Dear Darko, THANK YOU. You began with small steps and now you are offering a serious, insightful & very enjoyable approach to hifi/high end...whatever. Your column and these videos really are an oasis in such overloaded media. Have played yesterday twice the Hegel H590 video and now this....This video is very clever and answers all the questions that may appear for this set of speakers. I thought you could read my mind, especially when you installed the LSXs to your office. Wish you the best and keep on surprising us!
Amazing video man. Also love the fact that you don’t have any annoying background music that distracts from your commentary. Looking forward to more great content!
I bought 2 used sets of the LSX for my sisters' birthday/Christmas gifts for about 60%-70% of the new price and couldn't be happier. Extremely impressed with them.
hands down best hifi review I've come across; I'm a beginner hifi person and this was really easy to understand. I appreciate not only your simple language but examples to add even more clarity. Amazing video production quality as well! Please make lots of beginner and entry level content for us in-between people, thanks & keep it up!
Thank you for your excellent review. I also had the opportunity to hear the kef lsx at the lounge in Singapore Airport. I have just bought them for my computer and they sound fantastic. I have always been skeptical about expensive speakers but my ears were opened upon hearing them. My Bose speakers sound hollow now. I can hear all sorts of wonderful things in my music which I was totally unaware of earlier Thanks again for your excellent video Please keep making them
Your review is very straight forward and to the point. For us non-music producers, but nearly as passionate about sound, you do a great job speaking in layman's terms on this product.
Outstanding video, man! I honestly thought I was watching a big, professional channel, so I'm kinda amazed how few subscribers you have. You defiantly deserve more subs and I'm sure they'll come! Great review!
@@DarkoAudio yes a couple of guys told me hit a hundred thousand and you are well on your way...I just love to watch though...you do a excellent work John may all your dreams come true!
I think you are getting better at this all the time. Pace, outline, descriptions, information. You pack a lot of information in this video. Very entertaining and informative. Excellent.
Dude what a great professional and polished review. I think seeing and hearing about a product in real world setting as apposed to reading a ton of reviews and tech specs makes it more tangible.
You do the best review ever. I love the way you talk about and show all the back connections. For a novice like me it is fantastic to hear and see what they all mean and do and the way you go through all the apps options. Will watch your channel from now on whenever I need to know my shit about something or looking to buy like I am at the moment trying to decide on which computer desktop speakers to buy. Thanks, great effort. Cheers.
Nicely reviewed John. I’m not a hi-fi techno by any measure but I do enjoy good sound. I’ve recently rehoused a pair of Kef 104ab speakers into lighter, and smaller, cabinets and they’re just so powerful and accurate, despite the passive bass speaker now mounted on the rear side. I bought the speaker panels as a kit set in the early ‘70s and over the past 40+ years they’ve been matched to various low power amps (20 to 35 Watts) and proven to be reliable, versatile and high quality. Still have the original spare fuses.
A pleasant enjoyable unpretentious review. Well done sir. As an owner of the LS50 wired, if these sound remotely anywhere near as good, I'd say they're worth a listen.
I just started watching your channel, and I’ve learned so much. I really appreciate your insight and your impartiality toward the audiophile world it leaves me space to question how I wish to interact with my system and how much time I really wish to put in my setups where I want to bring music into my daily life; and find my medium between hobby, leisure and practicality.
Informative and entertaining. Excellent video John. I could easily see myself suggesting friends and family try the LSX, especially with Airplay 2 support on the way. Native Chromecast support would be great and Roon would be nice to have, but perhaps not essential in this segment. I'd like to see more traditional companies offer active stereo speakers. A range (Bookshelf to Floor stander) of Naim/Focal actives based on the new streaming platform would be very interesting to me.
I've calmed down a lot and am enjoying them now. Probably not keep them long term, but am listening to music and am able to beam from bed which is good for a bipolar depressive like me early in the day. Gets me up! Enjoying listening to horns in Jazz.
I had so many questions (I also have the LS50W) and wanted to use these in my small study with my iMac and Roon, but you have answered them all in your fantastic video.
@@michaelhametner9780 Not a problem for Roon (Tidal) as I will buy the Chromecast audio dongle, otherwise ?bluetooth for everything else - RUclips, iTunes, Vox, Plex, QT, VLC etc. Presumably will have to switch between the different outputs using the app.
Got them since last December. Quite impressed by the sound quality even in a big room (~45m2). I paired them with a klipsch subwoofer to get some extra bass. Love them !
@@DarkoAudio Not to distract from the excellent and comprehensive review but, as the comment above notes, absolutely delightful room (both lounge and office!) I would also love to see a room tour..
Thanks to your video, my siblings and I, last Christmas, purchased a set of LSX speakers for my 97 year old dad. The Google Chromecast Audio trick worked great. In addition to the streaming capability it offered, he is able to voice-control his music playback (w/RUclips Premium) using a Google Home Mini attached to a standing-lamp, located next to his comfy-reclining-powered-chair. Due to age limiting restrictions, this is especially important for him, as he is unable to use a smart phone or iPad to navigate apps. In addition, his 55" TV audio output connects via toslink to a mini-DAC and mini-jumper cable, into the analogue Aux input. Both are being powered with a USB, powering-capable, splitter-cable, directly from the Master speaker's USB power port. All that he needs is to be sure to select the appropriate input on the speakers using the included remote. On the downside, the remote is overly directional and the red text on a black remote doesn't make viewing for the elderly easy. Placing small fluorescent colored stickers on the remote to aid in identifying the buttons to be pressed has helped. All-in-all, these KEFs are a pleasant Mid-Fi set of speaker that allow for flexible use. They sound smooth, and are relatively detailed, yet there's certainly no excessive sparkle in the treble. They have good dimensionality and dispersion. The mids sound very natural to my ear. The bass is surprisingly full for their size. Not the most dynamic or large-scale sounding......but overall, very nice. My dad loves them. Oh, and I do have them mounted to a cheap pair of speaker stands (which I must confess, I garbage picked) using the threaded hole in their bottoms. P.S. - John, your 5% description of sound improvement using the ethernet cable, as opposed to going wireless between the speakers, was spot-on. Damn good observation! SIDE NOTE: I did need to bring them in for repair. I was getting sputtering sound out of the Slave speaker, but only when using the AUX input on the Master. It sounded almost as though the speaker's driver was blown, but obviously that was not the case.
I must for comedy alone point out that folks who are pedantic aren't called pedantics, they are in fact called pedants. 😂😂😂 I couldn't help myself. Excellent video, it was well worth the time and I look forward to future videos!
I changed mains leads to wire world Electra 7 with cloverleaf adaptors to matrix 2 box ,and sound to this LSX bedroom system received a massive boost in sound quality 👍.
Watched this review a few months back and it put the LSX on my radar. The current price drop made me jump. These things are so amazingly perfect for a desk/office. Stunned by the presence, "Kein Trink Wasser" by Orbital, "Present Tense" by Radiohead, "9:39" by Global Communication, "Late" by Teen Daze, "A Simple Design" By The Juan Maclean, "Kaputt" by Destroyer was the test drive. Thanks for this review. The app could be better and I ended up running an Ethernet cable for stability as they were a bit finicky on my mesh wifi network during setup.
thanks for the review. two things; 1) thank god KEF is using proprietary wireless between speakers rather than (horrid) bluetooth or wifi. 2) KEF just laid down the best tv/ computer all-in-one speaker. love that it also uses KEF protocols between the phone and the speakers, as anything is better than bluetooth...which you can still use. and as i only listen lossless, i love the Cat 5 cable. and if you think i'm crazy on that point, turn bluetooth on vs off (plugged in if you have to) on an ordinary speaker and it will always sound worse. plus it has a sub out - go and buy an inexpensive sub and really blow your mind.
Las t year i bought the LS50W for my desk, and the situation was exactly as you described it. Now they found their place in our living room where they sound breathtaking. This LSX might be the right joice for my desk, hmm. We'll see...
I have the LS50W in my livingroom, and I absolutely love them. I bought the LSX for desk use. Side by side (in the livingroom) they sound surprisingly close but the LS50W definitely sounds more pleasing to me. For desk use I found the LSX a bit too intense and almost tiring to listen to. But this has probably more to do with the distance to the wall and how close I am sitting to the speakers, than the LSX themselves.
Tell KEF to put that EXACT same tech “stack” (if you will) into a pair of their large floor stand products (ref et al). Changing out the embedded amps, of course. THEN my wallet comes out! 🤛
Problem is that, the floorstanders and such are sold to the (usually) tech-adverse audiophiles (vinyl = god!!!) while, indeed, active speakers would bring out the best in any speaker design. Seperate amp per driver, correcting the drivers or speakers faults in the speaker already, being able to tweak wall response, ... Same here, give me an active KEF 3 reference that I can use this way.
In my opinion, the future is active speakers. The enthusiasts will however, always enjoy the experience of amp and passive pairing. And when it comes to floorstanders, many are on the enthusiasts buying list as opposed to a casual
Many thanks for great review! I very much like your way of bringing high-end hi-fi to all of us. I liked very much your review of Devialet Reactor (I considered KEF LSX and Recator for myself), and I liked so much the Reactors review that I went very next day to shop and bought pair of Reactors 600 + Legs :-)... Unfortunately, the Comments section of that review is closed (locked) and I would really like to see what are comments from the audience... Thanks once again!
Thank you for the review. Your review is complete and entertaining and really well shot. These speakers seem like a good fit for apartment dwellers who are only a little interested in better sound. As an Oppo owner, I’m always a bit concerned about being reliant on a manufacturer and their commitment to keeping their apps functional and relevant. Also, its funny that modern “wireless” speakers have a so many wires.
Nice review - thanks :-) I don’t get why speakers like this don’t come with a USB input to fully take advantage as a desktop speaker. This seems so obvious.
I have the kef lsx. I had great sound but the software is terrible. The volume control lags. The remote does not work properly. Now, my right speaker does not make any sound. Led's are blinking in an unknown error code. My left speaker only works if i keep pressing the 'volume up' button.
oh im so impressed with the designer, the fabric, the ports, the size, the colors.... i too was impressed except i only want to throw them out the window at this point /since day one can't connect to my WIFi / typical messaging about software upgrade, can't connect to my wife, which there's a routed 6' away you know, can't even update the software because it tells me i't not connected.... when it is.... but what do i know / it seems there 's always some other issue that can make anyone feel stupid but ok... the fact is that i never have had any good experience in using these speakers, only twice and then gave up.... because trying to connect, reboot, reset, you name it, 20 min. later to listen to music....im exhausted and don't want to work this hard to make sure your speakers are fully elevated as if im missing something..... sure they sound good and we can talk about that all day, but what good is it if i can't make it work ? for that money / i won't say what i want to do with them here...... i like simple connection or on/off button -
Quite entertaining, albeit lengthy, review. The technology presented here is impressive, particularly in a near field environment. When I saw the master interface, I immediately thought Chromecast Audio; as did you at the 18 minute mark. All that said, the price of admission could be better spent.
Nice review! Couldn't agree more about chromecast audio! I'd love to use active speakers in my living room but unfortunately entering the room would mean having to look at crowded back panels. 😲
i realised when i start using the kef kube 10 together wirh the lsx , using the lsx without sub is a major mistake. The kube 10 opens up the whole potential from the lsx speakers. Those tiny speakers go big when you combine them with a good sub and really go audiophile !
It feels like the KEF LS50W will get updated at some point to add wireless speaker connection. That is a great feature and since it is optional it is the best of both worlds.
love you, man. got these Kefs and just adore them. was also thinking about Devialet before purchasing them, but yeah, stereo and much wider soundscape made me take those as i couldnt afford stereo Devialet's. which is pity off course. but thats life.
I am in the same set of mind. But Devialet just start a new offer in France. 70 euro/month for 2 devialet reactor 600 and included qobuz Hi-res (which cost 24€/month). Definitly tempted by devialet now.
Nice video. I already own the KEF LSX speakers, and although using them in a small room, I still felt it necessary to pair them with a subwoofer. I found the Cambridge Audio Minx X301 to be a perfect match. They are fine for streaming services such as Tidal, but I found that when connecting them via the wired input from my Dragonfly Cobalt, the slave speaker would occasionally drop out, so using the ethernet cable became necessary. I also found a small amount of latency when connecting a microphone via a mixer. I now use a pair of Devialet Phantom 1's in direct optical mode which works better for me. I would say though that at the price point, the KEF LSX are great speakers.
Totally agree. Darko mentions a lack of forward pressure and adding a sub improves that. Still won’t fill a large room but my KC62 can blow my desk apart.
@@macit7774 you are absolutely right about Darko....sometimes I get him confused with Frank. You'd think it's obvious with the rabbit costume and all. I may need help...Frank keeps on telling me to buy more audio equipment and vinyl records.....
I love the idea of this product. Something to get you by when your not listening to records on your analogue system. Would look great in my home office too :D
Great review. How did you control the volume on the speakers via the Chromecast, if it was plugged in with toslink? Wouldn't you then need the app or the remote, since optical = raw data?
Great video! I really appreciate that you talked about their near-field functionality given their compact size. I love their small footprint but I'm not sure the average person would spend around $1000 on these...
I bought these after watchng this video (and passive LS50s for a different room). Does this review pre-date AirPlay as a steaming option? In summary, I wished USB out was USB in for hooking up my laptop directly, the remote feels very low-end (the buttons feel horrible). But l love the speakers in every other way.and I’m really enjoying them
Firstly I have to say I was always a huge fan of Kef speakers, in theory, starting way back when the Q7 speakers were released, the magazine reviews were always great. So about a year and a half ago I made the jump and purchased the Kef x300a USB pc speakers, cost $1300 AUD. Just 2 or 3 months outside the 1-year warranty the internal power supply started to fail and now give off a horrible high pitch buzz when in standby, I rang Kef but they wouldn't fix them under warranty despite them being $1,300 speakers. I will never buy any Powered Kef speakers again given the experience I have had and I even hesitate in buying other powered speakers and I certainly won't be spending anything like $1,300 on my pc speakers a second time. I am currently considering buying the Edifier S1000DB 2.0 Active Bookshelf Speakers which cost $560 AUD, still a fair bit but they have top recommendations and have a range of input choices, unlike the Kef x300a. BTW, when the speakers are in use, they do sound REALLY NICE, just a pitty with the standby buzz.
I guess KEF see network streaming as more important. Remember: KEF's "Hifi Your Computer" campaign for the X300A (that did have USB) didn't really resonate with their target market. It's also worth remembering that at this price point, for a speaker of this quality, we can't have everything. If we want USB, the LS50 Wireless is where it's at.
i wish they had usb as well but you can use an inexpensive dac like the dragonfly or the dacmagic xs to go from digital usb to 3.5 mm. (or even use a full on dac and use a rca to 3.5mm cable)
i have the LS50 wireless but for my second pc i was looking at the KEF Egg, they have the usb connection then today i saw this clip and i was thinking i might get them until the part with no usb :(@@DarkoAudio
Great balanced review. I see they are Roon ready now which is good. Roon is a music glue and I'm so glad it exists. I just wish that there would be some agreement on using a common control software that provided common actions so that these systems could integrate. I guess they don't want that do they?
Not to split hairs but they are not strictly Roon Ready as multi room streaming isn't possible. This is a special implementation of Roon coded just for the LSX.
Great review. Wish these had RAAT protocol so I can pair them together with my other Roon ready devices, not as a separate speaker within Roon. They would already be in me living room.
Thank you so much John! I was trying to find an answer to the question if I can buy powered bookshelf speakers rather than buying a soundbar because I like to watch movies but I also listen to music a lot, and a soundbar is a little too undewhelming for music. You answered that at 20:45. Would you recommend a set of powered speakers which sound great according to you and don't break the bank (in the range 150-250 Euros?)
How to connect to iMac or PC without USB? anything given up if by bluetooth or Aux3.5mm? any lipsync problem if like watching movie on itunes or youtube?
Audioquest makes a portable DAC/Amp called Dragonfly. It has a male USB that would plug into the USB port on your PC/Mac, and a 3.5mm out which could then be connected to the 3.5mm input on the LSX.
Nice speaker had them for 1 year but experience “dropouts on my Secondary speaker”……..been on Kef forum……but would rather not use LAN cable to connect speakers……any suggestions…….don’t thinks is my “wireless” environment as use other wireless speakers/devices.
Why can't all reviews be this good? This was outstanding! Thanks so much for your hard work. It shows how much passion you have for audio.
Dear Darko,
THANK YOU. You began with small steps and now you are offering a serious, insightful & very enjoyable approach to hifi/high end...whatever. Your column and these videos really are an oasis in such overloaded media. Have played yesterday twice the Hegel H590 video and now this....This video is very clever and answers all the questions that may appear for this set of speakers. I thought you could read my mind, especially when you installed the LSXs to your office. Wish you the best and keep on surprising us!
Amazing video man. Also love the fact that you don’t have any annoying background music that distracts from your commentary. Looking forward to more great content!
I only came across this presenter for the first time tonight but I'm impressed by the professionalism and quality of his review.
I bought 2 used sets of the LSX for my sisters' birthday/Christmas gifts for about 60%-70% of the new price and couldn't be happier. Extremely impressed with them.
Your digital/wireless/streaming reviews have been amazing. Taking the time to demonstrate how you set up & integrate has been truly helpful.
hands down best hifi review I've come across; I'm a beginner hifi person and this was really easy to understand. I appreciate not only your simple language but examples to add even more clarity. Amazing video production quality as well! Please make lots of beginner and entry level content for us in-between people, thanks & keep it up!
Thank you for your excellent review. I also had the opportunity to hear the kef lsx at the lounge in Singapore Airport. I have just bought them for my computer and they sound fantastic. I have always been skeptical about expensive speakers but my ears were opened upon hearing them.
My Bose speakers sound hollow now. I can hear all sorts of wonderful things in my music which I was totally unaware of earlier
Thanks again for your excellent video
Please keep making them
Brilliant review, this guy has seriously done his homework.
Your review is very straight forward and to the point. For us non-music producers, but nearly as passionate about sound, you do a great job speaking in layman's terms on this product.
I've read you for years, John, and now I'm really enjoying these videos.
Outstanding video, man! I honestly thought I was watching a big, professional channel, so I'm kinda amazed how few subscribers you have. You defiantly deserve more subs and I'm sure they'll come! Great review!
We've only been making pro-shot videos for 7 months. Subscriber growth is coming along nicely.
@@DarkoAudio yes a couple of guys told me hit a hundred thousand and you are well on your way...I just love to watch though...you do a excellent work John may all your dreams come true!
I think you are getting better at this all the time. Pace, outline, descriptions, information. You pack a lot of information in this video. Very entertaining and informative. Excellent.
Dude what a great professional and polished review. I think seeing and hearing about a product in real world setting as apposed to reading a ton of reviews and tech specs makes it more tangible.
You do the best review ever. I love the way you talk about and show all the back connections. For a novice like me it is fantastic to hear and see what they all mean and do and the way you go through all the apps options. Will watch your channel from now on whenever I need to know my shit about something or looking to buy like I am at the moment trying to decide on which computer desktop speakers to buy. Thanks, great effort. Cheers.
I had no intention of buying these speakers but your video was so entertaining I watched till the end!
Great review John. You didn’t miss a thing. Very well done! Thanks for sharing! Cheers, Frank
Amazingly in-depth and yet easy to follow review. Thank you very much for sharing..
Nicely reviewed John. I’m not a hi-fi techno by any measure but I do enjoy good sound. I’ve recently rehoused a pair of Kef 104ab speakers into lighter, and smaller, cabinets and they’re just so powerful and accurate, despite the passive bass speaker now mounted on the rear side. I bought the speaker panels as a kit set in the early ‘70s and over the past 40+ years they’ve been matched to various low power amps (20 to 35 Watts) and proven to be reliable, versatile and high quality. Still have the original spare fuses.
A pleasant enjoyable unpretentious review. Well done sir. As an owner of the LS50 wired, if these sound remotely anywhere near as good, I'd say they're worth a listen.
These little speakers are great. They have everything you need to listen to multiple sources just plug and play. And the sound great.
I bought these speakers one week ago. I find them great!
I just started watching your channel, and I’ve learned so much. I really appreciate your insight and your impartiality toward the audiophile world it leaves me space to question how I wish to interact with my system and how much time I really wish to put in my setups where I want to bring music into my daily life; and find my medium between hobby, leisure and practicality.
And now I'm a fan... More videos please
One of the best reviews I have seen.
Informative and entertaining. Excellent video John. I could easily see myself suggesting friends and family try the LSX, especially with Airplay 2 support on the way. Native Chromecast support would be great and Roon would be nice to have, but perhaps not essential in this segment.
I'd like to see more traditional companies offer active stereo speakers. A range (Bookshelf to Floor stander) of Naim/Focal actives based on the new streaming platform would be very interesting to me.
Mu so though
I've calmed down a lot and am enjoying them now. Probably not keep them long term, but am listening to music and am able to beam from bed which is good for a bipolar depressive like me early in the day. Gets me up! Enjoying listening to horns in Jazz.
Excellent description of a lovely little speaker.
Your narration says it all without the need to listen to them.
Keep them coming John!
Dude amazing video, probably one of the best how to Ive seen, keep the great work
Just got a pair, they’re great!
Thanks for such a clear and interesting review John.
Thank you, John. That was the information i was looking for. You have a clear mind to tel a good story and a pleasant voice to listen to.
Everything aside your house is beautiful :D. Great color choices and furniture is Lit.
Great vid, wasnt aware how versatile Chrome Cast can be for audio.
I had so many questions (I also have the LS50W) and wanted to use these in my small study with my iMac and Roon, but you have answered them all in your fantastic video.
Yeah same. I was looking to use LSX for my iMAC and no one did mention anything about it, except this review. Really appreciate the good stuff!
pimeye How are you planning on connecting the iMac to these speakers as they lack an USB input?
@@michaelhametner9780 Not a problem for Roon (Tidal) as I will buy the Chromecast audio dongle, otherwise ?bluetooth for everything else - RUclips, iTunes, Vox, Plex, QT, VLC etc. Presumably will have to switch between the different outputs using the app.
You can use Airplay2 to beam all macOs audio to the speakers but the latency is quite noticeable for many use cases.
Loving your videos. Just picked up some Kef q150s and so far I like them alot.
Wonderful review that kept me into it till the very end.
Also that DJ Kicks by Lone is quite the mix :)
Got them since last December.
Quite impressed by the sound quality even in a big room (~45m2). I paired them with a klipsch subwoofer to get some extra bass.
Love them !
Love the review and the speakers. But love the furniture in your room more!!! Room tour dude! :)
That's a great idea!
I’m interested in the unit that the speakers are sitting on 🤔
nice room indeed. is that a short throw projector sitting in the middle of the speakers?
John Darko ok, now your just teasing!! :)
@@DarkoAudio
Not to distract from the excellent and comprehensive review but, as the comment above notes, absolutely delightful room (both lounge and office!) I would also love to see a room tour..
Your video is top notch and professional.Well done with great info. Also like the Bowie picture.
Thanks to your video, my siblings and I, last Christmas, purchased a set of LSX speakers for my 97 year old dad. The Google Chromecast Audio trick worked great. In addition to the streaming capability it offered, he is able to voice-control his music playback (w/RUclips Premium) using a Google Home Mini attached to a standing-lamp, located next to his comfy-reclining-powered-chair. Due to age limiting restrictions, this is especially important for him, as he is unable to use a smart phone or iPad to navigate apps.
In addition, his 55" TV audio output connects via toslink to a mini-DAC and mini-jumper cable, into the analogue Aux input. Both are being powered with a USB, powering-capable, splitter-cable, directly from the Master speaker's USB power port. All that he needs is to be sure to select the appropriate input on the speakers using the included remote. On the downside, the remote is overly directional and the red text on a black remote doesn't make viewing for the elderly easy. Placing small fluorescent colored stickers on the remote to aid in identifying the buttons to be pressed has helped.
All-in-all, these KEFs are a pleasant Mid-Fi set of speaker that allow for flexible use. They sound smooth, and are relatively detailed, yet there's certainly no excessive sparkle in the treble. They have good dimensionality and dispersion. The mids sound very natural to my ear. The bass is surprisingly full for their size. Not the most dynamic or large-scale sounding......but overall, very nice. My dad loves them.
Oh, and I do have them mounted to a cheap pair of speaker stands (which I must confess, I garbage picked) using the threaded hole in their bottoms.
P.S. - John, your 5% description of sound improvement using the ethernet cable, as opposed to going wireless between the speakers, was spot-on. Damn good observation!
SIDE NOTE: I did need to bring them in for repair. I was getting sputtering sound out of the Slave speaker, but only when using the AUX input on the Master. It sounded almost as though the speaker's driver was blown, but obviously that was not the case.
I must for comedy alone point out that folks who are pedantic aren't called pedantics, they are in fact called pedants. 😂😂😂 I couldn't help myself. Excellent video, it was well worth the time and I look forward to future videos!
pedantic
A pedantic pedant.
I changed mains leads to wire world Electra 7 with cloverleaf adaptors to matrix 2 box ,and sound to this LSX bedroom system received a massive boost in sound quality 👍.
Lovely little speakers! Only thing they're missing is a USB DAC input. I would have omitted the AUX port in favor of that connection option.
Watched this review a few months back and it put the LSX on my radar. The current price drop made me jump. These things are so amazingly perfect for a desk/office. Stunned by the presence, "Kein Trink Wasser" by Orbital, "Present Tense" by Radiohead, "9:39" by Global Communication, "Late" by Teen Daze, "A Simple Design" By The Juan Maclean, "Kaputt" by Destroyer was the test drive. Thanks for this review. The app could be better and I ended up running an Ethernet cable for stability as they were a bit finicky on my mesh wifi network during setup.
..and definitely use the interconnect cable.
thanks for the review. two things; 1) thank god KEF is using proprietary wireless between speakers rather than (horrid) bluetooth or wifi. 2) KEF just laid down the best tv/ computer all-in-one speaker.
love that it also uses KEF protocols between the phone and the speakers, as anything is better than bluetooth...which you can still use. and as i only listen lossless, i love the Cat 5 cable.
and if you think i'm crazy on that point, turn bluetooth on vs off (plugged in if you have to) on an ordinary speaker and it will always sound worse.
plus it has a sub out - go and buy an inexpensive sub and really blow your mind.
Excellent review John - thank you for posting. You are my go to guy for audio !
This is an excellent video... And not just because of the speakers being presented...
Your presentation is excellent !
Very informative video without pesky background music? Subbed!
Las t year i bought the LS50W for my desk, and the situation was exactly as you described it. Now they found their place in our living room where they sound breathtaking. This LSX might be the right joice for my desk, hmm. We'll see...
I have the LS50W in my livingroom, and I absolutely love them. I bought the LSX for desk use. Side by side (in the livingroom) they sound surprisingly close but the LS50W definitely sounds more pleasing to me. For desk use I found the LSX a bit too intense and almost tiring to listen to. But this has probably more to do with the distance to the wall and how close I am sitting to the speakers, than the LSX themselves.
Tell KEF to put that EXACT same tech “stack” (if you will) into a pair of their large floor stand products (ref et al). Changing out the embedded amps, of course. THEN my wallet comes out! 🤛
Problem is that, the floorstanders and such are sold to the (usually) tech-adverse audiophiles (vinyl = god!!!) while, indeed, active speakers would bring out the best in any speaker design. Seperate amp per driver, correcting the drivers or speakers faults in the speaker already, being able to tweak wall response, ... Same here, give me an active KEF 3 reference that I can use this way.
In my opinion, the future is active speakers. The enthusiasts will however, always enjoy the experience of amp and passive pairing. And when it comes to floorstanders, many are on the enthusiasts buying list as opposed to a casual
Hope your wallet’s ready…
Great video John!!! Love the camera work!!! Very nice digs as well...:) Cheers!
this is amazing, i really like kef's speakers but hate the size of most bookshelves so this is like a blessing from god
Bowie and PSB at the background. Fine musical taste.
John Darko is great, articulate, engaging & fun.
Many thanks for great review! I very much like your way of bringing high-end hi-fi to all of us. I liked very much your review of Devialet Reactor (I considered KEF LSX and Recator for myself), and I liked so much the Reactors review that I went very next day to shop and bought pair of Reactors 600 + Legs :-)... Unfortunately, the Comments section of that review is closed (locked) and I would really like to see what are comments from the audience... Thanks once again!
Thank you for the review. Your review is complete and entertaining and really well shot. These speakers seem like a good fit for apartment dwellers who are only a little interested in better sound. As an Oppo owner, I’m always a bit concerned about being reliant on a manufacturer and their commitment to keeping their apps functional and relevant. Also, its funny that modern “wireless” speakers have a so many wires.
Nice review - thanks :-)
I don’t get why speakers like this don’t come with a USB input to fully take advantage as a desktop speaker.
This seems so obvious.
Bcoz they are meant to portable, that you can connect to your smartphone or any other thing that doesnt have the input
you can connect these to your desktop using other two outputs
Nowadays most computer motherboards contain optical out. Which I believe is even more convenient.
The old X300A's had USB. I still use them as my desktop speaker. Amazing set which I got for nearly nothing !
Smart of Google to provide that Toslink out option on the Chromecast-Audio, and to support Roon. A $35 Roon endpoint!!
I have the kef lsx. I had great sound but the software is terrible. The volume control lags. The remote does not work properly. Now, my right speaker does not make any sound. Led's are blinking in an unknown error code. My left speaker only works if i keep pressing the 'volume up' button.
Very comprehensive review. Thanks Darko!!
oh im so impressed with the designer, the fabric, the ports, the size, the colors.... i too was impressed except i only want to throw them out the window at this point /since day one can't connect to my WIFi / typical messaging about software upgrade, can't connect to my wife, which there's a routed 6' away you know, can't even update the software because it tells me i't not connected.... when it is.... but what do i know / it seems there 's always some other issue that can make anyone feel stupid but ok... the fact is that i never have had any good experience in using these speakers, only twice and then gave up.... because trying to connect, reboot, reset, you name it, 20 min. later to listen to music....im exhausted and don't want to work this hard to make sure your speakers are fully elevated as if im missing something..... sure they sound good and we can talk about that all day, but what good is it if i can't make it work ? for that money / i won't say what i want to do with them here...... i like simple connection or on/off button -
Quite entertaining, albeit lengthy, review. The technology presented here is impressive, particularly in a near field environment. When I saw the master interface, I immediately thought Chromecast Audio; as did you at the 18 minute mark. All that said, the price of admission could be better spent.
was waiting for review thank u . now for santa to read my wish list . great review . cheers
Great review John. Thanks! I have put them on my rather large wishlist.
Nice review! Couldn't agree more about chromecast audio!
I'd love to use active speakers in my living room but unfortunately entering the room would mean having to look at crowded back panels. 😲
You are the best! Based on your recommendations I got the LS50W which I am using with Dirac Live room correction. It is simply amazing! Thank you!!!!!
Fantastic review! Very practical and honest.
Good review! It was actually insightful compared to other audio reviews. Thanks
First time on your channel. Great stuff!
P.S kudos for LG V30, it shows your passion for sound 😍
A nice video at the various points of near-field speaker on the desk!!!
i realised when i start using the kef kube 10 together wirh the lsx , using the lsx without sub is a major mistake. The kube 10 opens up the whole potential from the lsx speakers. Those tiny speakers go big when you combine them with a good sub and really go audiophile !
Brilliant informative vid. Love the Chromecast Roon advice. 10 out of 10 man!
I really like how these small LS50s look :)
Thanks a lot for this review! Just bought a pair of these speakers, let´s see how they perform during next days ... :)
This was the first video of yours I’ve warche in a long time. Loved it. I unsubscribed a while back but this video made me resub.
First time on the channel but love the video!
It feels like the KEF LS50W will get updated at some point to add wireless speaker connection. That is a great feature and since it is optional it is the best of both worlds.
Good stuff John. Nice review
love you, man. got these Kefs and just adore them. was also thinking about Devialet before purchasing them, but yeah, stereo and much wider soundscape made me take those as i couldnt afford stereo Devialet's. which is pity off course. but thats life.
I am in the same set of mind. But Devialet just start a new offer in France. 70 euro/month for 2 devialet reactor 600 and included qobuz Hi-res (which cost 24€/month). Definitly tempted by devialet now.
Sir, I really enjoyed your video, easy to understand, you explained things in a great way, wil be looking for more of your videos. -Jim
Nice video. I already own the KEF LSX speakers, and although using them in a small room, I still felt it necessary to pair them with a subwoofer. I found the Cambridge Audio Minx X301 to be a perfect match. They are fine for streaming services such as Tidal, but I found that when connecting them via the wired input from my Dragonfly Cobalt, the slave speaker would occasionally drop out, so using the ethernet cable became necessary. I also found a small amount of latency when connecting a microphone via a mixer. I now use a pair of Devialet Phantom 1's in direct optical mode which works better for me. I would say though that at the price point, the KEF LSX are great speakers.
Totally agree. Darko mentions a lack of forward pressure and adding a sub improves that. Still won’t fill a large room but my KC62 can blow my desk apart.
Not true 🙄
@@macit7774 you are absolutely right about Darko....sometimes I get him confused with Frank. You'd think it's obvious with the rabbit costume and all. I may need help...Frank keeps on telling me to buy more audio equipment and vinyl records.....
I love the idea of this product. Something to get you by when your not listening to records on your analogue system. Would look great in my home office too :D
Finally got it working. Bought open box missing remote. So going back for the black color.
I also use the Aux input.
Great review. How did you control the volume on the speakers via the Chromecast, if it was plugged in with toslink? Wouldn't you then need the app or the remote, since optical = raw data?
Great video! I really appreciate that you talked about their near-field functionality given their compact size. I love their small footprint but I'm not sure the average person would spend around $1000 on these...
Great video,really enjoyed. Think the LSXs are definitely a gateway drug. To becoming a audioholic. 👍
Your setup at 16:50 is close to my ideal. Beautiful implementation of everything, especially the desk location relative to the windows.
Any concerns: longevity of active vs passive speakers???
I have a 40 years old active mfb speaker, one has a hum, the other is used on an edrum. The fabric on the housing is more a long term problem
I have the older X300AW. And they still sound great. I also have a pair Yamaha NX-N500 active speakers.
I bought these after watchng this video (and passive LS50s for a different room). Does this review pre-date AirPlay as a steaming option? In summary, I wished USB out was USB in for hooking up my laptop directly, the remote feels very low-end (the buttons feel horrible). But l love the speakers in every other way.and I’m really enjoying them
Are these Roon ready as of 2023?
Firstly I have to say I was always a huge fan of Kef speakers, in theory, starting way back when the Q7 speakers were released, the magazine reviews were always great. So about a year and a half ago I made the jump and purchased the Kef x300a USB pc speakers, cost $1300 AUD. Just 2 or 3 months outside the 1-year warranty the internal power supply started to fail and now give off a horrible high pitch buzz when in standby, I rang Kef but they wouldn't fix them under warranty despite them being $1,300 speakers. I will never buy any Powered Kef speakers again given the experience I have had and I even hesitate in buying other powered speakers and I certainly won't be spending anything like $1,300 on my pc speakers a second time. I am currently considering buying the Edifier S1000DB 2.0 Active Bookshelf Speakers which cost $560 AUD, still a fair bit but they have top recommendations and have a range of input choices, unlike the Kef x300a. BTW, when the speakers are in use, they do sound REALLY NICE, just a pitty with the standby buzz.
nice but why dont they have the usb input? how can you connect them to PC and play hi-fi music?
I guess KEF see network streaming as more important. Remember: KEF's "Hifi Your Computer" campaign for the X300A (that did have USB) didn't really resonate with their target market. It's also worth remembering that at this price point, for a speaker of this quality, we can't have everything. If we want USB, the LS50 Wireless is where it's at.
i wish they had usb as well but you can use an inexpensive dac like the dragonfly or the dacmagic xs to go from digital usb to 3.5 mm. (or even use a full on dac and use a rca to 3.5mm cable)
so let's see, toslink? aux? network? I think darko's quick hack with a CCA was pretty neat!
i have the LS50 wireless but for my second pc i was looking at the KEF Egg, they have the usb connection then today i saw this clip and i was thinking i might get them until the part with no usb :(@@DarkoAudio
Can’t you use bluetooth to connect to a PC?
Great balanced review. I see they are Roon ready now which is good. Roon is a music glue and I'm so glad it exists. I just wish that there would be some agreement on using a common control software that provided common actions so that these systems could integrate. I guess they don't want that do they?
Not to split hairs but they are not strictly Roon Ready as multi room streaming isn't possible. This is a special implementation of Roon coded just for the LSX.
Great review. Wish these had RAAT protocol so I can pair them together with my other Roon ready devices, not as a separate speaker within Roon. They would already be in me living room.
Thank you so much John! I was trying to find an answer to the question if I can buy powered bookshelf speakers rather than buying a soundbar because I like to watch movies but I also listen to music a lot, and a soundbar is a little too undewhelming for music. You answered that at 20:45. Would you recommend a set of powered speakers which sound great according to you and don't break the bank (in the range 150-250 Euros?)
Edifier r2000db
Superb review! Subscribed!!
How to connect to iMac or PC without USB? anything given up if by bluetooth or Aux3.5mm? any lipsync problem if like watching movie on itunes or youtube?
Audioquest makes a portable DAC/Amp called Dragonfly. It has a male USB that would plug into the USB port on your PC/Mac, and a 3.5mm out which could then be connected to the 3.5mm input on the LSX.
An excellent review, thanks!
Nice speaker had them for 1 year but experience “dropouts on my Secondary speaker”……..been on Kef forum……but would rather not use LAN cable to connect speakers……any suggestions…….don’t thinks is my “wireless” environment as use other wireless speakers/devices.