A new Kef speaker? The Kef LS Luxe

[whazzup]

Many times when we got a unit back for service all the bands were at maximum gain...

HAHAHA..... I think I may have done that too with my old old systems..... before I knew better...

 

[kharan]

I just realized that 22 L of external volume is roughly the same as an A6B or a KH 150, both of which are considered close to state of the art when it comes to bass extension for that size.

 

[Gwen 22]

I just realized that 22 L of external volume is roughly the same as an A6B or a KH 150, both of which are considered close to state of the art when it comes to bass extension for that size.

I've noticed the same thing; that said, the KH 150 has a slightly larger internal volume (12.6 L, if I recall correctly), which should give it an edge in the bass.

 

[Tell]

I just realized that 22 L of external volume is roughly the same as an A6B or a KH 150, both of which are considered close to state of the art when it comes to bass extension for that size.

My Ino Audio piP got an internal volume of 11 L iirc and can reach down to 35Hz with it 4" woofer (designed to be close to the wall for some extra boundary gain), so I'm not surprised that KEF can reach low, but of course depends on how close to the wall you place them and how loud you want to play.

 

[Gwen 22]

See NTK's post earlier. A company picks and chooses their battles.

A new Kef speaker? The Kef LS Luxe

They also have Spotify connect ? Is it really missing from this new speaker @pthakkar24 It’s literally the first streaming service mentioned on their spec sheet.

www.audiosciencereview.com

What was relevant for an LS60 when it was released isn't necessarily relevant today for an LS Luxe.

I fully understand that those who hang out on this forum and other specialized forums do not represent the majority of KEF LS Luxe customers, but given that the competition offers, in the vast majority of cases, room correction —a feature highlighted by retailers—this leads buyers, even if they know nothing about it and don’t understand the ins and outs, to question models that don’t include it.....

 

[tmtomh]

Is it Roon Ready? Roon has PEQ that could be employed.

I believe it’s supposed to work with Roon starting early next year.

 

[Karmacoma]

I just realized that 22 L of external volume is roughly the same as an A6B or a KH 150, both of which are considered close to state of the art when it comes to bass extension for that size.

Very different design choices to reach the same goal.
I'm eager to have extended measurements to see how they compete.

 

[singular]

Hi again to everybody,

talking about farfield...about 3m distance.
I dont think you need something more for clean flat frequency response than what VECO does with DSP and DSP EQ.
And well damped room.

Of course you can use FIR externally.
I prefer room treatment.

 

[Gwen 22]

Hi again to everybody,

talking about farfield...about 3m distance.
I dont think you need something more for clean flat frequency response than what VECO does with DSP and DSP EQ.
And well damped room.

Of course you can use FIR externally.
I prefer room treatment.

It’s in a “neat field” that room-mode issues are minimized; at 3 meters, reflections are significant! (In a standard room). Acoustically treating the room is indeed ideal, but in a living room, that’s not necessarily practical (WAF).

 

[OllieMarshall]

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.

Agree on approx ratio, but assume these are external dims right? Wall thickness will massively eat away at usable volume. Would be surprised of LS50WII has 10L of air volume inside. Does anyone know what the cabinet is made from? And wall thickness

 

[Gwen 22]

Agree on approx ratio, but assume these are external dims right? Wall thickness will massively eat away at usable volume. Would be surprised of LS50WII has 10L of air volume inside. Does anyone know what the cabinet is made from? And wall thickness

AOR report that the internal volume ou the LD50WII was 7L and the one of the LS Luxe 10.6 L

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

Agree on approx ratio, but assume these are external dims right? Wall thickness will massively eat away at usable volume. Would be surprised of LS50WII has 10L of air volume inside. Does anyone know what the cabinet is made from? And wall thickness

"a custom blend of glass fibre-reinforced BMC (BulkMoulded Compound) was developed. This is the samematerial used for the front baffle of the LS50 Meta andWireless II loudspeakers." From the white paper: https://images.salsify.com/image/upload/s--3dv0Hd7p--/myoxbujcbvrsfpjkmrph.pdf

Knocking on it will probably give many audiophiles a feeling of satisfaction.

 

[singular]

It’s in a “neat field” that room-mode issues are minimized; at 3 meters, reflections are significant! (In a standard room). Acoustically treating the room is indeed ideal, but in a living room, that’s not necessarily practical (WAF).

I did it with IIR EQ implemented in the DSP filter biquads (so no EQ modul), in non-symetric space, in small room opened on two sides.
It was clear very soon that treated or dedicated room is neccessary.
It always starts with rear wall.

By my experience there is no chance for critical listening of music in untreated room.
It could be joyful, yes, it depence mostly on acoustic phase of speakers, not peaks and dips n midbass range.

Bass range is well done only when is localizable from both speakers the same time and level.
Then you do not need a "physical" bass, and this one is not moving left-right, nor making other dips.
Thus symmetric room setup is the easy way.

Of course it depends all on how the speaker is radiating the sound, and then somehow nearfield is easier.
One can realize that to enjoy music are headphones better, especially when every small change in living room ( glass of wine, other person ) can destroy the setup.

If speakers are not well made in those criteria, then there is only FIR to change it, with more or less compromise result ( waterfall ).
That is my observation.

 

[HeadDoc12]

Room EQ!! One of the biggest missing features on the LS60 in my (and others') opinion. I wonder if this is a KEF Connect feature and they'll backport it, or does this new speaker really have that much more DSP power under the hood?

I don't know about the LS60, but the LS50WII lets you make SOME adjustment - in the Advanced section of the KEF Connect app you can tell it how far the speakers are from the wall, if they are on stands or not, and also whether the room is Lively, Moderate or Damped. That's pretty much it, and I would be VERY surprised if the LS60 doesn't have those setting options.

 

[HeadDoc12]

If you really wanted to, you could
View attachment 548506

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

That's how my turntable (with built-in phono stage) is connected to my LS50WIIs!

 

[singular]

Even rack for electronics could destroy the stereo scene.

Some guys may disagree,

and I agree...I know one audiophile listening at very loud levels every day.
His setup is under my stadards, but it works and plays music.

The speakers and electronics are good, but he lives in old wooden cottage.
There is a wooden column just in the middle of the triangle.
There is flexible floor from wood with large gaps and with carpet on it.
Underneath is air pocket and arch of stones from cellar.
Together nice bass traps in floor, but one day it cracks and whole stereo goes to the floor.

Speakers are moving freely.

When I listen to music there, I start to clean things on long wooden table in front of him.
Then starting to cover and damp shiny surfaces.

I try my best, however he is happy with 6 washed LP's and 8 beercans on the table, vaccum cleaner between the speakers, and electric heater nearby.

He rather buy a new turntable which is immune to moving floor in high SPL levels, then to make new floor.

And I somehow understand hiis attitude.
I cannot say it is bad sound, just different philosophy.

 

[Chanur]

I am pretty certain the average buyer has no clue what PEQ is. Or how to use it. People on this site and other audio-focused sites are not average buyers. Should KEF have included it? Maybe, but the ROI isn't there.

I would counter that the average buyer isn't buying 4000 dollar powered KEF speakers either.

Also I think you would be surprised about how many normies know about room correction now days since basically every AVR and many sound bars come with it now days.

 

[Gwen 22]

I did it with IIR EQ implemented in the DSP filter biquads (so no EQ modul), in non-symetric space, in small room opened on two sides.
It was clear very soon that treated or dedicated room is neccessary.
It always starts with rear wall.

By my experience there is no chance for critical listening of music in untreated room.
It could be joyful, yes, it depence mostly on acoustic phase of speakers, not peaks and dips n midbass range.

Bass range is well done only when is localizable from both speakers the same time and level.
Then you do not need a "physical" bass, and this one is not moving left-right, nor making other dips.
Thus symmetric room setup is the easy way.

Of course it depends all on how the speaker is radiating the sound, and then somehow nearfield is easier.
One can realize that to enjoy music are headphones better, especially when every small change in living room ( glass of wine, other person ) can destroy the setup.

If speakers are not well made in those criteria, then there is only FIR to change it, with more or less compromise result ( waterfall ).
That is my observation.

So we agree that at 3 meters, the reflections are significant .
I agree with you that the easiest way to take the room out of the equation is to listen with headphones—I actually have a few pairs myself.
Of course, I don't dispute that acoustic treatment of a room is always preferable to correcting resonances via DSP; however, this isn't always possible or even desirable in a living room, where critical listening is rarely the goal.
But that’s no reason not to do our utmost to minimize room modes, and modern room mode correction —which, while they can’t work miracles, fundamentally improve performance in this area, and it’s clear that while these features have been available on competing speakers for at least five or six years, KEF has so far overlooked them—which is detrimental to the overall sound quality in the living rooms of ordinary people.

 

[mhardy6647]

Sorry, I'm not buying luxe speakers only to have to patch in a cheap workaround that then disables all the built-in connectivity that I paid for.

Do better, KEF.

No worries, just wait for the LS Luxe SE ... or maybe they will call it the LS Luxe Pro.

 

[Gwen 22]

Just look at eq this way: you can make your luxe Kef superdeluxe by adding a Wiim.
(I did the same for my luxe B&O. LOL)

The reason I own KEF LS50 W2 speakers is precisely because I have significant WAF constraints and so isn’t necessarily keen on adding a"box" . If – though, to be honest, I doubt it – I manage to convince my better half that this is a very good idea, I honestly wouldn’t go for the KEF LS Luxe, as I’d be paying for streaming and connectivity features that I’m going to bypass, in this particular case, I’m going for the Neumann KH 150s and saving at least €1,500.