The KEF LS60 Wireless is the company’s first floor standing active speaker. Notably, it has a contemporary design that defies what is possible with audio technology. Moreover, it has a single-point-source design with four back-to-back side-firing woofers and the unique Uni-Q treble and midrange unit.
The LS60 is a leading edge speaker, with all you need for audio perfection in one package
World class streaming and connectivity
The LS60 can handle hi-res streaming from every source imaginable. It uses the renowned KEF class leading, W2 wireless platform for seamless streaming. The performance is peerless with podcasts, internet radio or wired sources. Wired sources can be connected via the Aux RCA inputs. There is also an HDMI (eARC connector) for connecting your TV sound. Finally, there is a subwoofer output on each speaker.
Additionally, the LS 60 can be used with the rest of the LS range to create a multiroom system. In this wasy you can use AirPlay 2, Chromecast or Roon to send the same music to all the rooms or different tunes to each room.
Effortless usability
KEF have their own wireless platform known as W2. Moreover, it has a great range of user-centric features that can be controlled via the KEF Connect App. Additionally, There are two ways to connect the LS60 speakers to each other. One is via the hi-res low latency wireless connection at 24bit/96kHz. the other is using a wired connection. This gives the best quality at up to up to 24bit/192kHz.
Single point source drivers
The LS60 uses Single Apparent Source technology. this is achieved by having back-t0-back bass drivers that are physically close to the Uni-Q array. as a result the sound seems to come from one point is space. This results in an incredibly coherent sound across the whole bandwidth.
The Uni-Q driver array.
The signature KEF sound is generated by the unique Uni-Q array. this is effectively two speakers in one. The tweeter is at the exact centre of the sound creating a single point source. as a result there is no sweet spot with superb sound being distributed to the whole room. The Uni-Q array is now in it’s 12th generation.
MAT, Metamaterial absorption technology.
KEF have pioneered the use of Metamaterials in their speaker drivers. This material is placed behind the tweeter and prevents 99% of the sound from reaching the underlying mid-range unit. Consequently, distortion is reduced.
Acoustic wadding and speaker design 101
Most loudspeakers are classed as acoustic monopoles. That is the sound is only supposed to come from the front. That is the primary reason why they are mounted on a baffle and in a cabinet. This prevents sound from the rear reaching the front. With bass frequencies, the cabinet dimensions are smaller than the wavelength. Therefore there are no resonances. However with higher frequencies cavity resonances occur. Normally this is damped with acoustic wadding. However this can reduce the bass response.
The ideal for multiway speakers in to have no rear sound reaching the cabinet back at all. KEF pioneered the use of a sound pipe behind the driver in 1967, with the Carlton speaker. This vented to the unwanted sound to the outside, but the pipe material was not really up to the job. Now Metamaterials are available.
Metamaterials have a mathematically calculated structure that absorbs most of the rear firing sound waves.
Three way, class D amplifiers.
Due to space restrictions, with the amplifiers being at the bottom of the Cabinet, Class D amplifiers are used for the mid and low frequencies. These are more efficient and generate less heat than their linear counterparts. There are also different power requirements for the different frequency bands. the LF amplifier is a 500W unit that can handle high continuous power. The midrange amplifier is 100W, while the HF amplifier is 100W. The HF amplifier is a class AB unit.