KEF - LS50 WIRELESS II Bookshelf Speakers (Pair) - Red

USE CASE: Before digging in, let's be clear: the KEF LS50 Wireless II (LS50W2) isn't just a pair of speakers: it's a complete wireless streaming DAC and dual amplified stereo system controlled with your phone or tablet. It has an attractive, minimalist aesthetic and as such makes the most sense when used as a standalone system to bring superior stereo sound into a living or working space. It can perform well as a desktop system, but I would argue that the price is difficult to justify when used exclusively in this way- if you’re plugging them into a computer you’ll be paying for a lot of technology you don’t need, and in my opinion they’re oversized and overpowered for exclusively near-field use. CONNECTIVITY: The LS50W2 is set up and controlled through the KEF Connect app, which requires an iOS or Android device. Once you’re up and running, though, you can use the speakers with almost any digital source. Roon, Google Cast, AirPlay 2, and UPnP are all supported, as is Bluetooth (though if you ask me using Bluetooth with speakers this good is like putting cheap gas in a racing car). They also support direct play from the apps and web browser interfaces of all the major music streaming services in addition to an assortment of physical ports including S/PDIF via TOSLINK or RCA and eARC-enabled HDMI suitable for connection to a television. In short, whatever the source or the control device, you’ll almost certainly be able to play it on the LS50W2. So what’s missing? Well, there is no USB input (don’t be fooled by the USB port on the back, it’s for service access to the internal electronics) and analog input is limited to a humble 3.5mm plug. Those considering use in a home theater should also note that LFE is not supported, nor are outputs for surround speakers. SETUP: I found the system very easy to set up, but again, this is a digital device that’s controlled with an app, so if you’re the sort of person who wants control in the form of physical switches and dials you may want to look elsewhere. If you’re comfortable using a smartphone, you should get on just fine. Each speaker must be connected to a grounded power socket- cords are included, but they are only two meters (about six and a half feet) long. The good news is that they have a standard C13 plug in the back so you can easily and cheaply buy a longer cord if desired. Optionally, you can also attach the main speaker to your router and to the companion speaker with ethernet cables. Wiring to the internet is only necessary if your Wi-Fi connection is dodgy. Wiring the speakers together will increase the sample rate of the audio stream from 96kHz to 192kHz, but you’re unlikely to hear the difference. The speakers function in a master/slave relationship, and all of the inputs (and a set of simple touch controls) are on the master unit. The quick setup guide will tell you that this should be your right channel, but reversing them is a simple toggle switch in the app, so put it on whichever side makes sense for your space. There is a simple IR remote included as well for basic control once you have your playlist going (power, mute, volume, source, play/pause, and previous/next track). PERFORMANCE STRENGTHS: The most impressive thing about the LS50W2 is its versatility: with a minimum of care taken positioning the speakers and utilizing the in-app EQ they can be made to sound very good in almost any space. I use them primarily for near- and mid-field listening on stands pointed at a chair near the back corner of my living room. Aside from an area rug in that corner this room has basically no acoustic treatment and even putting aside the odd positioning would make an audio snob shake his head: hard floor and ceiling, lots of bare walls, only moderate furnishing (including a big glass table), and a huge picture window with plastic blinds all along one side. Despite all this, they have an excellent horizontal soundstage and a level of fidelity that I would have doubted was possible given the setting. In fact, they don’t sound bad even if you’re just hanging around in the room (BEHIND the speakers!). PERFORMANCE WEAKNESSES: Though quite powerful for their size (enough to fill pretty much any residential-sized room at what I would consider to be plenty loud volumes), note that these are designed to reproduce fine detail, not to blast your hair back at a house party. There’s very little vertical soundstage, though that’s not really a fair criticism considering you generally need floorstanding speakers to get that. In my experience they don’t perform quite as well on a table or shelf as they do on a proper filled speaker stand, so I would recommend stand mounting if that’s possible for your space. The LS50W2’s greatest weakness from a sound reproduction standpoint is a consequence of its small size: weak sub bass performance. If you live in an apartment like I do that might be a blessing in disguise, but there is an RCA subwoofer output on each unit if you want to bring the low end power; the in-app EQ includes basic bass management controls to assist with integration. SUMMARY: If you’re fortunate enough to have a proper listening room the KEF LS50 Wireless II will rival traditional stereo systems with separate components well above its price point, but what really makes it special is that even if you just want to throw the speakers wherever they fit into an existing multi-use space they will sound at least passable for critical listening. That is extremely impressive. The audiophile community is home to a great many snobs that turn up their noses at this kind of casual approach to high-end audio, and if I’m honest there’s better sound out there to be had for those with the time, money, and interest to make a hobby of it, but for the rest of us? At this price, with these features, this compact, this attractive, this flexible and easy to use; I wouldn’t choose anything else.

I upgraded from my LSX II’s to these and my lord, I couldn’t be happier. The sound these produce is unlike anything I’ve really heard. I’ve had studio monitors, passive setups, etc, and never heard holographic imaging like these produce. I’m 3 days in and my brain still isn’t fully rewired to process all the detail. It’s truly unreal. I’ve got these paired with a KC62 and quite frankly, if this isn’t end game, I’d really like to hear what is (for a small-ish room anyway). All the complaints about connectivity and all that are exaggerated. Sure you’re gonna get a few hiccups but they’re WELL worth it if what you’re seeking is class leading imaging and holographic sound.

Best speakers I've had in my life. It looks super premium and sounds soul touching. Everytime i pass by it i cant help but stop and admire the look of it. The titanium color with the red accent to put the cherry on top is a color combo made in heaven. Only gripe is the sign up process plus the lack of type c input port but technically not needed. Overall never going back and why should I?

The sounds quality is amazing! I used to have a sound bar and speakers, this beats all.. I will add a subwoofer eventually to make the sounds even better but for now I am so happy with my purchase

So I read and read and watched videos and dug up as much info as I could for a couple months before purchasing these for my wife. Turns out they are worth the hype and the fact that they upsample music wirelessly is amazing. There is a soundstage, while not the biggest or tallest, it is crisp with MQA and FLAC sounding the best to me. These bad boys are super solid and top heavy on the Kef stands. I took a 3-input female plug adapter and ran the speakers and sub to it then plugged that adapter into a short extension and plugged under my furniture for quick and easy way to unplug and move to the living room and the stands make it easy to move them as well. Also, took me a week to realize the speakers come paired wirelessly, even if you link them with the given cable. You have to go into setting and link them, which is dumb for some very smart speakers.