Jon Devo, aka @gadgetsjon, an award-winning photographer, content creator and tech and music lover, tells us about his time spent time with our KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers. Here are some of Jon's favouite tracks that he enjoyed as if he were hearing them again for the very first time.
KEF is a British technology success story that this year celebrates their 60th anniversary. If you’re not familiar with the name, chances are, you’ve had the pleasure of enjoying immersive and reference quality audio using technology pioneered by KEF.
The company’s flagship wireless hi-fi speakers, the LS50 Wireless II’s build on six decades of leading audio innovation with an all-in-one system that’s built for the modern home, office or studio. I recently had the chance to live with them over the holiday period. During that time I put them through my usual entertainment regime, which involves gaming, movie watching, music and because I never really take a break; some video editing too. Read on as I take you through my whole experience with the LS50 Wireless IIs from unboxing them, to setting up and using them.
LS50 Wireless II - Design
One of the first things I notice when I pick up a piece of technology is its weight. Having a solid weight relative to its size let’s me know that a gadget has been crafted well, using premium materials. The box that houses the pair of speakers is medium sized, but weighs over 20kg, with each speaker tipping the scales at almost 10kg each. There’s not much in the way of packaging, just the two speakers and an accessory box which contains a remote control, power cables - one for each speaker - and an inter-speaker ethernet cable.
The pair I was sent in for review came in the special edition Crimson Red finish. At first, I thought the glossy finish of the main casing would look a little out of place in my tech hub. However, placed either side of my white monitor with full spectrum RGB accent lighting, the LS50 Wireless IIs elevated my setup tenfold. Thankfully, the face side of the LS50 Wireless II is matte, which softens the overall look. A glossy ring in the centre brings attention to the attractively presented grey outer layer of its patented Uni-Q driver array. The signature two-toned look of these speakers comes in four colour options in total, Carbon Black/Tangerine is possibly my personal favourite combination. Even the rear of the speaker looks stylish, with its integrated heat sync and colour-matched air vent. Being attractive from every angle, opens up mounting and set up options for these speakers. This is ideal for me, as my desk juts out from the wall, cutting across my working room so that I can always access ports etc.
LS50 Wireless II - Set up, Specs and Performance
Setting these speakers up is surprisingly simple. I downloaded the KEF audio app, which is available for both Android and iOS devices, signed up for an account, then found the speakers and connected them to my home WiFi network. This allowed me to utilise a wide range of streaming services from the outset, including; Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Deezer. It will also find any UPnP music sources connected to your home network. Oddly, there’s no Apple Music, but it is compatible with Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, Bluetooth 4.2 and it’s ROON Ready. As for wired connections it has; 3.5mm AUX, HDMI eARC, Digital Coaxial and an optical input. It’s safe to say you’re not short on options. Using a direct network connection, these speakers will support a maximum source file resolution of 24-Bit/384kHz. Wirelessly, files of a higher resolution will be downsampled to 24-Bit/96kHz unless you use the inter-speaker ethernet cable, which will bump your native playback up to 24-bit/192kHz.
Pressing play for the first time when I’m trying out a new speaker system is a moment I love to savour. The first impression is often a prevailing one when it comes to gadgets. As a soul music fan first and foremost, Alex Isley’s Mine featuring Jack Dine was the first track to come out of my LS50 Wireless IIs. At CD-quality, Mine’s spacious production, earthy bass and Miss Isley’s impeccable soaring vocals were richly detailed. I was immediately struck by the separation and articulation of every sound within the track. At this level of speaker, you expect precision and depth and this pair provides both abundantly.
Next up, I switched over to Daft Punk - Lose Yourself To Dance, streamed at 24-Bit/88.2kHz via Qobuz. The song’s driving bass guitar is perfectly balanced by the rhythmic licks of electric guitar, courtesy of Nile Rogers. Again, it’s the separation that whisks me into the expansive soundstage provided by the LS50 Wireless II. Every element of the track has its place and Daft Punk’s impeccable mix filled the room as if I were in a small studio, listening to the band play 10 metres away. Stevie Wonder’s jubilant Sir Duke has never sounded more joyful in digital form (streamed at 24-Bit/192kHz). I used to play this song on my mother’s record player growing up and the quality of the sound here took me right back to my childhood. I could genuinely “feel it all over,” as the LS50 Wireless IIs provided full-bodied arm-hair raising sonic pleasure.
If you get the chance to try these speakers out in person, Qobuz has a playlist called Hi-Res Masters: Greatest Hits Ever, which I would strongly recommend as a starting point for exploring the LS50 Wireless IIs.
Of course, I had to put in a couple of hours gaming with the LS50 Wireless IIs. And what better games to test the speakers out with than DOOM (2016) and DOOM Eternal? I connected the speakers via both HDMI eARC and AUX as I have both a monitor and projector setup at home. From the moment the first campaign level loads up I’m in. Mick Gordon’s award-winning score playing through the LS50 Wireless II speakers put me in the belly of hell itself, surrounded by manic industrial metal, crunching demon bones and aggressive choral guitar riffs, blended with chainsaw revs. DOOM is already an intense game, but supported by speakers that can do its insane soundtrack justice raised my gaming experience to a new immersive high.
LS50 Wireless II - Verdict
What more can I say? The LS50 Wireless II speaker pair are compact and attractive enough to suit a wide range of setups, from studio to home or office. They’re packed with connectivity options and supported by a slick app that makes connecting a host of sources easy. And the sound quality is truly next level. If you’ve yet to experience authentic high resolution audio, it’s time to treat yourself. Whether you’re gaming, enjoying music or working, why shortchange yourself with mediocre sound?
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