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Kali Audio LP-UNF

Just got mine pair, for Sim Rig setup, conected to TV (for now via headphone jack, later will setup the Optical path - > RCA)
got to say, excellent sound for that size. Doing its job as expected. Even low extend good enough to feel engine sound / track sound.
 
Ordered these 8 days ago.... original connector cord was too short, so I ordered the Kali 8 ft version.

Longer cord arrived -- man, I love these speakers. Sound great . Well worth it.

I have them about 40 inches from my ears at my desk - about 56 inches apart.

I have connected w/ USB-C and w/ RCA cable. Both from my PC.

My PC has an internal RealTek DAC that can output 24/192.

When I connect w/ RCA, I hear 24/192 when I stream from Amazon Music. The Amazon music desktop app can confirm track quality, device (speaker) capability, and what bitrate the music is playing at.

When connecting with USB-C, the internal LP-UNF DAC converts everything to 24/48.

I swear the music via the RCA cables sounds better, but that could be placebo, because I don't think my ears are that great.... but still, should I stick with RCA or go w/ USB-C?

The upside to USB-C is the speaker volume controls work; they do not work with RCA (have to use the PC speaker controls).
 
Highlands Ranch CO said:
I swear the music via the RCA cables sounds better, but that could be placebo, because I don't think my ears are that great.... but still, should I stick with RCA or go w/ USB-C?
Click to expand...
The LP-UNF uses a DSP crossover, so inputting your audio digitally via USB will give you cleaner audio as it removes one D->A and one A->D conversion from your chain.

Since the DSP most likely runs at 24/48 internally, you probably do not get true 192kHz playback anyway, no matter if you're using USB or RCA.

Even if the DSP ran at 192kHz, or the analog inputs were connected directly to the internal amplifiers, you would not get higher sound quality when playing 192kHz content.

That's because the audible information stored in an audio track is completely identical between a 48kHz and 192kHz version.

All that the 192kHz version adds is potentially some ultrasonic noise.

This ultrasonic noise has no effect on the audible contents of the track and serves no purpose.
 
staticV3 said:
The LP-UNF uses a DSP crossover, so inputting your audio digitally via USB will give you cleaner audio as it removes one D->A and one A->D conversion from your chain.

Since the DSP most likely runs at 24/48 internally, you probably do not get true 192kHz playback anyway, no matter if you're using USB or RCA.

Even if the DSP ran at 192kHz, or the analog inputs were connected directly to the internal amplifiers, you would not get higher sound quality when playing 192kHz content.

That's because the audible information stored in an audio track is completely identical between a 48kHz and 192kHz version.

All that the 192kHz version adds is potentially some ultrasonic noise.

This ultrasonic noise has no effect on the audible contents of the track and serves no purpose.
Click to expand...

Thank you - I am a bit confused. Are you saying the data displayed by the Amazon app is incorrect?
This specific song displays this when connected via RCA --
1719930474758.png


If I switch to USB-C, the same song would display...
Track Quality 24/192
Device Capability 24/48
Currently playing at 24/48
due to the internal Kali DAC
 
Highlands Ranch CO said:
Thank you - I am a bit confused. Are you saying the data displayed by the Amazon app is incorrect?
Click to expand...
I am not saying that.

Though you may be streaming 192kHz audio from Amazon's servers and converting it to analog at the full sample rate, before the audio reaches the LP-UNF's woofers and tweeters, it is likely being digitized at 48kHz for processing, which would remove any ultrasonic content that may have been present in the file.
 
Last edited:
staticV3 said:
I am not saying that.

Though you may be streaming 192kHz audio from Amazon's servers and converting it to analog at the full sample rate, before the audio reaches the LP-UNF's woofers and tweeters, it is likely being digitized at 48kHz for processing, which would remove any ultrasonic contented that may have been present in the file.
Click to expand...
Thanks - is there any way to bypass the Kali DAC and use the DAC in my PC?
 
Anyway, the need of sample rates way beyond 44.1KHz is a myth perpetuated by crooked audio marketing for obvious reasons.

The same sound captured below the Nyquist limit is exactly the same no matter if it was sampled at the minimum 2x requirement or a quadrillion times more.
 
I hope someone can help me.

I am an absolute noob in this area. I come straight to the question: How are the LP-UNF for the price? Or is there something better to buy? For the price of 349€ I could buy the HS5, A308, 305P MKII.
 
I researched a ton of reviews and love the LP-UNF.
The size is perfect for a desktop environment.
Plenty of bass and the dip switch adjustments do make a difference.
I did not want to buy a DAC or amplifier, so these are perfect for me as powered speakers.
Straight from my PC to the speakers via USB-C or RCA.
As for price, I had cheaper Edifier speakers and the UNF’s are much cleaner and to me priced about right.
IMHO, I would have to go up to KEF-tier pricing for something better.
 
Personal tastes and needs may vary quite a bit, but I think that a good deal of users appreciate a little desktop quality speaker.
I have my hifi which I don't dislike and quite rarely use, also because sitting at my computer I have the two speakers floorstanding at my left and right side on the same line where I sit. If I want to listen to some music I have to move back at least 2 mt., which is a no go if I need to make some little edits, or eq a recording (mostly classical piano takes of concerts or audition performances). In need of a little desktop pair for a very close position ( 0.5 / 0.8 and quite close to the wall), but also seeking a for honest and good response for detailed listening, I wonder if these LP UNFs are up to the task or better to move towards the little Genelecs, or Yamaha msp or others you may suggest.
 
I received the speakers today and am very impressed with the sound. But the connecting cable of the UNF is so heavy and stiff that the plugs never sit straight in the socket, but always pull slightly downwards. Either use a different type of plug or provide this connector with hooks, as known from the PC sector, simply clip in and the plugs also hold the heavy cable in position. Let's see what I do, of course you don't fiddle with it all the time, but the solution is not well thought out, just like the rest of the speaker, apart from the look :facepalm:
 
Hi guys, I have just gotten these speakers a few weeks ago and they sound superb! The only problem I am facing is that one two occasions so far, the speakers will become unresponsive and not play any audio, after a period of being idle (for example, after I go to bed and wake up). I am not sure if it is in some sort of "sleep" mode and not waking up, or if there is a hardware glitch. The blue light at the front is still on. I have tried disconnecting and reconnecting the USB C cable, and touching the volume adjust (which respond in terms of the blue LED), but still no audio comes out. The only fix is to turn it off and on again, which seems to reset the problem. Anyone else faced this? Should I send this in for warranty?
 
restorer-john said:
Let's hope he tests against the claimed output power of the internal amplifiers. 160W total (40W per amplifier), with a 75W power supply...
Click to expand...
Erin published his review of the LP-UNF about five months ago:

Kali Audio LP-UNF Desktop Speaker Review

Kali Audio LP-UNF Desktop Speaker Review
www.erinsaudiocorner.com

Capacitors and crest factors enable higher peak output power than sustained input power.

See for example Genelec's line of PoE-powered speakers.
 
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