KEF adds Meta and Wireless II to LS50 series
KEF has hinted at the imminent release of the second generation of acoustics in the LS50 line – the updated bookshelf units included in the so-called LS50 Collection were named LS50 Meta and LS50 Wireless II.
Both models are said to be an “innovative revolution” over the original speakers – the company has spent three years of rigorous research to develop them. If you believe the description, the new products “raise the bar, offering previously unimaginable clarity of sound together with intuitive controls”.
These models were the first KEF innovations to be created using the metamaterial we recently talked about: it is a synthetic material with unique sound-absorbing properties that significantly reduce speaker distortion.
The KEF LS50 Meta and LS50 Wireless II are equipped with 12th generation Uni-Q coaxial emitters – just behind them is the absorbing metamaterial. In the design of the passive model – LS50 Meta – there are other changes, but the company promised to tell about them later.
More is known about the active LS50 Wireless II: the acoustics have become more powerful – now the midrange / low-frequency link accounts for 280 W of class D, and the tweeters are allocated for 100 W of class AB. Apparently, the speakers will communicate with each other wirelessly – before they needed to be connected with a cable. Also, the model may receive support for AirPlay 2.
With the KEF Connect app, the user can control the playback of tunes from streaming services and home NAS: the LS50 Wireless II is ready to handle PCM up to 24-bit / 384 kHz, DSD256 and even MQA. There is also Roon Ready certification.
Passive speakers KEF LS50 Meta will be available in the UK in October this year in four colors, active KEF LS50 Wireless II – in November and also in four colors. The company has not yet announced the cost of new products.
