A new Kef speaker? The Kef LS Luxe

[Gwen 22]

Some of them would know that this speaker can't be 100% analog anyhow.

It could be that the ls luxe is 'perfect enough' for now, they already have the veco-patent and are busy developing new products. Like veco subwoofers. Combined with that Unicore(?) system it would quite complicated.. Or a large speaker with veco, possibly with a port tuned at 20 Hz!

As much as I really like KEF speakers and appreciate their scientific approach to the issue, none of their subwoofers have ever won me over—especially when compared to SVS or Arendal (I’m in Europe, (in France ) in the U.S., you have far more subwoofer specialists).

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

As much as I really like KEF speakers and appreciate their scientific approach to the issue, none of their subwoofers have ever won me over—especially when compared to SVS or Arendal (I’m in Europe, (in France ) in the U.S., you have far more subwoofer specialists).

As a KEF speaker owner I think that the Uni-Q is technically, and commercially, a very clever system to keep costumers satisfied. And for that reason they are maybe afraid to implement room correction and they make low-tuned ported speakers and sealed subwoofers. So that the music loving but not 'technical' customers can get an adequate bass response, with less disturbing room resonances.
It would be nice if their active speakers have an 'advanced' mode, with at least just an equalizer, so that a lot of customers would be happier, measuring, or even by ear, with a (build-in) low frequency generator. 'Hearing is believing' in this case and a short explanation in the manual about room modes with some pictures would be not that hard to understand for quite some people.

 

[MarkS]

Steinway-Lyngdorf seems to be able to sell high-end speakers and electronics with room correction to lifestyle-oriented customers.

https://steinwaylyngdorf.com/roomperfect

 

[mhardy6647]

Steinway-Lyngdorf seems to be able to sell high-end speakers and electronics with room correction to lifestyle-oriented customers.

https://steinwaylyngdorf.com/roomperfect

This post gave me pause.

Now that you mention it, @MarkS, there are a couple of potentially interesting (i.e., intere$ting) types of customers from an audio component manufacturer's perspective.
One is the cost-no-object, one-and-done market. A small but good target for high-margin products.

The other is the neo-classic , 21st Century version of the audiophile. Their philosophy is more like multitudes-and-never done. Tweaking and tinkering are part of the value proposition. They seem to want products with some flaw that can be fixed in 6 to 12 months with release of the MK II, SE or PRO edition of their first purchase. In one fiscal year, that customer's bought two products from you.
cha-ching!

The opportunity for high margin products is pretty good with the latter type of customer, too, I reckon.

KEF seems to aim at the first (?) segment with a product unabashedly monikered Luxe.
But perhaps (??) they are delivering a product better suited for the second segment.

How long after the LS50 did the LS50 Meta come out?

OK I actually looked it up*. The LS50 was introduced in May 2012 and the LS50 Meta in Sept. 2020.
Well, so much for that thesis, I guess.

_______________
* No, I didn't I asked google's AI, so keep that in mind when you read my regurgitation of what it said.

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

Steinway-Lyngdorf seems to be able to sell high-end speakers and electronics with room correction to lifestyle-oriented customers.

https://steinwaylyngdorf.com/roomperfect

Still, KEF has been reluctant to use such a system. They are busy and think (or thought) that most customers wouldn't use it. Maybe negative feedback (edit: to KEF. Positively ment, of course) will have a positive effect in this case as well.

Edit: Edited after the reaction of @terryforsythe hereafter.

 

[terryforsythe]

Still, KEF has been reluctant to use such a system. They are busy and think (or thought) that most customers wouldn't use it. Maybe negative feedback will have a positive effect in this case as well.

Negative feedback isn't going to do much for room correction. Negative feedback is a way to lower distortion and lower the bass extension, but those are distinct from room modes.

 

[Rõlnnbacke]

Negative feedback isn't going to do much for room correction. Negative feedback is a way to lower distortion and lower the bass extension, but those are distinct from room modes.

I ment negative feedback from (potential) customers to KEF. Like so often in this thread already.

 

[HeadDoc12]

I am coming around to these, after my initial skepticism. Here’s what I think happened (maybe). They wanted to put VECO tech into the LS50 W III. Then they realized it didn’t make a dramatic enough difference with the LS50WII-sized Uni-Q. They decided to experiment with using larger drivers, and landed on the 6.5” version. Then they realized that the cabinet would be bigger, maybe too big for a stand mount (‘cause they’re not D & D). They call Ross Lovegrove for help, they figure out that’s if they make the whole cabinet out of the baffle material, they won’t need bracing, so it doesn’t have to be as big, Lovegrove makes it a blob, et voila. It actually does seem to be a nice evolution/upgrade.
NOW, I have some demands. Use all the tech from the Luxe, let Lovegrove loose on an LS70 (5 years away, I know), and make sure to use woofers at least as big as those in the Blade 2. An LS60 with a big, curvy, unbraced cabinet and bass down to 20Hz (at meaningful SPL) will basically be a Blade 3 Active.
The second demand: Since KEF is certainly revamping all of their subwoofers, my request is that’s the next iteration of the KC62 take a page from SVS. KEF engineers should respect that the 3000 Micro enlarged its drivers without changing the cabinet size. Make a KC82 to go with the Luxe!
Either way, you’ll have my money.

 

[Grimoire]

I am coming around to these, after my initial skepticism. Here’s what I think happened (maybe). They wanted to put VECO tech into the LS50 W III. Then they realized it didn’t make a dramatic enough difference with the LS50WII-sized Uni-Q. They decided to experiment with using larger drivers, and landed on the 6.5” version. Then they realized that the cabinet would be bigger, maybe too big for a stand mount (‘cause they’re not D & D). They call Ross Lovegrove for help, they figure out that’s if they make the whole cabinet out of the baffle material, they won’t need bracing, so it doesn’t have to be as big, Lovegrove makes it a blob, et voila. It actually does seem to be a nice evolution/upgrade.
NOW, I have some demands. Use all the tech from the Luxe, let Lovegrove loose on an LS70 (5 years away, I know), and make sure to use woofers at least as big as those in the Blade 2. An LS60 with a big, curvy, unbraced cabinet and bass down to 20Hz (at meaningful SPL) will basically be a Blade 3 Active.
The second demand: Since KEF is certainly revamping all of their subwoofers, my request is that’s the next iteration of the KC62 take a page from SVS. KEF engineers should respect that the 3000 Micro enlarged its drivers without changing the cabinet size. Make a KC82 to go with the Luxe!
Either way, you’ll have my money.

I'm speculating, but isn't there a load of speculation in that?

 

[HeadDoc12]

I'm speculating, but isn't there a load of speculation in that?

For sure, a ton of speculation! Just having fun until I can figure out if I want to trade in my LS50W2s for these!

 

[mhardy6647]

I'm speculating, but isn't there a load of speculation in that?

how delightfully meta.

 

[geox]

Some of them would know that this speaker can't be 100% analog anyhow.

It could be that the ls luxe is 'perfect enough' for now, they already have the veco-patent and are busy developing new products. Like veco subwoofers. Combined with that Unicore(?) system it would quite complicated.. Or a large speaker with veco, possibly with a port tuned at 20 Hz!

+1

Id love for Kef to test the market with the veco tech. They are playing safe imo. , Id like them to take veco to the extremes - Buds and full range bookshelves for HT / Listening.

 

[Gwen 22]

As for the design of the LS Luxe, I seem to recall that Dr. Jack Oclee Brown said when the LS Meta was released that the reason it looked so much like the original LS50 was because the original design was excellent (in terms of diffraction), and that improving it would require a complete redesign of the speaker.
I wonder if the complete redesign he was referring to is what led to the LS Luxe!

I'm going from memory, but I can't seem to find the interview in question Well, on the other hand, I read so much about the LS50 Meta when they came out that my memory might be playing tricks on me!

 

[Jazigo]

I'm going from memory, but I can't seem to find the interview in question

I think it is from the KEF presentation that was done on audioholics youtube channel.

 

[Gwen 22]

I think it is from the KEF presentation that was done on audioholics youtube channel.

Now that you mention it, that's very possible Thank you !

 

[aarons915]

@jackocleebrown or other KEF reps, hopefully since this new 6.5" driver has been invented we can expect a passive version of the LS50 with a larger driver? Or does this require some of the tech from the active version to be feasible?

 

[Redogfizbal]

Well I’m not surprised, but these are fantastic speakers. Very resolving, massive stage. They look even better in person, my wife even said she likes them because they don’t look like speakers. I have the dusk titanium color. There’s a problem though. Because they are sold as a lifestyle speaker with no compromises, I do have to compromise on the software. I need room correction. It’s so bad at my movie watching position that they sound like 15.00 cheap speakers from Walmart. Unless I’m sitting in the perfect position in my room they are basically useless. So do I compromise and purchase a wiim ultra so I can correct for what should already be built into a no compromise speaker system, or should I just return them and buy something like Cabasse offers?

 

[staticV3]

So do I compromise and purchase a wiim ultra so I can correct for what should already be built into a no compromise speaker system, or should I just return them and buy something like Cabasse offers?

FYI, unless you plan on adding a sub, the WiiM Mini will do just as good a job feeding streamed audio digitally into the KEF and applying room correction.

Plus, the Mini supports AirPlay which the Ultra lacks

And you may be able do this: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ef-speaker-the-kef-ls-luxe.72338/post-2651783

Might make the pill easier to swallow.

 

[kemmler3D]

Well I’m not surprised, but these are fantastic speakers. Very resolving, massive stage. They look even better in person, my wife even said she likes them because they don’t look like speakers. I have the dusk titanium color. There’s a problem though. Because they are sold as a lifestyle speaker with no compromises, I do have to compromise on the software. I need room correction. It’s so bad at my movie watching position that they sound like 15.00 cheap speakers from Walmart. Unless I’m sitting in the perfect position in my room they are basically useless. So do I compromise and purchase a wiim ultra so I can correct for what should already be built into a no compromise speaker system, or should I just return them and buy something like Cabasse offers?

Any WiiM with a digital input and output should work in terms of adding room correction and zero degradation of the signal, it just depends which WiiM unit has the right inputs for you. I do TV --> Optical in on WiiM Pro --> Coax in LS60. It seems dumb to have to do it this way, but it does work.

 

[MarkS]

I didn't realize that Wiim sells a $99 device with room correction, that's amazing.

More generally, this is an issue with putting everything inside the speaker. Active speakers have clear advantages over passive, but putting more than the amps and crossover inside leads to issues with future-proofing.