KEF LS LUXE

The KEF LS LUXE is a pair of active, wireless HiFi loudspeakers that sit at the top of KEF's LS wireless range, above the LS50 Wireless II. Two things set it apart from everything else KEF make. It is the first active, wireless KEF loudspeaker designed by Ross Lovegrove, whose earlier work for the company includes the Muon, Muo and Mu — so the cabinet is a sculptural object as much as an acoustic one. And it introduces VECO, a new motion-sensing bass control system that KEF state is a first in wireless HiFi. Everything else — streaming, room correction, the amplification, the app — is built to serve those two ideas.

Because the speakers are active and wireless, there is no separate amplifier or streamer to buy: each cabinet holds its own amplification, the signal is sent wirelessly to the source speaker and on to the second speaker, and the whole system is controlled from the KEF Connect app and the supplied C3 remote. It is a complete music and TV system in two cabinets. See the full KEF range we stock.

Designed by Ross Lovegrove

KEF and Ross Lovegrove have worked together since 2005. The LS LUXE continues the sculptural language of the Muon, Muo and Mu — an organic form set against complementary geometries, intended to hold a room visually as well as acoustically. The cabinet is available in three finishes: Dusk Titanium (the launch colour), Eclipse Black and Mineral White.

The form is not only cosmetic. The cabinet is moulded from a bulk moulding compound — a dense, rigid material that reduces the need for internal bracing and frees up more internal volume for its size. The rounded, low-diffraction shape reduces the surface reflections that blur detail around a conventional square-edged box.

12th-Generation Uni-Q with MAT

Each speaker uses a 12th-generation 6.5-inch Uni-Q driver array. Uni-Q places the tweeter at the acoustic centre of the mid-bass cone, so both drivers behave as a single point source. In practice that widens the area of the room where the stereo image holds together — the "sweet spot" is larger, and listeners off to the side hear the same detail as the person sat central.

Behind the tweeter sits MAT (Metamaterial Absorption Technology), a maze-like structure that absorbs 99% of the unwanted sound radiating from the rear of the driver. That rearward energy is what usually finds its way back through the cone as distortion, so removing it leaves a cleaner, more natural high frequency.

VECO — Velocity Control Technology

VECO is the headline engineering story and, per KEF, a first for a wireless HiFi loudspeaker. A patent-pending sensor and dedicated magnetic circuit track the actual motion of the bass cone in real time. A current-drive amplifier then compares that measured motion against the input signal and corrects any mismatch instantly, continuously, while you listen.

The point of it is control at the bottom end. Bass drivers tend to compress and add distortion as they are pushed harder; VECO is designed to keep the cone moving exactly as the signal asks, for deeper, cleaner, more defined bass than the driver size would normally suggest.

Music Integrity Engine

The Music Integrity Engine is KEF's in-house suite of DSP algorithms, tuned specifically for the LS LUXE. It handles the crossover, phase correction and dynamics management that tie the drivers and amplifiers together, and it includes Room EQ so the speakers can be adapted to where they actually sit — close to a wall, in a corner, or out in free space — through the KEF Connect app.

Amplification and Output

Each speaker is actively driven by two dedicated amplifiers: 280W of Class D for the low frequencies and 100W of Class A/B for the high frequencies. Maximum SPL is quoted at 110dB.

Streaming and Connectivity

The LS LUXE runs on KEF's W2 wireless platform. It streams from the major services — including Spotify, Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music and QPlay — and supports the common file formats such as WAV, MP3 and FLAC, up to 384kHz/24-bit high-resolution. Multi-room playback is handled via AirPlay and Google Cast.

Wired and wireless connections include:

• HDMI eARC — for use under a television
• Wi-Fi and Ethernet — for streaming and control
• Bluetooth — for direct wireless playback
• AirPlay and Google Cast — for multi-room streaming

For custom installation, the LS LUXE supports the major home automation systems — Control4, Crestron, Savant and Elan. Setup and day-to-day control are handled through the KEF Connect app, with the supplied C3 remote offering backlit buttons and a customisable favourite key for quick access.

Stands, Subwoofers and Accessories

The LS LUXE can be paired with a KEF subwoofer for greater low-frequency scale. Dedicated accessories include the S-LUXE floor stands (£800 per pair), the K-Stream interspeaker cable, and the KW1 Wireless Subwoofer Adapter Kit for connecting a subwoofer without running a cable across the room.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions and weight to be added once confirmed on uk.kef.com.

Who Is It For?

The LS LUXE is for someone who wants a genuine high-fidelity system without a rack of separate boxes, and who cares as much about how the speakers look in the room as how they sound in it. It is a step up from the LS50 Wireless II — more power, the new VECO bass control, and a Lovegrove-designed cabinet — for a listening room, a considered living space, or anyone moving up from a conventional pair of speakers and a box of electronics. It works equally as a music system and as the sound for a television via HDMI eARC.

If you want the same KEF wireless thinking in a smaller or lower-cost form, look at the LS50 Wireless II or the LSX II instead; the LS LUXE is the flagship, and priced accordingly. You can see the full KEF collection we stock.

Buying from Martins Hi-Fi

Martins Hi-Fi have been in Norwich since 1968, and we have stocked and demonstrated KEF for decades. The LS LUXE is a speaker that rewards a proper listen — the point of VECO and the new Uni-Q is heard, not read — so we would rather you came and heard it than bought it from a photograph. We can advise on finishes, on the S-LUXE stands, and on adding a KEF subwoofer if your room asks for it.

When you get in touch, you'll be speaking with Dave, Chris and Tim at info@martinshifi.co.uk, call 01603 627010, or WhatsApp on 07554 687137. You can read more about how we work on our Why Martins page. We are at 85–91 Ber Street, Norwich, NR1 3EY.