KEF LS50 Wireless II

At the top of KEF's LS50 collection, you'll find its 'metamaterial' Wireless II active system. Ed Selley gives his soundbar a night off and enjoys some premium stereo

- Ed Selley

AV INFO

PRODUCT: Active wireless stereo speaker system with HDMI hookup

POSITION: KEF's premium wireless option, ranged with the passive LS50 Meta

PEERS: Naim Mu-So 2nd Gen; Klipsch The Fives

KEF's LS50 WIRELESS II is, as you'd probably guessed, an updated version of its original 2016-era LS50 Wireless. A self-contained active speaker system, it should be viewed more as an alternative to all-in-one devices like Naim's Mu-So 2nd Generation than something you attach to existing electronics. Which is probably for the best, as the £2,250 ticket might not leave you much spare for other kit.

The Wireless II features the same driver assembly as KEF's new LS50 Meta passive model. Each cabinet gets a 5.25in Uni-Q midbass with centrally mounted 1in waveguided tweeter. New for this 12thgeneration Uni-Q is the tweeter's ‘metamaterial’ backplate, a KEF innovation said to absorb unwanted sonic reflections back through the driver.

Each Wireless II cabinet is rear-ported and internally braced, with a 'lossy layer' between the bracing and cabinet walls to further limit vibration energy. Power is claimed at 380W for each.