Who says that anniversary releases need to be reserved for nice, round numbers? In honor of its 55th anniversary, KEF has announced the LS50 Wireless, a fully active take on the passive LS50 speakers it announced for its 50th anniversary. Looking at the specs and features on this speaker system, we’re just glad the company announced it, period.
If you’ve seen the older LS50 speakers, the LS50 Wireless will likely look quite familiar. The FEA-designed cabinet, 5.25-inch Uni-Q driver, and elliptical sound port, as well as features you can’t see like constrainer layer damping bracing, have all been held over from the original LS50. Inside, however, a whole lot has changed.
The LS50 Wireless includes an end-to-end 192kHz/24-bit high-resolution digital signal path with two dedicated digital-to-analog converters per channel, for a total of four. Each speaker features a bi-amp dual-mono configuration (200 + 30 watts per speaker) and streaming preamp, so no wires are required to connect the two. A time-correcting DSP crossover makes sure that everything stays in sync.
For connectivity, the LS50 Wireless featured both Bluetooth 4.0 and dual-band 2.4 Ghz/5 GHz Wi-Fi. Despite the word “wireless” in the name, a number of wired connectivity options are available, including USB Type B and TOSLINK Optical for digital connectivity, as well as RCA line-level inputs on the analog side. If you’re looking for more bass, a subwoofer output is even included.
A touch-sensitive panel is available for controls, but this isn’t the only method of control available. A dedicated app for the LS50 Wireless is available for both iOS and Android, allowing for easier network setup, and control over music streaming, playback, and other control functions, including the subwoofer output.
The KEF LS50 Wireless sells for $2,200 and is available in titanium gray/red, gloss black/blue, and gloss white/copper finishes. The system is currently set to begin shipping in December in the U.S. For more information, see the KEF website.
