LOUDSPEAKERS
But it is “not simply a baby LS50W”, as
KEF’s Ben Hagens made clear at the Australian
launch of the LSX. This is about KEF changing
what hi-fi can be — a product for the 95%, not
the 5%, he said, noting wisely that, “You shouldn’t
have to spend more time learning about a product
than using it.” In a similar nod towards ease of
use, the LSX has the ability to tailor its sound
using DSP, meaning these are “speakers you canmade these wireless speakers unique; others had
released active speakers with bolt-on wireless
options, but none had delivered such an integrated
standalone solution which achieved the dream
of high fidelity made so simple. They looked
thoroughly modern as well, especially in their
gloss white finish (shown above), and even more
so when renowned design studio Marcel Wanders
was let loose on the externalities, delivering a
Nocturne edition (pictured below right) in
which “the inherently circular nature of KEF’s
Uni-Q driver and musical notation symbols
subtly blend with unique architectural and
rhythmic elements, a vibrant luminous visual
quality and magical atmosphere...”
Or something. We rather liked that the
Wanders version glowed in the dark, and even
more, that the sound was as good as ever.
LSX – BRINGING IT HOME
If there was one impediment to the KEF
LS50 Wireless speakers invading more
homes with their convenience and quality,
it was price. Despite replacing most of a
conventional hi-fi system with a single pair of
speakers, the LS50W’s price (currently $3495)
still seemed high to some. Last year KEF
unveiled its answer — the LSX — bringing
the same ideas in a new design which roughly
halves both the size and price.
put where you want them, not where you’re
told to put them.”
Ease of use is one thing; performance is
another. KEF kept its key technologies in the
LSX speakers: they use a smaller version of KEF’s
coaxial Uni-Q driver, with a 19mm aluminium-
dome tweeter within a 115mm magnesium/
aluminium-alloy mid/bass cone (compared with
the 25mm/130mm combo in the LS50W).