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KEF LSX II with Eversolo streamers

zhenyaka

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Joined
Dec 9, 2024
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Hi, guys!

Help me decide on the following dilemma:

I've had a KEF LSX II for a couple of years now. Everyone likes them, in the future I want to replace them with LS50WII / LS60, or maybe KEF will introduce something newer.
The only thing that doesn't suit me at the moment is the flexibility of the KEF Connect software.

I want to buy an Eversolo A6 (or A6 Master Edition, or A8) to connect to the LSX II, mainly as a transport.

What I like about Eversolo products:
- Large, high-quality screen with metadata;
- SSD M2 up to 4 TB;
- One of the best software, both for a streamer and for iOS / Android.

Am I right in understanding that when connecting Eversolo to LSX II via both analog (RCA to AUX 3.5) and digital (optical) connections, the DAC with Eversolo will not be used in all cases, and the entire signal will be processed via the DAC and DSP KEF?

It seems like I want to and am ready to overpay and take the A8 with AKM, but will there be any benefit from this DAC in conjunction with LSX II (LS50WII / LS60)? Or should I not bother at all and take the younger A6?

Are there any owners of similar setups here?

Thanks!
 
Pretty sure you are correct, everything re-clocked by the speakers, perhaps buy a cheaper streamer and save for better speakers .
I use a Wiim Pro plus with mine, optical into the KEFs.
Keith
 
Hi @zhenyaka! Welcome to ASR.

You cannot use the Eversolo's analog output without also using its built-in DAC.

Something has to generate the analog audio signal from the digital data, and that something is the Eversolo's DAC.

Since the KEF uses DSP internally, any and all money spent on a fancy external DAC is wasted as it'll still give you inferior signal fidelity compared to inputting audio digitally via Optical.

On that note, you may want to consider the WiiM Ultra instead.
 
Pretty sure you are correct, everything re-clocked by the speakers, perhaps buy a cheaper streamer and save for better speakers .
I use a Wiim Pro plus with mine, optical into the KEFs.
Keith
Keith, thanks!

I thought about Wiim Ultra, but it was precisely because of the small screen that I didn’t like it 100%.
 
Hi @zhenyaka! Welcome to ASR.

You cannot use the Eversolo's analog output without also using its built-in DAC.

Something has to generate the analog audio signal from the digital data, and that something is the Eversolo's DAC.

Since the KEF uses DSP internally, any and all money spent on a fancy external DAC is wasted as it'll still give you inferior signal fidelity compared to inputting audio digitally via Optical.

On that note, you may want to consider the WiiM Ultra instead.
Thanks!

For the most part, I need Eversolo as a convenient, functional and beautiful display and UI transport. I didn't get a perfect match with Wiim Ultra.

So, I probably won’t bother buying more expensive models and overpaying for a DAC, I’ll stick with the A6. In the future, when I update the setup, I’ll look at the A8 / A10, with a separate amplifier and passive acoustics.
 
My understanding of the KEFs was that for streaming the best results is achieved when using the built-in capability. However, for legacy sources like CD player you can connect that to either analogue or digital inputs.

Are you looking at an external streamer to connect your SSD? (Personally, I find the screen on my iPad easier to use, hence my Wiim and Linn streamers have no screen and basic info only, respectively)
 
Keith, thanks!

I thought about Wiim Ultra, but it was precisely because of the small screen that I didn’t like it 100%.
Eversolo I think they are great, I use them here, but a streamer won’t improve your sound quality whereas a bigger pair of speakers…
Keith
 
My understanding of the KEFs was that for streaming the best results is achieved when using the built-in capability. However, for legacy sources like CD player you can connect that to either analogue or digital inputs.

Are you looking at an external streamer to connect your SSD? (Personally, I find the screen on my iPad easier to use, hence my Wiim and Linn streamers have no screen and basic info only, respectively)
Yes, including: both as a streamer and as a storage. I consider it as a DAC last, I'm just interested in hearing opinions, maybe someone had exactly this setup.
 
The digital inputs on kef speakers accepts 24bit so they are not a quality bottleneck ?
What's more interesting here is how much degradation of the output material will occur with all these DAC/ADC conversions

In general, I want to store the FLAC collection on SSD, and use Tidal, Qobuz and Roon.
 
I would expect none, but if you are concerned take digital out of the streamer.
Keith
 
Guys, great thanks for your help, comments and discussion in general. It's valuable :cool:
 
The only thing that doesn't suit me at the moment is the flexibility of the KEF Connect software.
I've had KEF LSX for a couple of years - I agree KEF apps aren't great for day-to-day streaming, I only used mine for set up.

Why not use a cheap tablet (I have KIndle Fire 8) and use it to transport/control your streams to the KEF using the streaming services app & connection capabilities - like Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect.

Or, for an even bigger screen, use a TV connected to the KEFs via optical and use apps on the TV to control the service - you can get Amazon Music Unlimited this way, for instance. This has the advantage of being free if your TV is capable. Disadvantage - TV apps might not have all the functionality of computer apps - or the keyboard (!) - but I find I can do setting up on computer & run on TV quite happily.

Why buy a streamer when the KEF LSX is already a streame? Does the Eversolo really give you anything significant that the KEF doesn't give you?
 
I've had KEF LSX for a couple of years - I agree KEF apps aren't great for day-to-day streaming, I only used mine for set up.

Why not use a cheap tablet (I have KIndle Fire 8) and use it to transport/control your streams to the KEF using the streaming services app & connection capabilities - like Spotify Connect and Tidal Connect.

Or, for an even bigger screen, use a TV connected to the KEFs via optical and use apps on the TV to control the service - you can get Amazon Music Unlimited this way, for instance. This has the advantage of being free if your TV is capable. Disadvantage - TV apps might not have all the functionality of computer apps - or the keyboard (!) - but I find I can do setting up on computer & run on TV quite happily.

Why buy a streamer when the KEF LSX is already a streame? Does the Eversolo really give you anything significant that the KEF doesn't give you?

Yes, I decided to immediately completely close the issue with transport: I like the storage, the streamer, and the software, both visually :)
 
Hi Guys!

This is exactly what I was looking for, you are awesome :)

I was thinking of doing the same setup but unlike @zhenyaka I have the Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition.

I had the chance to listen to the KEF LSX II speakers in a store over the weekend and they sounded really nice and are really stylish. I was thinking of getting these for my Eversolo so that I wouldn't have to use an amplifier but from what I understand it doesn't make much sense in terms of using all the features.

I already have a Denon Home 150 at home and I use it with apps like Spotify, Deezer, Soundcloud etc. and my NAS. I think since KEFs are also active in this setup, it will work the same way, only with better quality, am I understanding correctly?

In this case, would EVERSOLO + Amplifier + Passive Speakers be a better setup?

Thank you in advance for your valuable comments.
 
... I have the Eversolo DMP-A6 Master Edition.

I had the chance to listen to the KEF LSX II speakers in a store over the weekend and they sounded really nice and are really stylish. I was thinking of getting these for my Eversolo so that I wouldn't have to use an amplifier but from what I understand it doesn't make much sense in terms of using all the features.

I already have a Denon Home 150 at home and I use it with apps like Spotify, Deezer, Soundcloud etc. and my NAS. I think since KEFs are also active in this setup, it will work the same way, only with better quality, am I understanding correctly?

In this case, would EVERSOLO + Amplifier + Passive Speakers be a better setup?.
Given the EVERSOLO, the passive option seems to make more sense, in theory. Why not compare with KEF LS50 Meta and other passives at that price point? After that, if you prefer LSX, or find them "good enough", why not sell EVERSOLO, get KEF LSX II LT, and spend money saved on many live concerts!
 
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Given the EVERSOLO, the passive option seems to make more sense, in theory. Why not compare with KEF LS50 Meta?
Since I didn't want an extra amplifier, I thought the LSX IIs would be a more elegant setup.

I guess I should start thinking now :)

Thanks.
 
You could also get a roon lifetime license and use that with your kef and every setup that you might get in the future
 
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