KEF LS50 Wireless II (Carbon Black) is rated
out of
5 by
35.
KEF LS50 Wireless II (Carbon Black)
Wireless System Speakers
£2,499
”An innovative and entertaining sequel.” ’What Hi-Fi?’ 2022 award-winner.
Award-winning system, made better
Famed for their striking design, balanced sound and complete connectivity, the original KEF LS50 Wireless speakers swept the board. Now featuring new MAT technology for superior sound, a brand-new wireless platform and new KEF Connect app, the LS50 Wireless II is more impressive than ever.
The wireless speakers that put sound first
Based on the revolutionary LS50 Meta, these KEF wireless speakers use MAT (Metamaterial Absorption Technology) for lower distortion and a much purer, more natural sound. KEF’s famous Uni-Q drivers produce room-filling sound, free from the usual ‘sweet spot’. Powering all this is a mighty amplifier system that uses a combination of digital and analogue amplification to produce a total output of 380 watts per speaker.
Truly wireless option
There are many wireless stereo speakers on the market, but ‘wireless’ doesn’t always mean what you might think. Just like its competitors, the LS50 Wireless II streams music wirelessly. It also goes one stage further, though, in featuring a wireless connection between the speakers themselves – no umbilical cord required. If you want to improve file resolution from 96 kHz/24 bit to 192 kHz/24 bit, then simply use the supplied interspeaker connection cable.
Streaming services and Internet Radio
Download the KEF Connect app (available for Android and Apple iOS) and enjoy easy access to all your favourite streaming services, Internet Radio and podcasts. Compatible with Spotify Connect (Premium account required), TIDAL, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer and more, the app lets you access a near-limitless stream of music. The app also makes it easy to access your favourite Internet Radio stations and podcasts.
AirPlay 2, Chromecast and UPnP – Wireless freedom
Connect to your network via wi-fi or Ethernet and stream your music, your way. Compatible with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, the player suits most Apple and Android multi-room speaker systems. If you prefer to stream from your own music storage, UPnP (Universal Plug n’ Play) compatibility means it collaborates with a wide range of third party apps for effortless music network streaming.
Made for High Resolution music – including support for MQA and ROON
As well as offering the dynamic range to make the most of Hi-Res music, the LS50 Wireless II also supports many associated formats. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) – as used by TIDAL Masters – is compatible. ROON Endpoint status means it’s compatible with the award-winning music player – including Hi-Res files.
Ultimate Bluetooth speaker
For a quick and easy connection, the LS50 Wireless II speakers are also compatible with Bluetooth. The high quality Bluetooth 4.2 connection is perfect for quick and easy pairing with family and friend’s smartphones – making it an ideal way to share music.
Or, cable it up
Thanks to its HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, plus analogue 3.5mm inputs you can also connect up other sources, such as your TV, games console, CD player or turntable (with built-in pre-amp).
Iconic design
Equally as impressive as the sound and connectivity, the LS50 Wireless II’s style is hard to beat. The smooth, clean design is striking yet still easy on the eye. Choose between Carbon Black, Mineral White, Titanium Grey or Crimson Red, for the style that best suits you.
Enjoy a premium listening experience, in style, with the KEF LS50 Wireless II.
Award-winning system, made better
Famed for their striking design, balanced sound and complete connectivity, the original KEF LS50 Wireless speakers swept the board. Now featuring new MAT technology for superior sound, a brand-new wireless platform and new KEF Connect app, the LS50 Wireless II is more impressive than ever.
The wireless speakers that put sound first
Based on the revolutionary LS50 Meta, these KEF wireless speakers use MAT (Metamaterial Absorption Technology) for lower distortion and a much purer, more natural sound. KEF’s famous Uni-Q drivers produce room-filling sound, free from the usual ‘sweet spot’. Powering all this is a mighty amplifier system that uses a combination of digital and analogue amplification to produce a total output of 380 watts per speaker.
Truly wireless option
There are many wireless stereo speakers on the market, but ‘wireless’ doesn’t always mean what you might think. Just like its competitors, the LS50 Wireless II streams music wirelessly. It also goes one stage further, though, in featuring a wireless connection between the speakers themselves – no umbilical cord required. If you want to improve file resolution from 96 kHz/24 bit to 192 kHz/24 bit, then simply use the supplied interspeaker connection cable.
Streaming services and Internet Radio
Download the KEF Connect app (available for Android and Apple iOS) and enjoy easy access to all your favourite streaming services, Internet Radio and podcasts. Compatible with Spotify Connect (Premium account required), TIDAL, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer and more, the app lets you access a near-limitless stream of music. The app also makes it easy to access your favourite Internet Radio stations and podcasts.
AirPlay 2, Chromecast and UPnP – Wireless freedom
Connect to your network via wi-fi or Ethernet and stream your music, your way. Compatible with AirPlay 2 and Chromecast, the player suits most Apple and Android multi-room speaker systems. If you prefer to stream from your own music storage, UPnP (Universal Plug n’ Play) compatibility means it collaborates with a wide range of third party apps for effortless music network streaming.
Made for High Resolution music – including support for MQA and ROON
As well as offering the dynamic range to make the most of Hi-Res music, the LS50 Wireless II also supports many associated formats. MQA (Master Quality Authenticated) – as used by TIDAL Masters – is compatible. ROON Endpoint status means it’s compatible with the award-winning music player – including Hi-Res files.
Ultimate Bluetooth speaker
For a quick and easy connection, the LS50 Wireless II speakers are also compatible with Bluetooth. The high quality Bluetooth 4.2 connection is perfect for quick and easy pairing with family and friend’s smartphones – making it an ideal way to share music.
Or, cable it up
Thanks to its HDMI, optical and coaxial digital, plus analogue 3.5mm inputs you can also connect up other sources, such as your TV, games console, CD player or turntable (with built-in pre-amp).
Iconic design
Equally as impressive as the sound and connectivity, the LS50 Wireless II’s style is hard to beat. The smooth, clean design is striking yet still easy on the eye. Choose between Carbon Black, Mineral White, Titanium Grey or Crimson Red, for the style that best suits you.
Enjoy a premium listening experience, in style, with the KEF LS50 Wireless II.
Overview
Speaker Enclosure Type
Bass Reflex
Smart Features
Apple AirPlay
Yes
Smartphone control
Yes
Connectivity
Analogue Input
3.5mm x 1
ARC - Audio Return Channel
Yes
Bluetooth
Yes
Coaxial Inputs
Yes - 1
HDMI
1
Optical Digital Inputs
1
Sub Output
Yes
Sub Output
Yes
USB
Service Only
Wi-Fi Built In
Yes
General
Manufacturer's Warranty
2 years
Audio
Frequency Response (Hz)
45 - 28,000
High Resolution Audio
Yes
Power Output
LF: 280W, HF: 100W (Per Speaker)
Power Output - Watts per CH
100 +
Tone Controls
Yes - Via app
Features
Internet Radio Services
Yes
Energy Consumption
Power Consumption - Normal Use (W)
200
Power Consumption - Standby
2
Dimensions
Dimensions WxHxD (mm)
200 x 305 x 311
Weight
Weight (KG)
Approx 10kg
Accessories
Included Cables
3m Cat-6 Speaker Link
Remote Control
Yes
Incredible offers on these speakers!
OFFER 1
Get 30% off ALL cables with this product! Simply add any cable to your basket and use voucher code CABLES30 or mention when you call / visit. Offer available from our stores, telesales team, and online, until 23:59 30.09.23. Excludes Clearance, Refurbished and Open Box products.
OFFER 2
12 months 0% Interest Free Credit is available on this product. Available from our stores by appointment, phone or video call or from our telesales team - please call for details. Terms and conditions apply. Subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Richer Sounds Limited acts as the credit broker and not the lender, finance is provided by Creation Consumer Finance LTD. Click here for more info. Offer excludes Clearance, Refurbished and Open Box products.
Make the most of your active speakers. View our hottest deals on speaker stands.
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Roger J G from
Great speakers
Fantastic sound quality from the KEF speakers, very pleased and they look good as well. The service from Richer Sounds in Bath was top notch as well.
Date published: 2023-09-20
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Calum Grant from
Solid all-rounder
I'm using these in a smaller room as desktop speakers, and I wasn't sure if I would have enough space for a separate amplifier. In the end I decided on the all-in-one solution to save space.
The obvious question is whether the KEF LSX II would have been a better solution, and I think they would have been a very good choice too, but the LS50W2 had a bit more clarity and depth to them. I did not want to compromise.
Sound-wise, these speakers are extremely balanced, with a good depth and soundstage. They are not too warm or too harsh, but sit nicely in the middle. They certainly produce a strong bass but do not go as deep as some speakers, so are pushing you towards adding a subwoofer. They control quite well at higher volumes. There is a good level of detail and presence, and the ultimate test is that I can actually close my eyes and sink into the music. For the money it's good.
Feature-wise, the speakers set up very smoothly using an iPhone, and within minutes you are able to stream to these speakers using AirPlay from your phone. It was a great setup experience. I like the touch-panel on the top of the speaker, but it is by no means necessary. The remote works well, but is not quite as well built as the speakers themselves.
Did I mention the build quality? Fantastic. Also the looks, wow. But that's just me.
Connecting the computer was a bit more work. I would have appreciated a USB input, but instead I needed to use an external sound card with a TOSLINK output.
There were a few issues though. There are a few drops when streaming wirelessly (the router is in the same room so this is not acceptable), usually when skipping tracks, but I have not tried adding a network cable to the speaker which could resolve things? After a few weeks, the speakers were simply not visible on the network any more, so I needed to reset the entire speaker to get it back. With TOSLINK this would not be a problem. I don't really recommend connecting the speakers to the computer via AirPlay, as the lag is just too severe.
In my setup below, I have a pair of Kanto 6" Kanto SP6HDW stands, and I use a Cubilux USB A to TOSLINK Optical Audio Adapter to connect the computer to the speakers. For scale, this is a 40" monitor.
Date published: 2023-06-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Aaronbrown94 from
Excellent item and sound
Went into store to test and ordered via phone after deciding which colour I wanted
Date published: 2023-03-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Anonymous from
Great Sound, Great Design, Minimal floor space
I brought these a month ago. I play mainly Classical, Vocal Jazz and Folk. These have a wide stage with incredible details. I am hearing aspects of the music I have not heard before placed in the stage sound as with clarity and depth.
Date published: 2023-02-23
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Page94 from
Exceptional small speakers
These speakers manage the difficult trick of becoming invisible acoustically. With good recordings music comes from its own space, not a couple of modest speakers in my living room. They sound good at low volumes but can go very loud without the slightest hint of effort. Many well regarded speakers have gaps and subtle exaggerations in their frequency response that can sound very pleasant. These KEF speakers don’t seem to have of these faults/character. I listen to lots of acoustic recordings and these sound like the instruments being played, which is a rare ability and not a given even at this price.
They don’t get five stars however because the quality of engineering in the speakers doesn’t extend to the app needed for streaming. When switching on the speakers immediately switch on from standby and start to play in a second or two. After a few more seconds they stop playing and the app opens a red bar asking me to select the speakers in settings. They are already selected and show as such. After a further variable wait they start to play again. I’ve learned that my intervention makes no difference, so I just wait. This can happen a couple of times before they settle down. Reinstalling the app makes no difference and it happens whether I use my phone or iPad.
At the moment the app has BBC radio stations available. These are occasionally interrupted by messages from the BBC that they will soon not be available. It would be helpful to have heard from KEF whether they will add BBC Sounds to their app or not.
I have taken up the trial subscription to Tidal and will continue with it. A curiosity is that artists and albums added when I log in with my iPhone don’t show when I use my iPad, and vice versa. I only have one account. I don’t know if this is Tidal’s system or another KEF hiccup. I have learned to be patient with streaming, not least because there is no point in trying to contact these companies. I guess the lists will discover each other one day.
These speakers have direct inputs, so if the streaming becomes unusable, which I have experienced with another brand, I can always plug in a CD transport! Streaming via Apple Airplay works fairly well, but with a noticeable drop in quality.
Date published: 2023-02-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
tomelliott113 from
Helpful Aftercare
Had no trouble ordering the speakers themselves and was happy with the delivery and communication.
When setting them up I realised the master/slave wire was a bit too short - but I could figure out what exact wire it was to order a longer version. I got in touch with Richer Sounds and they weren't sure, but they contacted the supplier directly and had got an answer back to me within 24 hours - very satisfied
Date published: 2023-01-24
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Whatakerfuffle from
Superb sound and look
They're pricey and a little cumbersome to set up, but the sound has such wonderful depth and maintains quality up the volume range. They look excellent in my living room too, interesting but not garish at all.
I'd recommend using a cat 6 network cable to link them up for a slightly higher bit rate and quicker wake times from the secondary speaker.
Unfortunately the price has gone up, much like everything else. But if they're in your budget and you listen to streaming music regularly then they're absolutely worth every penny.
You might well get more precise performance from separates, but this package and simplicity is hard to argue with.
Date published: 2022-11-13
Rated 5 out of
5
by
DougalDog from
LS50 W II's do what it says on the tin.
I bought these about six weeks ago, and initially held back with review as experiencing some buffering problems initially when used wirelessly for the data streaming (rare but noticeable quiet periods when streaming from Tidal). I pinned this down to an App that had been downloading blog updates in background (I think, so far, so good).
Soooo, wired all together with some ethernet cable, and all have performed immaculately since.
So much so that I decided to add on a KC62 subwoofer, which takes a great pair of speakers to a superb level of listening, for me at least :-)
I would certainly recommend these as a great start into 'audiophilia', and for me, likely the only one.
Good enough to hear music like I've never heard before, even the 60's, 70' & 80's classics come to life.
Date published: 2022-10-23
