KEF LS60 Wireless Floor-Standing Speaker Review

With the advancement of technology, achieving high-quality sound no longer requires a complicated setup of equipment and cables. All-in-one wireless speakers have become increasingly popular as they offer convenience, elegance, and excellent sound performance.

KEF, a British high-end speaker manufacturer, was one of the pioneers in this field with the introduction of their LS50 Wireless speakers. These speakers are user-friendly and come with KEF’s assurance of superior sound quality, making them a huge success in the market.

The LS50 is a signature product of KEF, launched in 2012 to commemorate the brand’s 50th anniversary. It perfectly blends the latest technology and the classic LS3/5a. Since then, the LS50 has undergone several upgrades.

To mark its 60th anniversary, KEF recently launched the LS60 Wireless, which includes bookshelf speakers and floor-standing ones. The LS60 Wireless has also become a hot commodity due to its collaboration with the renowned British designer Michael Young.

The LS60 Wireless speakers have an elegant and slender design, making them an ideal fit for various living spaces. They have a slim and narrow appearance, with a front width of only 13cm. Users can easily stream high-quality digital music from their mobile devices with just a power cord and an internet connection. KEF’s LS60 Wireless speakers perfectly combine simplicity, convenience, and top-notch sound quality.

Design

The LS60 Wireless speakers incorporate various patented technologies exclusive to KEF. These features include the 12th generation Uni-Q coaxial driver, Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT™) to eliminate 99% of redundant noise from the driver, Uni-Core back-to-back woofer configuration, Music Integrity Engine DSP computing center, built-in Class AB and Class D mixed mode, and high, medium, and bass-exclusive amplifiers.

These features, along with a maximum total thrust of 1,400W (Bass LF: 500Wx2, D Class, Midrange MF: 100Wx2, D Class, Treble HF: 100Wx2, AB class), make the LS60 Wireless capable of handling all types of music, including big dynamic scenes in movies.

Moreover, the LS60 Wireless has complete input and output interfaces and stream decoding support. These features include an exclusive W2 wireless platform, PCM 24bit/384kHz, DSD and MQA decoding, Roon Ready, Apple AirPlay 2, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer, Internet Radio, Podcasts, Spotify Connect, Tidal, Bluetooth 4.2, and more.

Users can receive music signals from various sources with HDMI eARC, TOSLINK optical fibre, digital coaxial, analog RCA, and other interfaces. The LS60 Wireless also has an RCA subwoofer output, making it highly versatile and easy to use.

Setting up the LS60 Wireless is a breeze, taking no more than 30 minutes from unboxing to enjoying high-quality audio. Connect the left and right speakers to the power cord, turn on the power, download the KEF Connect App, and follow the instructions.

It’s worth noting that the LS60 Wireless consists of a primary main speaker (right channel) and a secondary sub-speaker (left channel), with the main input/output interfaces located on the primary main speaker (right channel). Additionally, the package includes a standard small black power cord, but users can experiment with different power cords in the future to improve sound quality.

The KEF Connect App offers more than speaker settings and streaming service selection; it also includes two important functions. The first is the ability to update the system firmware, enabling future features such as Roon Ready. The other is EQ settings that are related to sound performance.

The EQ settings are divided into “Normal Mode” and “Expert Mode.” For most users, “Normal Mode” will suffice, but for more experienced users, “Expert Mode” offers more detailed settings such as crossover point and phase. We recommend starting with “Normal Mode” and adjusting according to your system and environment. If you’re feeling more adventurous, try the “Expert Mode” for more precise adjustments.

The KEF logo on top of the LS60 Wireless speaker will emit different colored lights depending on the playback source, making it easy for users to identify the connection method at a glance.

For instance, a blue light indicates a Bluetooth connection, yellow indicates an AUX analog input, and white indicates a Wi-Fi connection capable of supporting up to PCM 24Bit/384kHz, DSD, MQA, and more.

The striking golden driver unit on the front of the LS60 Wireless is KEF’s exclusive patent. It features the 12th generation 4-inch Uni-Q coaxial driver with MAT technology, which includes a 0.75-inch tweeter and a 4-inch midrange driver, both made of aluminum alloy diaphragms.

On each side of the Uni-Q driver are four 5.25-inch Uni-Core resonant offset woofers. The five drivers work together to form a complete full-range sound system inspired by the design of KEF’s high-end Blade speakers. The abbreviation “MAT” stands for “Metamaterial Absorption Technology”, which significantly reduces distortion and coloration in the drivers.

KEF is a unique brand, in my experience. KEF is the most well-known brand among young and non-audiophile customers, who believe it is high-end. In other words, KEF has a very good reputation among non-traditional audiophiles. Regarding technology development and production level of high-end products, KEF is also a first-class brand, and it has expanded from flagship passive speakers to less expensive products.

Thanks to its excellent development capabilities and marketing strategies, KEF can be seen at high-end audio exhibitions worldwide. I believe that KEF may be one of the most successful brands that bridge the High-End and Hi-Fi markets, appealing to enthusiasts and non-audiophiles alike.

Therefore, it was no surprise when KEF introduced the LS60 Wireless as an extension of its active design to floor-standing speakers. It successfully integrated the latest wireless connections and Internet streaming services, and the app remote control mode, which is already familiar to everyone, was a natural choice.

The important thing was to bring higher sound quality products into the homes of the general public, leveraging the non-audiophile customer base that it had accumulated in the past. The LS60 Wireless’s modern and beautiful appearance will undoubtedly attract many young people. Its narrow front width makes fitting into smaller living spaces easier.

Two woofers on each side of the inner and outer sides can make the low-frequency band more balanced and less prone to distortion while also making up for the lack of low-frequency response caused by the small cabinet space. For users with higher low-frequency requirements, there are subwoofer output terminals, with one output for each side channel, and users can choose to add one or two subwoofers.

The LS60 Wireless is designed to meet the needs of most users in terms of environment and existing sound technology.

For example, during setup and audition, we only needed two power cables and an iPad or mobile phone from beginning to end. As long as there is a Wi-Fi network in the environment, you can explore all the music that the vast network can provide. This is the most familiar and easiest way for everyone to listen to music in modern times.

Sound Performance

Listening to Chlara’s “evo sessions” album streamed from the online platform Tidal on the LS60 Wireless, the sound transmission is quite direct, with a tendency towards liveliness and brightness. The thickness of the sound is good, and there is no feeling of thinness. As the size of the mid-range and high-pitched monomers is small, the angle of speaker placement greatly influences the sound.

After our testing, we recommend keeping a certain angle facing the human ear, which makes the sound clearer and more delicate. The low-frequency performance is quite good for a speaker of this size, with good speed, clarity, and cohesiveness in the foot drumbeat. It is sufficient for a medium-sized space.

In addition, LS60 Wireless has an EQ adjustment function that can be easily changed in the KEF Connect APP and is reflected in real-time in the song being played, making it easy to compare and adjust.

The KEF Connect app offers two modes for EQ adjustment: normal mode and expert mode. If the user is not using a subwoofer, they can use the normal mode, which provides options with simple instructions in plain language.

These options include the distance between the speaker and the wall, the amount of sound absorption in the space, and the size of the space, which correspond to adjustments in bass and mid-treble gain. By adjusting these options, users can find the optimal listening settings that suit their preferences. In expert mode, adjustments are made when matching subwoofers, including using one or two subwoofers.

If KEF subwoofer products are used, users can directly select the model in the menu, which will provide recommended preset values, including high-pass and low-pass frequencies. However, users can still fine-tune these settings to their liking.

To test the EQ function of the LS60 Wireless, we listened to Mariah Carey’s “Sweetheart” and used UPnP to connect to the NAS and play DSD format songs. It’s important to note that since the LS60 Wireless uses a Wi-Fi connection if the home Wi-Fi cannot supply TV, computer, and mobile phone and play high-quality videos simultaneously, there may be an unsmooth situation due to insufficient overall bandwidth.

That is a network situation that users may encounter, and they must find another way to solve it. It’s not a device problem.

During playback under normal mode EQ adjustment, the setting of the distance between the speaker and the wall greatly changes the sense of low frequency. The setting of sound absorption in the space corresponds to the middle and high notes. It’s easy to measure these changes in this song.

The user can adjust the most suitable method for themselves and memorize multiple sets of settings corresponding to different types of songs or change according to their mood. They can switch directly when listening, which is very convenient.

Next, switch to “La Fabuleuse Histoire de Mister Swing” by Michel Jonasz. This album showcases a strong French style, which sets it apart from typical arrangements. It is full of romance and vitality, and the LS60 Wireless does an excellent job of reproducing the singer’s tone, the orchestra’s performance, and the fast and exciting rhythm in the low frequency.

Additionally, the soundstage has remarkable depth and three-dimensionality, a prominent advantage of the LS60 Wireless. The sound is cohesive and provides a high-level listening experience.

Conclusion

The KEF LS60 Wireless speaker is a highly competitive product, offering a unique and modern appearance, easy placement, easy adjustment, multiple connections, and impressive sound quality. Its slender body and woofers on the left and right sides make it stand out from other floor-standing speakers, while its sound performance is full and dynamic.

Whether you are an audiophile or just someone looking to improve your listening experience, the LS60 Wireless is a cost-effective investment that can quickly turn your home into a music entertainment center. Its versatility and simplicity make it a great option for any living space without requiring additional equipment or wires.

Overall, the KEF LS60 Wireless speaker is a top choice for anyone looking for high-quality sound and modern design in a convenient package.