KEF Koda W and WiiM Pro Plus. What for $1,200 is going to beat it?

[dtaylo1066]

I am thinking of getting powered speakers, as I like the idea of being able to move them around to various rooms with ease. I listened to the KEF Koda W last week at a hi-fi store and was very impressed. They have a larger driver than the LSX II or II LT but do not have lossless audio streaming/Wi-Fi, only Bluetooth. I am a tidal user. I am really wondering what could top the Koda W and a WiiM streamer at $1,200?

I have not heard the Klipsh The Sevens.

Thoughts?

 

[staticV3]

A WiiM Pro Plus with its fancy DAC would only make sense if the Coda W does not support directly feeding its DSP crossover digitally, via the SPDIF input.

If the Coda W's crossover can be fed directly from the SPDIF input, without an additional D->A and A>D conversion happening internally, upstream of the crossover, then streaming to the KEF via a WiiM Mini connected using Optical would result in higher signal fidelity than with a WiiM Pro Plus connected via RCA, but at less than half the cost.

 

[somebodyelse]

The Coda W has a selection of inputs including optical. Unless you're planning to use that for something else there's no need to spend the extra on the Pro Plus. The question then is whether you need any of the extras the Pro has over the Mini.

Do you intend to use any of the other inputs? If not there are a bunch of other powered speakers that may offer better value, depending on what you think of their appearance. If you're prepared to go with passives with the same number of boxes you could go with one of the Wiim Amp models and something like the KEF Q1 or AsciLab F6B

 

[dtaylo1066]

I have a high quality passive DIY SEAS 6.5" monitor in my main system with Hypex UCD 180 DIY amp and a WiiM ultra, and turntable. And I am quite happy with that, but it is also 20 years old. I have Edifier M60 on my desktop computer which are amazingly good for the $145 special deal I got on them. They are good at full price. Erin has a good review of them. Spinorama pretty good. Not a main system sound, but good on desktop. I am enjoying and using the Edifiers so much that I am intrigued to get a higher performance all-in-one speaker.

Sure I could go passive and use another amp I have, but that defeats the all-in-one approach and transportable approach.

Yes, a WiiM mini via optical would work for sure into the Coda W, and be cheaper. As to the WiiM app, I am not sure if the app on the Mini basically has the same features as my Ultra, but primarily I just need the PEQ, and I think it does have 10 or 12 bands. I have PEQ dialed in on my main system with the Ultra and it really makes a difference. So yes, if the DAC in KEF can do its thing via optical, and the WiiM app on the mini still EQ, then that is the idea. I have no desire to use any DAC in the streamer and output analog and convert analog to digital via the speakers ADC then back via its DAC. Holy redundancy, Batman.

I was thinking of the KEFs for use either as upgrade on my desktop, as the Edifier has opened up a very new pleasuure in listening in my office. I could also use the Coda W in my living room or with my TV, for which HDMI would be fine, probably even Blutooth. But in listening to the Coda W via a Blue Sound node at the hi-fi store near me, I was very impressed with the sound. Other than in the lowest bass they can rival a lot of passives. They are worthy of being in a main system and offering quality critical listening.

KEF LSX II LT is a good speaker, and on deal at Costco of all places for $599. Not sure you can beat that. Smaller driver though than Coda W, so lower SPL and bass. But in addition to Bluetooth the LSX II LT has full wi-fi with Tidal Connect. So a WiiM not even needed, but KEF app EQ is limited compared to the WiiM app.

I also have in dry dock a DIY Volumio streamer on an Asus Tinker Board (RPi competitor). Works great after a slow boot up, has full PEQ, but no HAT, so at present just USB out. So I could skip a WiiM mini totally and just feed the Coda W with the Tinker Board USB, or any other powered speaker so long as it has USB in. And I could get a HAT if I desired to run an optical or RCA SPIDIF in to another company's speaker that does not have USB in.

The Volumio App has full PEQ,, Tidal Connect and lots of other features, and is actually quite good and very stable for me.

 

[dtaylo1066]

From what I can tell the KEF digital input and internal DAC accepts up to to 24-bit/192kHz. So good there. I think it may down-sample 24/192 to 24-bit/96, but who cares, as I have zero 192kHz music, and am sure I can hear no difference at age 69 (if anyone can), and 95% of what I listen to is Redbook anyway.

Erin has a thumbs up for the LSX II LT, and Amir a Yes rating on the LSX II, which have the same driver but the II simply has more inputs than the II LT for a higher price.

Have seen no spinorama data on Coda W, just subjective reviews. But if KEF is basically nailing design with its powered UniQ speakers, I am thinking that a 5.25 inch driver will be better than a 4.5" driver in terms of bass and SPL.

Yes a lot of powered speakers out there, but not that many with USB C in, which is key for my computer, tablet or phone on a wired connection. Bluetooth or Airplay from those devices sounds pretty damn good, but I want lossless and gapless.

 

[somebodyelse]

No spinorama on Coda W, but it's probably similar to / slightly better than the Q1 given it's got the same drivers but a slightly different crossover.

Not clear exactly what your requirements are - if you only need USB-C then what about (say) the Adam D3V for a lot less? They have lower peak output and no inbuilt EQ, but you could do that from the host in software if you're only using PC based sources.

 

[dtaylo1066]

No spinorama on Coda W, but it's probably similar to / slightly better than the Q1 given it's got the same drivers but a slightly different crossover.

Not clear exactly what your requirements are - if you only need USB-C then what about (say) the Adam D3V for a lot less? They have lower peak output and no inbuilt EQ, but you could do that from the host in software if you're only using PC based sources.

Adam D3V is a great product, and I am a bit sorry I did not look at it before buying the Edifier M60, though the latter is damn good for its low price point.

I am looking at max flexibility with the quality of sound reproduction good enough for true critical listening, with some mobility and multiple inputs.

For a 3" driver product, I do not think that one can beat the D3V. I want more bass and SPL than that. And while I have mostly avoided metal cones in my life, after some listening session, I have been quite smitten by the KEFs. If one were to add a sub to the KEFs down the line, I think one would have a damn good system be it nearfield in an office nest to PC, or in my true listening man cave.

Q M20 and Klipsch The Sevens seem comparable, but I have not heard them.

On the truly subjective side:

 

[dtaylo1066]

Went into Costco today and the KEF LSX II LT was on sale for $499 so I took a pair home. Just finalized setting them up. So we will soon see. First few tunes sound OK but I have to dial in their EQ, which is pretty good but not as exensive as I am used to with WiiM.

I never believed much in speaker break in, but either my ears are adjusting from the Edifier M60 I moved downstairs to my TV, or these are sounding better 20 minutes into things. Tidal connect.

Also going to try a direct USB in from my Desktop PC instead of Wi-Fi.

Over all first impressions after some tweaking and EQ, pretty damn good little speakers. Sell for $999 at a lot of places. $499 at Costco is a steal.