Kef LS60 wireless review by ErinsAudioCorner

[Puddingbuks]

I traded in my KEFs, which I bought in November 2023 for €4,000, and managed to get €3,500 for them.

For a long time, I struggled with connectivity issues, even with a wired setup. This was finally resolved when my main network router was replaced with new access points; it turns out the previous mesh network and mixed access points just weren’t a good match.

But most importantly, the sound just wasn't grabbing me anymore—it felt too polite, too much like 'easy listening', and I missed a sense of liveliness and excitement. On top of that, I was tired of how exposed the KEFs were, with all the drivers visible and prone to damage. And last I worried about longevity.

This is what I did next:

EDIT: fixed URL https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/upgrading-to-avantgarde-colibri-c2.71548/

 

[keiron99]

I too had the KEF LS60 largely on the strength of reviews here and what I'd heard at a show.

In the end, I really disliked them. I found them entirely dull and uninteresting. I was not enjoying listening to music - in fact, so thin was the sound, I found it uncomfortable. It may be that I am not used to "neutral" sound, and fully accept that! I was surprised, given I have a small room, that the sound was so small scale and lacking in bass. Was really happy to move them on. I swapped for a pair of tiny stand mount Neat Petite speakers and they suit my wants much better, but may not find favour in this forum or on the test bench!

(PS @Puddingbuks your link appears not to be working, for me at least)

 

[Purité Audio]

Neat don’t appear to be a ‘measurement led’ manufacturer.

NEAT Acoustics Iota Alpha loudspeaker Measurements | Stereophile.com

Sidebar 3: Measurements I used DRA Labs' MLSSA system and a calibrated DPA 4006 microphone to measure the NEAT Acoustics Iota Alpha's frequency response in the farfield, and an Earthworks QTC-40 for the nearfield responses. The first challenge I faced was deciding on which axis I should place my...

www.stereophile.com

Keith

 

[Puddingbuks]

(PS @Puddingbuks your link appears not to be working, for me at least)

Fixed

 

[terryforsythe]

The issue I have with the KEF LS60 Wireless speakers is that they lack room correction, and the KEF connect app does not even include PEQ.

I added an external WiiM streamer (before WiiM included much in the way of EQ and before RoomFit was added) and Raspberry Pi running CamillaDSP. That solved my issues. Now that WiiM have expanded PEQ functionality and added RoomFit, I'm not sure the Raspberry Pi is even needed anymore. Nonetheless, room correction, as well as +1dB added to the top end, make the LS60s match my listening preferences.

What I like about the LS60 is that the bass is very tight and extends low, overall the speaker is neutral, and the speakers image and soundstage very well. But, different people have different listening preferences, different rooms sound different, etc.

 

[pierre]

No worries. Being transparent tends to disappoint more people, but I find it preferable to the alternative.

While I like being transparent, I've still got to have my secrets . Feel free to badger me, but I won't be able to say anything in particular. At any rate, it'll be public before too long...

Hi AOR,

one thing that would be great is to expose an API to use the DSP in the speaker. Me and others could easily build an app for setting the EQ up. I understand it may be too complicated for a lot of people but people that put 5k into a pair of towers maybe a minority that care about good sound.

You could then compete with Sonos, Apple or Genelec whom i believed proved the value with GLM.

P.

 

[kyuu]

In the end, I really disliked them. I found them entirely dull and uninteresting. I was not enjoying listening to music - in fact, so thin was the sound, I found it uncomfortable. It may be that I am not used to "neutral" sound, and fully accept that! I was surprised, given I have a small room, that the sound was so small scale and lacking in bass.

Possible if you listen in a big space and/or at elevated volumes and/or are used to overemphasized bass. The measurements show the LS60 will limit bass output pretty considerably at elevated volumes, which could result in a "lean" sound.

 

[Puddingbuks]

Adding a sub is a great improvement.

 

[Open Mind Audio]

I love my KEF LS60s. They fill my 3,000 cubic foot listening room to perfection. No sub needed. The wireless connectivity has never worked consistently, but I'm just fine having them wired. Best stereo speakers I've had.

 

[Puddingbuks]

The wireless connectivity has never worked consistently, but I'm just fine having them wired.

It still is strange in a speaker which name is "Kef LS60 wireless". It's not like they invented wifi when the LS60 came out... How could they mess this up?

 

[NTK]

It still is strange in a speaker which name is "Kef LS60 wireless". It's not like they invented wifi when the LS60 came out... How could they mess this up?

Synchronizing the two (or more) channels to sample level alignment when the connections are wireless is a big challenge. This is also why Dante, which uses the same hardware (switches and cables) as standard wired Ethernet (100 Mbps or above), does not support Wi-Fi.

 

[kyuu]

Synchronizing the two (or more) channels to sample level alignment when the connections are wireless is a big challenge. This is also why Dante, which uses the same hardware (switches and cables) as standard wired Ethernet (100 Mbps or above), does not support Wi-Fi.

Yes, people nowadays are so used to ubiquitous wireless devices that they think it's magic that works perfectly all the time. But in reality, RF is an arcane art and is, by nature, jittery compared to any decent wired connection. Nevermind that everyone and their mother has a bajillion devices all competing for airtime in the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands nowadays in any reasonably populated area. Co-channel interference is an absolute nightmare for anyone who deal with this sort of stuff for their work (ask me how I know).

 

[Matt S]

For the people here not really enjoying their sound, did you not consider PEQ'ing to your own personal preferences?

I know this is device dependant perhaps, but these speakers measure so, so well. You could definitely EQ them to your taste, without any downsides, done properly.

No problem of course with personal preference. Just might be an easier way to the audio nirvana we all seek.

 

[Chester]

Synchronizing the two (or more) channels to sample level alignment when the connections are wireless is a big challenge. This is also why Dante, which uses the same hardware (switches and cables) as standard wired Ethernet (100 Mbps or above), does not support Wi-Fi.

Sonos seem to be able to do it.

 

[somebodyelse]

Synchronizing the two (or more) channels to sample level alignment when the connections are wireless is a big challenge. This is also why Dante, which uses the same hardware (switches and cables) as standard wired Ethernet (100 Mbps or above), does not support Wi-Fi.

It's difficult for Dante etc. over WiFi because PTP won't work over WiFi and there isn't (yet) a standard equivalent that will work. I understand it can be done between BLE chips from certain manufacturers that expose low level stuff that's not exposed by the standard GATT interfaces - I once found a manufacturer forum post where someone was asking about it and I think had success, but I'd have to dig through some old notes to see if I can find the URL. I think it was using the CS SYNC packet timing that's used in the time of flight rangefinding. After the recent thing about AES67 on the ESP32-P4 I'm now wondering whether that timing info is available is their libraries, and whether it could be used to discipline its audio clock instead of PTP...

 

[NTK]

Sonos seem to be able to do it.

If you ask KEF, they'd probably tell you the LS60W can do it too. The questions are how reliably they can do it, and if that is good enough for you in the environment you use them in.

 

[kma100]

What is the issue for KEF? I think this is a more-or-less solved problem? Streamers tend to be pretty robust (based on my experience with Bluesound Node). Would WiSA be a better/more stable solution?

 

[williamr]

Sonos seem to be able to do it.

One difference is that the company started with wireless and multi-room capability as a design priority right from the beginning (I think). They must have developed a lot of expertise along the way.

And as a SONOS user, they certainly have not perfected it. I get drop outs occasionally, but the frequency of failure is low enough that I can live with it.

 

[somebodyelse]

And as a SONOS user, they certainly have not perfected it. I get drop outs occasionally, but the frequency of failure is low enough that I can live with it.

That's more likely to be about data arriving late or not at all, not loss of timing sync. They've been trying to improve QoS and reliability with each standard revision, but wireless networks just aren't as predictable as wired, not least because they're in a license exempt frequency band where non-WiFi devices are present and can interfere. Another issue is older devices on the WiFi network that don't support the improved standards.

 

[Chester]

And as a SONOS user, they certainly have not perfected it. I get drop outs occasionally, but the frequency of failure is low enough that I can live with it.

I’ve never had a drop out with my stereo pair. Had them about 10 years. I guess the big variable is the environment they’re operating in.