A new Kef speaker? The Kef LS Luxe

[Miguelón]

Review with some impressions and some basic measurements.

I find the recording comparisons interesting. He plays a reference track and then the sound as recorded from the speakers.
Very often there’s obvious audible differences with some of the coloured speakers he reviews. I heard very little difference between the reference track, and as played through the KEFs, in those supplied recordings:

Is a nonsense to talk about tonal differences or similarities in a YouTube recording with room response, microphone and (possibly) sound edition.

I listened stuff like that of Neumann KH 120 II: It sounded way different that the sample but is crazy linear.

Apart that the author of the video can edit the recording and making sound as similar as he can to the sample, but even supposing no edition, is not trustable.

 

[Nopiano]

My post on Reddit was way longer than this summary here. The moderators removed it because the ,,depth of the post just after the speakers launch raises questions about its validity“ .

That’s a thought! So how did you get them before launch? Were they freebies?

You mentioned in another post that they’re pretty much the same size as the LS50, however the KEF white paper says they have 50% greater enclosed volume.

 

[Goldhamster916]

I watched this with big anticipation, but I must admit I came away from it a bit befuddled. While it seems impressively clean, I kind of felt that the speaker lacked some 'bite' when compared against the source. Almost like the speaker could not keep up with the source.

Thinking out loud: Is this a downside of the VECO? Maybe the speaker/coil now have become "bandwidth" limited due to the feedback?

also keep in mind KEF, unlike many Hi Fi manufacturers, usually doesn’t boost the treble to create the illusion of a more ,,detailed“ sound. If you boost the treble a bit with EQ you might have the ,,bite“ back that might be missing.

 

[Jazigo]

I would look more at the fact that this is an in-room recording, it's amazing that it sounds as close to the source as it does from that POV. There is some muffling of the sound compared to the source, but "bite" is something that should not be expected to be preserved in this situation. The best we can do is listen for major tonal variations or distortion in this format. As far as that goes I hear nothing obvious.

Certainly, there are many variables here, so I can't draw any conclusions. However, since he uses the same tracks for other speakers, there is no denying that it sound a bit "bite"-less. I know, I know. The door is there; but, is it so that VECO has no downsides?

 

[kharan]

That’s a thought! So how did you get them before launch? Were they freebies?

You mentioned in another post that they’re pretty much the same size as the LS50, however the KEF white paper says they have 50% greater enclosed volume.

LS Luxe : 298 mm x 223 mm x 336 mm = 22 L
LS : 305 x 200 x 311 mm= 20 L

So about 10% difference if you consider how much space it needs, though it looks like the LS Luxe occupies more volume in thatthat bounding box.

 

[kemmler3D]

Certainly, there are many variables here, so I can't draw any conclusions. However, since we uses the same tracks for other speakers, there is no denying that it sound a bit "bite"-less. I know, I know. The door is there; but, is it so that VECO has no downsides?

I think VECO is only relevant to bass and maybe some midrange IMD, so I guess first you would need to define what you mean by "bite" more.

 

[Goldhamster916]

That’s a thought! So how did you get them before launch? Were they freebies?

You mentioned in another post that they’re pretty much the same size as the LS50, however the KEF white paper says they have 50% greater enclosed volume.

I am not sure what I should make of your post but no I haven’t heard them yet and explicitly said that in my social media post multiple times. I made it clear that its just a analysis of the loudspeakers design based on reading the white paper, having similar KEF designs at home and have listened to most current ones. from that I derived some expectations about the performance with a disclaimer that it is just a educated guess, similar to the discussion here.


The internal enclosure volume is 50 percent larger because they could get away with less internal bracing mainly due to the more inert cabinet material. maybe this specific form has some benefits for standing waves and such but I am not certain if it was mentioned in the white paper. The speaker is a few cm higher though.

 

[Miguelón]

No matter the quality of the speakers, they are creating a lot of expectation.

Who will be the first to put those 4 grands and send this two Minions (I'm thinking about Stuart) to Amir...?

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Among other things, these may well turn out to be one of the greatest center channel speakers ever.

 

[staticV3]

Among other things, these may well turn out to be one of the greatest center channel speakers ever.

Except that you can only purchse the Luxe in pairs of two, it must be placed upright making placement awkward, and the only analog input is 3.5mm Aux.

 

[aarons915]

Except that you can only purchse the Luxe in pairs of two, it must be placed upright making placement awkward, and the only analog input is 3.5mm Aux.

This is honestly the stupidest thing about KEF's wireless speakers, they could sell so many more speakers if they had an RCA input for multi channel setups. As someone who at least likes to have identical LCR speakers, I would never buy any of their wireless speakers for that reason alone.

 

[goat76]

I would look more at the fact that this is an in-room recording, it's amazing that it sounds as close to the source as it does from that POV. There is some muffling of the sound compared to the source, but "bite" is something that should not be expected to be preserved in this situation. The best we can do is listen for major tonal variations or distortion in this format. As far as that goes I hear nothing obvious.

I also suspected that the in-room recording degraded the sound, so I listened to a few more of his speaker reviews, and I thought they all were lacking “bite” in the same way as the recording of the KEF speakers.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Except that you can only purchse the Luxe in pairs of two, it must be placed upright making placement awkward, and the only analog input is 3.5mm Aux.

The answer to that one is to get on KEF to sell a single one with the mods to be a center. They will listen if the people in this forum think it's a great idea.

Got your ears on Jack?

 

[goat76]

No matter the quality of the speakers, they are creating a lot of expectation.

Who will be the first to put those 4 grands and send this two Minions (I'm thinking about Stuart) to Amir...?

The hype machine is obviously in full throttle, and what KEF probably dreams about now is that everyone who owns the LS50s will now feel the need for an upgrade. The LS50 must be their best-selling loudspeaker, think about the market potential, first the META upgrade and now this!

 

[Hayabusa]

No matter the quality of the speakers, they are creating a lot of expectation.

Who will be the first to put those 4 grands and send this two Minions (I'm thinking about Stuart) to Amir...?

Sorry, could not resist:

 

[PristineSound]

Luxury should be expensive.

And luxury isn't for people who can't afford it.

KEF makes an entire lineup that targets a wide range of budget. I will be building a home theater soon, and I can only afford the Q series, so that is that and that is life.

One just got to buy what they can afford, and if one can't afford it, move along.

 

[Penelinfi]

This is honestly the stupidest thing about KEF's wireless speakers, they could sell so many more speakers if they had an RCA input for multi channel setups. As someone who at least likes to have identical LCR speakers, I would never buy any of their wireless speakers for that reason alone.

If you really wanted to, you could


Of course, not all wireless speakers have even an analogue input

 

[phoenixdogfan]

All those sites do are advertorials, reviews only exist in very few places

When KEF first released the LS 50 Meta know who got first crack at it? Steve Guttenberg. Steve Frickin' Guttenberg! Guess it's the way KEF likes to do things. First it releases to the shills, then the subjective rags like TAS, then, lastly, serious reviewers like Amir and Erin will get their hands on it.

Personally I don't understand the negativity. I'm sure they will sound like LS 50's that play louder, deeper with less distortion--all really good things, and they will have a unique look that you will either love or hate, just like the Blades, the LS 50's, and Muons before them. Lots of people are going to eat them up. Personally I think they look interesting. They will certainly look like no speaker any audiophile has ever had in his living room, and I think that's kind of a good thing.

And we already know they will come in with superlative measurements. Kef is the Topping of high end speaker companies. The only real downsides as far as I see is there is no passive version for around $2500. Maybe the VECO technology necessitates an active speaker. And of course active means KEF will cease to support it somewhere down the line. Hopefully, all the horror stories about the App are a thing of the past. Hopefully.

Now that Kef is starting to roll out a line of speakers employing their VECO technology, perhaps they should consider adding cardioid speakers to the mix. And while they are it, why not release speakers incorporating Dirac to at least DLBC if not ART, which might encourage buyers to acquire them five at a time.

 

[Hayabusa]

Maybe the VECO technology necessitates an active speaker

100%

 

[Torin Krell]

I applaud KEF's success in creating an enclosure shape close to Olsen's old diagrams on enclosure shapes that optimally minimize sound alteration (diffraction etc). However I wish KEF would have more fun (and even daring) with color & design like Apple did with their original iMac (esp at that iMac series run's end):