KEF's LS60 Wireless: the BEGINNING of the END 

PLEASE READ *before commenting*! 1) Got a question? Please ask it of the Darko.Audio RU-vid community (and not me) as I'm off making the NEXT video 2) All comments here are moderated by a third party: instagram.com/p/CTWcokaszpW/ 3) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories, please)

Thank you so much for your hard work and for taking the time to do the comparison/testing review the right way. We appreciate ya'! Looking forward to Part II whenever it's ready!

Looking forward to part 2

Really REALLY appreciate the value you place in side by side comparison. Idea - Going forward with all the mega super streaming integrated amplifier reviews, comparing external components with the included integrated ones would be A) painful for you, but B) very helpful for us - particularly with things like phono stages, just to gauge the component quality in a similar objective-ish way.

your review process and production quality are top-notch! I enjoy your videos more than I should even when I'm not in the market for new loud speakers.

Been looking forward to this upload!

Kudos to your work ethic and thoroughness. That's what makes your reviews so informative and entertaining.

Great video and great, GREAT music suggestion. Thank you for your amazing work!

Fantastic, love your plan John :)

When I saw your short of the unboxing, I COULD NOT WAIT to see this review!

Thnx for doing this. Super keen to get your view on these.

John, for you and your review, I will happily wait. Carry on, and just do you!

Yours is the only RU-vid where I actually love the advertising her voice is just great . 👍

thanks John, great video as always. really looking forward to part two, definitely on my very short shortlist 😁

I really like your room now. This new style is less contemporary and extra chill.

Looking forward to part 2!

love the philosophy here, the side by side comparisons are why i am here, thanks.

Beautiful! Even if it takes time, give us the best quality review as you always do! Please bring more tower speakers to this channel Darko!

Thank you for taking your time to review them properly.

Sold my Ayon audio tube amp, turntable and the rest of analogue gear 2 years ago as 4-year old twins running around in the house wasn’t a great combo. Waited patiently for a replacement that is more child proof but still up to standards. I think I’m rewarded for my patience. Thx KEF!

Awesome content as always.

Love your attitude. I love your time taken to do things right!

Don't forget if you get lip sync issues (i.e. any audio delay) try disabling the phase correction/time alignment in the app - it should put the speaker into a low(er) latency mode

The wait's going to be agonising! Not that they're even available yet, but I'm immensely interested in these speakers.

Music recommendations can sometimes be a bit hit and miss. Not this time, you beauty, thank you so much for introducing me to this artist.

Great video! Thanks!

I love the desighn Sleek n Sheek Wow ! Thanks John room looks great !

Holy smokes your reviews are good! Thanks John!

I can’t afford any of the gear here but I never miss an upload.

Awaitig for new video!!!!

Great introduction video. Very nice looking speakers. Can’t wait for part two. Love to see a comparison with the new Dynaudio Focus 30.

Of course I can't wait! But I will. Because you're worth it. Thanks J.D.

Looking forward to seeing the next installment! You are the best reviewer out there I guess that's why Kef shipped these 2 weeks before the actual launch. Keep up the good work! 👍

Thank You so much for the album recommendation. Had never heard Giant Sand. Love that album!! Such a unique style and sound.

The most impressive speakers, I love them and also did a review. I throughly enjoyed your highly detailed audiophile perspective. Nicely done mate.✌

Can't tell you how glad I am to see Kendrick on the TV. I know you're not a hip hop fan, however I hope you joined that masterclass in hip hop John. He's a phenomenal artist.

I'll gladly wait a couple of weeks for a good review 😊 Gorgeous speakers by the way 😍😋

Can't wait to see part 2. Very cool looking and I'll bet they sounds amazing knowing KEF. I just worry about active speakers with 2nd party components (e.g.., amplifiers) not made by the speaker manufacturer that cost $6,999 + tax (about $7,500 total in the US... certainly not pocket change for most). Replacement parts for all in one components could be a serious issue. I sure hope the warranty is 10 years for long term keepers of audio equipment. Unfortunately, there's little long term history on KEF actives to date with the LS50W only being out 3-4 years at most.

Very thorough. I’ve never been sure about the look of KEF speakers and think this is a bit ugly. I can see how others would like them. Fascinated by the location of the drivers and your comparison of this. Thank you.

Thanks for the Music suggestion. Really digging it.

Take your time! Thanks for the heads up, as I've been so eager to learn more, but I'd rather wait for a thorough, detailed experience and explanation rather than a description of the sound. I don't want words, I want connection!! Haha thanks for another great video.

i rly love your videos

Fantastic first part review. I completely agree re the remote. I’m totally convinced that Bang and Olufsen have sold more TVs from handing the customer the remote than any actual picture differences compared with competitors. It exudes class and money. If you haven’t seen one just call in and have a look. It’s everything this one isn’t and it immediately reflects on the experience. These have all the makings of being great and I’m looking forward to part 2

Indeed a great album, thank you for sharing Giant Sand

Your videos are eye candy in a 4K TV, congrats on the image quality

Thanks for covering full sized speakers.

nice review. As an audio lover who loves allot of brands i always enjoy your reviews. Greeting from Eersel, Netherlands.

Kudos on the Giant Sands Tuscon recommendation. Splendid!

Great part 1. Waiting for part 2, is like waiting for Christmas, as a child. But do it right! The probability of me purchasing a pair is very high.

This Giant Sand album is stunning, thanks so much for this advice! 🙏🏽

I love my LS50 Meta/KC62 workspace setup, I'd go for this.

🤗THANKS FOR YOUR MUSIC 🎶 SUGGESTIONS AND TAKING YOUR TIME REVIEWING THEM 🤔😍😍😍

The worry with expensive active systems is the failure of the electronics. I've had three sets of actives and in all three an amp module died outside of warranty. The fact that KEF warrants the speaker for five years but the electronics for two is a worry on a high-end, high price piece of kit.

Hey! Thanks for the album recommendation. Love it! I have the LS50W2s with one KC62 just like the simplicity of streaming direct to the speakers and no need for that endless discussion about how much to spend on cables! Using Tidal the sound quality is wonderful. These new LS60 look great and I guess sound great too! Not bothered about the remote. I have never used it. I use the app on my tablet for everything

Hi John. Great review as usual. One day I will get one of those, hopefully. Now, it`s out of my budget. Greetings from Costa Rica.

Hi i am also an Audiofreak since the begin of the eighties you are an amazing reviewer ! and yes I can wait four five weeks or even more I always learned that let the set play at least about 150 hours before making a judgment at all.

Looking forward to the second part of the review but the Giant Sand recommendation was fantastic, I discover so many new artists watching this channel.

Rarely do I love something that I'd actually want to own one. I've been following KEF since the Darko Podcast on their smallest sub and I am continually impressed with their new technology.

Loving the addition of kendrick’s new video in the background. Speakers look pretty great too…

I was so lucky to have the possibility to listen to them already. I was really impressed by the over all package of them. It is a fully hifi system in a very nice package. And most important, they sound really nice. Unfortunately not really my budget. But should I win the lottery. These would be my choice.

This was a great episode. I would like to put in a plug for your podcast episode about these speakers. That podcast is incredible. Thanks!

I was about to say "man that's a beautiful print on the wall!!!", but then it changed, then it had a moving picture on it......and I remembered you got a cool flat panel TV!! I need to re-watch that episode!

I can wait

Legend! Yes i can wait, i cannot afford it sny way so reviews like your are a nice guilty pleasure. Enjoy!

Beautiful ❤️🤓👽🛸

Would love to hear your thoughts on these compared to a pair of LS50W II with KC62 Subs (which appears on the surface level to be a similar spec and priced comparison) Thanks!

Very interested in this set. Here in Hong Kong we have a few luxurious audition rooms from KEF with the possibility to book them for a hour. Been there a couple of time and if you need more time with them they won’t make a problem if nobody else is waiting for the room. Didn’t book yet, but certainly will do in the near future.

Thanks

can't wait for the part 2!! and hoping that there will be comparisons with Ls50 Wireless 2s + KC62 and with the LS50 Metas + KC62 with price relevant amplification.

I like the woofer arrangement for that "point source" bass sound. I build speakers, and I have a different approach to bass source treatment. I also built up my own coaxial drivers. In my speakers I have the coaxial on the top of my floorstanding box but the coaxial driver is not quite in the box. There is a gap between the speaker hole and the driver that is mounted with longer screws with spacers. And the speaker hole is actually bass vent treated with a 2" deep tube behind the speaker hole. Without that, the speaker simply won't acoustically work (obviously). And (this bass treated speaker hole for the coaxial) also acts as a bass vent for a 10" woofer on the bottom panel, facing straight down onto the floor (with 1" high stubbs under the box for the sound to escape). The bass sound from the back of the woofer (inside the box) escapes around the coaxial driver for "point source" bass sound. And the source of the bass fired onto the floor has a vague source sound. And it sounds good low to the floor with that omni bass sound (along with the coaxial bass and the woofer bass around the coaxial driver). And there is always some residual med sound coming from the woofer (like with all conventional speaker woofers). And it escapes around the semi open coaxial driver bass vent and there is a very slight out of phase delay. But vastly most med is from the coaxial so the phase shift is very subtle and seems to add to the already spacial sound of the semi open coaxial. It sounds good and makes the room sound much bigger). I also have another smaller floor stander speaker made that is a very similar design in every way except that it's a full range driver instead of the home hacked coaxial. They sound great but the big speakers (with the coaxials) crank and have that big sound.

Great video John, a very compelling product that's ease of use and utility must be off the charts. Always when I see something like this (all in one HiFi) I ask myself is there a pieced out component-based system at a similar or lesser price point to compare? Look forward to your analysis further along.

Cheers.

Yes! Giant Sand, Tucson, is just an awesome album and makes speakers come alive vertically and horizontally.

On a whim I tried the Giant Sand - Tucson based on your recommendation. Totally hooked. In fact listening to it as I write this. Thanks. Tidal-Roon-LuminU1mini-AudioResearchLS27-ParasoundA21-DynaudioS40-VelodyneDD12+. As usual loved the ls60 review. Waiting for the sound part of it. Hope you compare it with ls50meta+KC62.

I'm beginning to enjoy the music recommendations almost as much as the kit- first Tranquillity Bass and now Giant Sand! I haven't heard Tucson and I doubt it beats Chores of Enchantment, but hey- you never know! Speakers are beautiful these days, that is for sure...

Darko is simply the best!

Thanks for the Giant Sands recommendation. Listening to Tucson and it is fab! Sounds amazing!

Just bought demo KEF reference 3. Wow wow and thrice wow.

Just brought a pair of LS50 speakers, and they are astonishing good sounding Speaker.

Do it right John! 👍💪

You do such a great job with these reviews. Always thorough, always thoughtful. I have begun taking your advice and calling out reviewers who do “comparisons” without having the product on-hand to A/B them. In fact just did it yesterday with an unnamed reviewer comparing the Buchardt S400 Mk2 to the original. He touted the Mk2 as a “unicorn” and miles better than the original. When I asked how he could make such definitive statements without having the Mk1 on hand, he said; “easy, the differences are not subtle”. Sigh 😞 Keep up the great work!

Aside from the subjects, themselves, man - your reviews are a work of art, sincerely. 👍🏽

Nice choice of CDs!

Buchardt A700 as the comparator system pls…. No hurry but pls don’t make us wait too long….

Thanks for the Giant Sand referral. I went to Tidal and listened to a few clips and it is a great LP.

Thanks John - would have been interesting to hear your thoughts on the comparisons you have planned.

Together with the featured Suede album in a more recent video, Tucson was by far the best album recommendation. Thank you, John

You really worth it to be one of the very few on the planet to review this beautiful speaker. Can' t wait for part II. One minor complaint: where's the review for Pro-Ject RS2T? Many thanks for your nice videos. Greetings.

Still look forward to your impressions part 2 though the share on this Giant Sand disc was most valuable enough. Damned good stuff John.

KEF is really doing some cool things with their engineering. I'm a long time fan of the UniQ drivers and they keep taking fresh new approaches with their technology. Just put some LS50 Meta into a room with a KC62 and it's a very nice combination. Not the end all, be all, but still very solid especially for the price point and aesthetics.

you absolutly need to have the Buchardt A700 in comparison ! Same spirit and flavour, about the same price, you already know Mads well so it's a very (very very) simple process for you. Indulge us, it will be huge.

If you already have a good amp and dac, please try the LS50 Meta and a good subwoofer. This LS60 is packed with electronics. One small issue and you lose your whole audio system. This is a speaker set for design lovers (and also like good audio) who used to buy B&O etc. It’s not a set for audio lovers. They want a nice amp and a pair of real speakers, not a pair of electric car chargers in your living room. Said that, I believe that the LS60’s will find it’s way to the customers. They have enough to attract buyers with a filled wallet looking for a compromise to keep their wife and their ears happy.

Another great video. And thanks for the rock/country Giant Sand / Tucson recommendation. Streaming it now. I usually don’t get into your electronic selections. They make me feel like I’m in an SNL Sprockets skit. 😬 😬

Good introduction

Thank you, John, for turning me on to Giant Sand!

This was the ‘entree’ now waiting for the main course!

Best reviewer of the world :-)

I had a chance to hear a set of these recently at my local Audio Advice showroom and I couldn't help but say "these are remarkable" after listening to them. Are they truly worth their close-enough-as-makes-no-difference $7000 price tag? Possibly not. But are they a truly stunning bit of industrial design and speaker packaging that makes a sound that is competitive with systems of similar price points? Absolutely. The sound is good, but the pre-production units I heard still needed some software updates to finalize the crossover points for their DSPs to better blend the midbass transition. I do think that, once KEF finalizes their tuning and/or provides user controls for their active crossover networks, these things will be a truly special standalone option for people who may not want to bother running a separate receiver or sound processor and amplifier. They are a unique proposition because they are both aesthetically beautiful, compact, and they offer an atmospheric quality to their sound without losing the directionality that you need for good staging. They are also remarkably compact for the amount of sound they produce. It almost beggars belief that they're able to produce such room-filling sound with how narrow the enclosure is and how good and impactful their mids are given how small the mid-woofer is on the Uni-Q driver. They're really something special that you have to hear to believe. Having said that, if you were to be selective about your purchases, it is totally possible to make a better sounding stereo setup than the LS60 for the same price, or possibly less. These are just a very good total solution for stereo listening.

The tweeter woofer sealed damper is derived from the 7th and 8th gen sealed suspension system gasket. The only other speaker than the 300X and the 300XSEs (exemplifications of 7th and 8th gen Uni Q generations, the 9th being the Blade,) was the LSx which was essentially ac active variant of the LSx.

Great video! Now the only question everybody will ask is: How do they compare with Buchardt a700? Pretty much the same price range, completely different approach to build