Article: KEF LS60 Wireless HiFi System

[The Computer Audiophile]

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[firedog]

Wow. Looks nice and I bet it will sound nice. 

If someone liked the bookshelf model but thought it wasn't enough or needed a sub, this could be the ticket. 

Considering that it's a complete system (just add source, which can even be an online streaming platform) this is a reasonably priced system.

[The Computer Audiophile]

1 hour ago, firedog said:

Wow. Looks nice and I bet it will sound nice. 

If someone liked the bookshelf model but thought it wasn't enough or needed a sub, this could be the ticket. 

Considering that it's a complete system (just add source, which can even be an online streaming platform) this is a reasonably priced system.

I agree @firedog. This is the right product for many people. Great move by KEF.

[botrytis]

Well, hopefully will not be as expensive as other Audiophile brands, like Linn.

[Gavin1977]

They'll sell a bucket load.  I'll be queuing up for a passive version as the electronics in the LS50W, whilst very good, aren't high end enough for me.  LS50 with separates outperforms if you have the right kit.

[firedog]

55 minutes ago, botrytis said:

Well, hopefully will not be as expensive as other Audiophile brands, like Linn.

$7000 a pair. Very reasonable for what it is.

[ShawnC]

3 hours ago, firedog said:

Wow. Looks nice and I bet it will sound nice. 

If someone liked the bookshelf model but thought it wasn't enough or needed a sub, this could be the ticket. 

Considering that it's a complete system (just add source, which can even be an online streaming platform) this is a reasonably priced system.

I for one have been waiting for these. A couple of there matching subs, about $12,000 all together. 
 

I was also waiting to see if Dutch and Dutch was going to come out with a dedicated sub for their 8C.

 

They must have just missed getting them ready for Axpona.  Maybe Munich. 

[ShawnC]

We need @bobfa to do a review.  He’s become our in house active speaker guru. 

[firedog]

2 minutes ago, ShawnC said:

I for one have been waiting for these. A couple of there matching subs, about $12,000 all together.

Yeah, I thought of that. A 2.2 system like that would probably be killer.

[bobfa]

Many Thanks!  I am working on it!  

 

[firedog]

27 minutes ago, bobfa said:

Many Thanks!  I am working on it!  

 

Be very interesting to hear your impressions vs. Kii Three, your present speakers, and D&D.

[scintilla]

I love my LS50Ws.  If I had to compromise my big rig, I could easily live with them as my only system. Paired with a Kube 10b, they are a very good full-range system.  These do look great though.  Quite a bit more money for an integrated full-range system but I am sure they will be hugely popular.

[loop7]

I've been nearly fanatic about 2-3 products so far with the LS50 Wireless being one of them. These speakers disrupted some of my beliefs on audio.

 

Depending on finances, the LS60 may be rough to resist.

[PeterG]

9 hours ago, loop7 said:

I've been nearly fanatic about 2-3 products so far with the LS50 Wireless being one of them. These speakers disrupted some of my beliefs on audio.

 

Depending on finances, the LS60 may be rough to resist.

Which beliefs?  That active speakers could not sound so good, or that a system could not so so good at the LS50 price point? Other?  Thanks

[Richard Dale]

On 5/12/2022 at 4:30 PM, Gavin1977 said:

They'll sell a bucket load.  I'll be queuing up for a passive version as the electronics in the LS50W, whilst very good, aren't high end enough for me.  LS50 with separates outperforms if you have the right kit.

It wouldn’t be possible to implement a passive version as the design depends too much on the built in amplification, active crossovers and DSP.

[grinner]

Agree that these these will sell very well.

 

Very appealing and $7,000, while not cheap, is not bad at all for a complete package that will work off the shelf - just stream from wherever or whatever. 

 

I have a pair of the LSX's in a vacation home setup and am continually impressed by what Kef can get out of a very small box. These should be an order of magnitude better. 

 

Can't say that I like the name badge though. A bit 80's.

[ShawnC]

 

[mav52]

They are a little thin, I really wonder about stability.

[firedog]

1 hour ago, mav52 said:

They are a little thin, I really wonder about stability.

I think they took care of that with the base. And they weigh 69 pounds/31.2 kg apiece, so they won't tip over so easily.

[jeffhenning]

Having a home theater with five LS50's and a pair of LSX's in my bedroom, I'm sure that these are fantastic speakers.

 

I do, though, have some reservations about KEF's active electronics. After about 3 years, the LSX's in my bedroom have gone into "zombie-mode". The are on, but will no longer accept any wireless signal and the indicator on the main speaker, when powered, just flashes amber & white. The remote doesn't even work so I can't even switch them to the optical input.

 

After rebooting and resetting the speakers a dozen times, this has not changed. They need to be sent back for repair. As KEF's active speakers have only a two year warranty, I will have to pay to get them fixed.

 

I'd be expecting these speakers to work without a hitch for the better portion of two decades.

 

The LSX's are minute so shipping is not a big deal.  Imagine having to ship the LS60's back to KEF if they went zombie after their warranty expired. Wouldn't that suck?

 

Given my personal experience and the fact that you could buy a pair of LS50 Wireless and 4 Rythmik L12 servo subs for about $1,500 less than this rig and get low end that would eviscerate this system, I'm not seeing this as any great value.

[The Computer Audiophile]

32 minutes ago, jeffhenning said:

Having a home theater with five LS50's and a pair of LSX's in my bedroom, I'm sure that these are fantastic speakers.

 

I do, though, have some reservations about KEF's active electronics. After about 3 years, the LSX's in my bedroom have gone into "zombie-mode". The are on, but will no longer accept any wireless signal and the indicator on the main speaker, when powered, just flashes amber & white. The remote doesn't even work so I can't even switch them to the optical input.

 

After rebooting and resetting the speakers a dozen times, this has not changed. They need to be sent back for repair. As KEF's active speakers have only a two year warranty, I will have to pay to get them fixed.

 

I'd be expecting these speakers to work without a hitch for the better portion of two decades.

 

The LSX's are minute so shipping is not a big deal.  Imagine having to ship the LS60's back to KEF if they went zombie after their warranty expired. Wouldn't that suck?

 

Given my personal experience and the fact that you could buy a pair of LS50 Wireless and 4 Rythmik L12 servo subs for about $1,500 less than this rig and get low end that would eviscerate this system, I'm not seeing this as any great value.

You make some good points about failure and service with a system like this. 
 

I don’t see four subs with LS50 speakers as being even a consideration for those interested in the LS60. The look and configuration isn’t even close. 

[DuckToller]

49 minutes ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

You make some good points about failure and service with a system like this.

From a manufacturer's point of view, I would guess electronics are the major culprit for service and they

a) can diagnose via Ethernet/Internet

b) have the electronic component send separately back for servicing.

Looking at the LS60's back, I would think KEF concur to that concept.

[firedog]

1 hour ago, The Computer Audiophile said:

You make some good points about failure and service with a system like this. 
 

Sure. I have a system with actives and needing to send it back is an issue, although I'm sure it doesn't happen that often.

Two comments:

Work with a dealer and see if the dealer will commit to a loaner in case of failure - either the same model or a different one. 

The other option is to have a secondary setup. Not as expensive or as good, but at least something to hold you over in case of a failure. 

I have a second set of much cheaper....actives. 

[GrahamJohnMiles]

Gorgeous looking package, and with a claimed response down in the high 26 to 35khz  range why the hell anyone would need separate subs is beyond me. I agree with others who are wary of the built in electronics. With no Canadian KEF servicing I had to ship a pair of LS50W’s down to to the US for out-of-warrenty work recently. Not sure if they felt guilty, but they had the grace to repair and ship back free of charge. I also preferred to bypass the internal streaming in favour of an external DAC. A passive bi-ampable version at $4000 would be tempting.

[firedog]

2 hours ago, GrahamJohnMiles said:

with a claimed response down in the high 26 to 35khz  range why the hell anyone would need separate subs is beyond me

I can think of a couple of reasons:

One, the 26hz is with a significant roll off.

Two, if you want to play music with very low bass as a fairly loud volume, the system bass limiter will kick in. The system is designed that way at higher volumes (loud, but not deafening) to protect the relatively small woofers that produce low bass with very long woofer extension. It will still sound ok, and probably good enough for most, but won't quite cut it for those that want top notch, natural sounding low bass reproduction at volume. For most music at most volumes it will sound fine.