KEF LS50 Wireless Active Speakers Now Available
To celebrate KEF's 55th anniversary, KEF's now legendary LS50 loudspeaker have been given a makeover, and then some. LS50 Wireless is now an active loudspeaker.
Announced late last year, the new LS50 Wireless resembles the original LS50 but packs in a load more features than immediately obvious. KEF say that the new system "retains all the acoustic features and benefits of LS50 with everything built in to allow a multitude of connectivity needs."
The FEA-designed cabinet, Uni-Q driver, constrained layer damping bracing, precision-made curved baffle and the elliptical flexible sound port, all part of the LS50 pedigree, are retained. These features prevent cabinet vibrations, enhance radiating sound, and reduce resonances and colouration. New additions include an end-to-end 192kHz/24-bit high-resolution digital signal path, a dedicated DAC per channel, a streaming pre-amplifier and factory-optimised amplification in a bi-amp dual mono configuration (200 + 30 watts per speaker). Combined with a time-correcting DSP crossover, the incredible award-winning sound of Uni-Q is taken to the next level.
Each speaker has a 30w class A/B amplifier for the high frequencies and a 200w class D amplifier built-in.
Connectivity includes 2.4GHz/5GHz Dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX codec, Asynchronous USB Type B input, TOSLINK Optical and RCA Phono, allowing connection to a wide range of sources.
There's also an iOS and Android App will which allows for network setup, music streaming, playback and control. The app also includes 3 user levels of customisable EQ settings for personal music preference.
By building in amplifiers, pre-amp, DSP, it removes the needs for additional components and cables, creating a simple system without all the associated costs.
LS50 Wireless contains sophisticated components. Replicating this system using a traditional Hi-Fi setup typically would cost at least double.
KEF's Australian distributor has announced local pricing at just $3,799 RRP which represents amazing value when you consider the functionality, for only a fraction more than the original LS50 ($2599 RRP).
Features
- LS50 Acoustic design 5.25" Uni-Q driver; FEA designed cabinet; Constrained Layer
- Damping Bracing; Elliptical flexible port
- KEF’s dedicated time correcting Digital Signal Processing (DSP) design
- Customized EQ settings
- 192kHz/24bit High Resolution DAC decoding on each speaker
- Dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity
- Bluetooth 4.0 with aptX codec
- Asynchronous USB connection
- Digital TOSLINK Optical input
- L&R RCA Analog input
- Subwoofer output – controllable from the iOS or Android app
- Dedicated app for iOS and Android
- Touch-sensitive panel control with clear backlit display of inputs
- 3 exciting colour options: Titanium Grey/Red; Gloss Black/Blue; Gloss White/Copper
The first shipment of LS50 Wireless completely sold out, but the good news is that more stock has arrived in Australia this week.
Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After writing for print magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET in 1999.
Posted in: Hi-Fi | Technology
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