaker consists of a number of bodily connections: HDMI ARC, USC-C for laptops and different units, optical, AUX, and a subwoofer output. And that’s solely the tip of the LSX II’s connectivity iceberg. If I attempted to listing all of the streaming choices, you’d be caught studying this overview perpetually. But listed here are the highlights: Bluetooth, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon Ready, UPnP, together with all the foremost streaming providers. Like I stated, it’s quite a bit, however that’s an excellent factor—the period of time I spent making an attempt to entry my music was principally zero, and that’s precisely what I wished.
Beyond streaming, the LSX II helps a ton of codecs, together with MQA, DSD, FLAC, WAV, Ogg Vorbis, and a bunch of different acronyms. If you have got a selected area of interest acronym you’re actually into, examine the KEF web site. In wi-fi mode, sources are resampled to 48kHz/24-bit PCM; in wired mode, that adjustments to 96kHz/24-bit, which implies you want the flowery CAT6 tether for max sound high quality. I examined this out, and there was a small audible distinction—sufficiently small that I didn’t really feel the necessity to depart it related. That stated, I discovered the tether was fairly lengthy (it really works as much as 10 meters); it will be simple to maintain the audio system plugged collectively, and the tether hidden on both aspect of a tv console, for instance, though I did most of my listening within the wi-fi mode, and all of the notes beneath are untethered. I wished my LSX IIs to be free.
Some remaining particulars: The LSX IIs are appropriate with each 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi and all the newest fancy community customary letters, which implies they will stream as quick as your router can pump out these waves. Frequency response is claimed to be 54Hz–28kHz, and people numbers really feel consultant of my expertise—there’s a cause the LSX IIs include a sub output. If you’re in search of life-changing bass, these received’t get you there, however I’ll say that I used to be extraordinarily and pleasantly stunned by how properly the LSX IIs dealt with the intense ends of the sound spectrum and by no means actually yearned for deeper bass throughout my listening, besides when partaking with quiet acoustic music, however I’ll get to that. As at all times, particular person tastes fluctuate.
That was a whole lot of technical information. Here’s the factor although: The LSX IIs are half {hardware} and half software program. These are technical audio system, basically half pc and half output gadget, and the software program is deeply embedded and meshed into the listening expertise. All that stuff I listed above principally disappears as a result of all of it works invisibly. Which brings me to the set-up portion of the overview—and that is the primary time the LSX IIs actually outshone their LSX counterparts. The field unfolded and allowed the audio system to be simply lifted out. I obtained them positioned on their stands, plugged them into the wall (sure, each particular person audio system have an influence twine, hold that in thoughts), and powered them up. I wanted a smartphone to obtain the KEF Connect app, and from there it was brainlessly easy—my favourite sort of easy. With the unique LSX, I wanted to tether them collectively to ensure they have been correctly up to date and put in, however that’s no extra. The LSX II up to date seamlessly and wirelessly, which means as soon as they have been put in place, untethered, and able to go, I by no means needed to fear about taking them out and tethering them collectively once more.
And I’ll say that the KEF Connect app is definitely fairly good. I’ve been very vital of {hardware} producers making apps, however KEF actually stunned me right here. The app is properly designed and configured in such a approach that an actual, non-techie human would really be capable to use it. All the speaker controls are within the settings—from quantity to efficiency to updates to preferences. There are detailed EQ tweaks within the professional mode, from the subwoofer-out low-pass frequency to bass extension to treble trim and so forth, and a way more simplified expertise in regular DSP mode. I messed round with EQ however finally didn’t take listening notes utilizing any of my EQ tweaks (although I used to be very tempted to go away them in place). I’ll say that I barely used the app, although it’s objectively good and properly finished. KEF calls the LSX II plug-and-play, and that’s fully proper. The audio system sound good proper out of the field, and setup is extremely simple. And now updates don’t require the tether-dance! Honestly, the quality-of-life enhancements have been completely worthwhile, already.
But on to what everybody cares about: How do they sound? My preliminary impressions have been that the LSX IIs aren’t vastly completely different from the unique LSXes. Not on the floor anyway. They look the identical, use the identical amplification and driver system, and have related bodily connectivity. There are variations—and I’ll get to them—however general, they’ve a really related sound, and that makes a whole lot of sense: They use the identical primary drivers. The actual adjustments come within the form of software program, most significantly a redesigned DSP system and another minor tweaks underneath the hood. And that, of us, is an excellent factor. I cherished the unique LSXes for his or her true wirelessness, their simplicity, and their bigger-than-you’d-think sound. The LSX IIs take all of that and elevate it and refine it, together with the massive sound, the crisp mids, the toe-tapping rhythm, and every thing else that made the originals so good. The LSX IIs have been what I cherished concerning the originals however higher.
The fantastic thing about true wi-fi streaming like that of the LSX IIs is the sheer quantity of music accessible on all of the platforms, and a lot of it’s high-resolution today. Gone are glitchy MP3s downloaded off Napster, which can or could not embody the monitor you wished. I caught with Tidal for many of this overview, although I additionally listened to music off Qobuz and my private NAS system. Anyway, I began with the album Most Normal by Gilla Band, which is an Irish post-punk rock band. On “Almost Soon,” the drums have been a stable and driving spine holding collectively singer Dara Kiely’s spoken, shouted, and belted lyrics, whereas grinding, absolutely distorted guitars growled and chugged within the background. It’s a unusually warped album, alternating between spare and complex with nearly each impact on the planet thrown into the combo, and the LSX IIs did an ideal job of retaining every instrument and sound in its correct place. I used to be stunned by the imaging at first, however rapidly obtained used to its very tight soundstage and its extraordinarily huge panorama. What might come off as a mushy mess sounded tight and thrilling by way of the LSX IIs, and I felt their sense of rhythm actually shone brightly. I think this needed to do with KEF’s new DSP system error-correcting within the background and retaining every thing in part, and it labored splendidly all through Most Normal’s unusual and shifting kaleidoscope of sound and noise.
Next, I placed on the monitor “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls, as a result of it stays a improbable music, and also you’re mistaken in case you disagree, and anyway, the guitars had a very nice acoustic twang, and the strings sang within the background with a gradual and sleek lilt, which implies the mids have been locked in tight. The drums by no means fairly dug down deep, though the LSX IIs do have a bass extension choice of their DSP settings, however this didn’t hassle me an excessive amount of—they’re small all-in-ones, and I didn’t count on room-shaking low finish. I by no means felt like I used to be lacking a complete audio spectrum, and the LSX IIs obtained lots loud sufficient to fill my pretty massive listening house. I rolled proper into “Slide” subsequent and felt the tambourine within the background was a contact muted, a little bit gentle, however the singer’s voice was solidly centered, and when the drums dropped in, I obtained an excellent palpable sense of physique and weight. Overall, I used to be grooving like I used to be 10 years outdated once more, listening to the radio in my dad and mom’ laundry room whereas enjoying StarCraft on their PC, which could’ve been my peak.
Sticking with rock from my glory days, I placed on the monitor “A Favor House Atlantic” by Coheed and Cambria. Singer Claudio Sanchez’s borderline falsetto is the star of this music, and his forceful singing is a hurricane in itself. The guitars sounded huge and daring, and the drumming was taut, and I used to be glad by how massive and expansive the LSX IIs sounded if pushed. This album, In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3, is cinematic in scope, and it begs for giant, daring, room-crushing presentation. The LSX IIs aren’t going to interrupt any home windows, however they positively would get up my children if I performed them loud throughout nap time, which really occurred as soon as—thanks KEF (I’m blaming you for my poor decisions). During the monitor “Cuts Marked within the March of Men,” Sanchez’s voice zoomed and constructed and chorused over itself into epic heights because the guitars churned and burned beneath, and the LSXs gave me an excellent sense of planetary scope even with out plumbing the bottom depths of the sound spectrum.
One factor value noting: As I used to be ending up this overview, Roon formally green-lit the LSX IIs, and I made a decision to carry off and provides it a hear for a couple of days to get a way of the way it labored. It sounded nice, however there have been some glitches. In specific, streaming MQA tracks noticed the rendering system drop a couple of occasions, although streaming those self same tracks on the Tidal app didn’t trigger the identical pauses and dropouts. I think it is a Roon subject and never KEF’s fault, and I’m certain it’ll get a software program patch quickly. It’s additionally value mentioning that something with a software program focus can inevitably have some minor issues—however these minor issues most of the time get fastened.
I cherished my time with the LSX IIs. The greatest items of kit get slotted into my listening room and principally disappear if I’m not actively taking listening notes and evaluating them to different gear. They develop into the medium by way of which I’m having fun with music and nothing else. The LSX IIs vanished virtually the second they have been arrange, and I obtained over the transient studying curve and actually dove into what they will do. After a day, their novelty wore off, and I discovered myself listening to music for the enjoyable of it, and that’s actually the largest takeaway from this complete overview. I used to be delighted by their sound, their ease-of-use, and all of the necessary enhancements KEF labored into the LSX IIs. If anybody’s in search of a pair of wi-fi audio system that may do absolutely anything at a genuinely affordable worth, these ought to be on the high of the listing.
Specs & Pricing
Drivers: Uni-Q driver array (19mm aluminum dome and 115mm magnesium/aluminum alloy cone)
Frequency response: 54Hz–28kHz (±3dB, relying on EQ settings)
Amplifier output energy: 70W/30W, Class D
Wireless streaming: AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Roon Ready, UPnP appropriate, Bluetooth 4.2
Source resolutions: Network as much as 384kHz/24bit; optical as much as 96kHz/24bit; USB Type C as much as 192kHz/24bit; HDMI as much as 1.411Mbps PCM
Supported codecs: MQA, DSD, FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, AAC, WMA, MP3, M4A, LPCM and Ogg Vorbis
Dimensions: 9.5″ × 6.1″ × 7.1″
Weight: 15.6 lbs. (per pair)
Price: $1399
KEF
10 Timber Lane
Marlboro, NJ, 07746
(732) 683-2356
kef.com
The submit KEF LSX II Wireless Loudspeaker appeared first on The Absolute Sound.
Adaptive allowing high-resolution music transmission from compatible streaming services and devices, enabled by 24-bit/48kHz wireless transmission between each earbud. Together, these two technologies continue to make the Pi7 S2 one of very few True
