By enlisting Ross Lovegrove to design its new connected speaker, the British company KEF aims to give its LS line a more modern, less “hi-fi” look.
Like the LS50 Wireless II, the LSX II, and the recent Coda W, the LS Luxe takes things a step further with a new 12th-generation Uni-Q driver—a 16.5 cm (6.5-inch) aluminum cone—featuring a 25 mm (1-inch) aluminum dome tweeter at its center, vented using the MAT process.
The amplification in this luxury model follows the same principle as the LS50 Wireless, with treble handled by a Class D module, but a Class AB amplifier for managing midrange and bass frequencies. The frequency response extends from 35 Hz (measured at -6 dB, 85 dB, 1 m) up to 47 kHz, depending on the equalizer settings.
As with the other active models in the KEF lineup, the LS Luxe consists of a primary speaker and a secondary speaker, both of the same dimensions (336 mm x 223 mm x 298 mm) and with a combined weight of 20 kg (44.1 Ibs) for the pair. However, while the secondary speaker offers only an RJ45 port for connecting to the primary speaker and a coaxial subwoofer output, the primary speaker features HDMI eARC, Toslink optical, coaxial, 3.5 mm analog, and, of course, Ethernet connections, as well as USB-C and subwoofer outputs.
Like the LS Series II models, the LS Luxe supports most file formats and “Connect” streaming platforms in addition to AirPlay, Google Chromecast, and UPnP, and features a Qualcomm 5.7 Bluetooth chip, as well as being Roon Ready. However, the resolution of supported files depends on whether the two speakers are connected via a cable—in which case they can handle up to 192 kHz—or if they are paired via Wi-Fi, in which case they are limited to the already excellent sampling rates of 96 kHz; in both cases, support extends up to 24 bits.
With a design that transforms the speaker into a true work of art, this new KEF LS Luxe is available in three finishes: Dusk Titanium, Eclipse Black, and Mineral White. This connected model comes with a C3 remote control and is available now for 3 999 €.
