KEF LSX II: Looks the same but sounds??

Here they are... The KEF LSX II wireless speakers. KEF are back with the second generation of their award winning LSX speakers but have they changed enough?

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:24 Design
04:23 Connectivity
06:51 Internals
08:06 Sound Quality
13:18 Our Thoughts

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[zorak]

I'm a little disappointed that KEF couldn't find a way to upgrade the drivers and stay within budget, but I was already impressed with the sound of the original LSX and I'm sure these will benefit from the new DSP.

In my opinion, just the update to the the W2 platform is enough to merit this refresh: the inferior functionality of the old platform and the horrid KEF Control and KEF Stream apps made the LSX a tough sell despite its great sound. Thanks to the new platform, the LSX II has wider compatibility (Google Cast and Roon Ready ought to be table stakes for this sort of product) and benefits from the huge user experience improvement of the KEF Connect app. That change alone makes me much more enthusiastic about recommending it.

[voutolliC]

the word kef in Bulgarian means a state of ultimate chill, relax, and ease.

[futures]

ive had the lsx for about 6 months - excellent speakers - the only issue is the control app is rubbish - you can adjust and then save speaker settings for stands, base, treble etc but the daft app just defaults back to default. i've reported this numerous times and a search online shows its a wide ranging issue - yet KEF don't seem interested in fixing it - hopefully the new version has fixed this. These are very loud speakers - you don't need to upgrade to the bigger siblings unless you have an aircraft hanger to party in - they also have a nice rich base response overall the sound is great.

[christianmeier]

Have buy a pair of LSX1 and i cant understand the negative feedback with its apps... sure combine both apps into one would be easier to use... but they work both without any issues... soundquality us great for its size... very happy with the buy.

[gregshatto]

i bought a pair of green 1st gen. loved everything about them. 6 months in they would no longer connect to wifi. which was such a bummer.

[nitin]

These sounds great when listening with my earphones. That means my earphones are great too 🔊🚦🚦

[johnbungee]

Great Video review. Will you be checking out the new Marshall home speakers? I be interested in knowing how their most expensive speaker works well connected to a TV as 'they show in the marketting.

[kevinw]

Love the cloth covered cabinet design, looks just like the cat scratching pad.

[mikescott]

Would be nice if the firmware was updated on the original LSX speakers so that they can also be seen in the LSX app. You end up with multiple KEF apps on the iPhone otherwise. I have a pair of LSX speakers wired into a Topping USB DAC and then wired into a computer. Added the topping unit as my current PC unlike my previous doesn't have optical in.

[jimnewearthblues]

🔊I do hope the remote is not as flimsy and cheap feeling as the one from the original LSX‼️As for the speakers :
🔊they sound awesome‼️

[RealTalk]

I'll be happy to buy their entry level wireless version rather than the original speaker wire version because kef speakers can be difficult when pairing the right amplifier to make it sound sweet.

[sebastienroux]

Since a few days I am experiencing connectivity issues between my wifi network and my KEF LSX II speakers, this following a simple password change which suppose reconfiguring the connection with the speakers.

I followed the constructor instructions, then the technical support instructions and finally Reddit's comments advices all of these without success. Still waiting for further feedbacks from support. So far my KEF LSX II could not be reconnected and then are not operational at all.

[macmovieman]

I was hoping you would mention how it might connect to the record player given there was a record player between both of the speakers.

[g.b.]

Got the old ones… love them. But a sub is necessary for full enjoyment 👍

[cheongykj]

Is the Wifi connection/card is more stable. I had to reboot and reconnect my current gen 1 LSX multiple times with the app often unable to find the speakers.

[shelloiluk]

They are a absolute faf to setup and i use the supploed LAN cable for connecting both speakersnot bluetoth. . Addionaly i use iISB C to my macbook pro pro chip. The sound is good. The LS50 are rubbish so went with KEFR3 with a NAIM STAR

[Dmitry__Shift]

Say the source resolution over the network is up to 384 kHz / 24 bits
But the speakers transmit lower signal resolution between each other
Wireless connection: 48kHz / 24 bit PCM
Wired connection: 96kHz / 24-bit PCM

It turns out 384 kHz / 24 to hear how???

[aaroncrisp]

Will i need the k-stream interspeaker cable?. Is there any delay on the 2nd speaker when they are linked via Bluetooth or better to have the cable? Thanks

[mndlessdrwer]

Unfortunately, the only real measure to upgrade the LSX into something greater would not have allowed them to stay at that form factor, nor would it have been able to retain that price point. Basically, the only way up for the LSX would be to attempt to turn them into a powered set of R3 by giving them a woofer and making them into 3-way bookshelves. The problem is that power delivery and processing takes up space, so they would have needed to be even larger than the R3, which are already some quite substantially sized bookshelves, and they would have likely tipped the budget over 2000 pounds, owing to KEF's current preference to use separate amplifier circuits with active crossovers. Would it have been unreasonably cool for the next generation of LSX to have been really short, cut-down versions of the LS60? Yeah, probably. But they've opted instead to leave that particular product unmolested and have left customers with a set that, while very competent, really does need a subwoofer that can be crossed over fairly high in order to reduce some of the muddiness that creeps into the mids when you start asking that Uni-Q driver to use all of the excursion that the enlarged rubber surround can give you in order to achieve some real bass performance. It's a complicated dance of compromises, so it saddens me to see them continue that instead of making something like ELAC's Navis ARB-51. Now, is that even a fair comparison? Have the LSXII just outclassed the ARB-51 with one less driver? Since none of the audio stores in my area have either of those to demo, I can't say. What I can say is that the LS50Meta can't manage to match how clean the mids and bass are on the R3. So how good would a 3-way powered bookshelf from KEF be if even the LS50Meta and LS50WII that I have heard are so competent? I feel like they may have left too much on the table for future product revisions by keeping to the 2-way design. Hopefully I'll get a chance to hear these sometime soon and I do hope to be blown away, even with them being fundamentally impaired compared to a 3-way setup.

[joebogger]

Great review for great speakers! Thank you! One thing I absolutely agree. This remote is not matching the speakers nor does is justify whatI would expect from this price range. Did KEF see the Apple TV remote. That's massive aluminium that comes with a 169 € product. come on KEF you can do better. Don't listen to those COOs with their spread sheets.