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KEF’s new LS LUXE speakers offer beauty and performance in one package…
…thanks to new technologies and clever design features that give it advantages when it comes to bass and midrange detail.
Given where the new speaker lands in the KEF “LS family” lineup, it begs the question:
Does the new, tech-laden LS LUXE surpass KEF’s current flagship streaming active speaker, the LS60 Wireless?
Looks-wise, the verdict is subject to opinion.
The LUXE are modern, and smooth, and minimalist-looking, and orb-like. And smaller, of course. They’re standmount speakers after all.
The LS60W on the other hand are tall, and more in line with typical loudspeaker silhouettes. They resemble something like pillars. Slimline pillars of technology. Mind you in the right colour, they can blend it rather well.
Feature-wise these two are on par.
Except that the LUXE have a 3.5mm analogue input and the LS60W have RCA. That difference is easily resolved with an adapter. Oh, and the LUXE have a USB-C charging output and the LS60W do not. (Which makes sense, given the LUXE could be used as desktop speakers.)
Here’s a snapshot of the inputs for both:
Right, so on to the good stuff.
How do the LS LUXE and LS60 Wireless compare in terms of sound quality?
Well, they have some similarities.
Both are true to the “KEF LS” house sound signature. They’re quite detailed while never coming off as shrill or fatiguing, as the treble response is slightly rolled off. Vocals sound natural and are nicely centred.
Yet they lean slightly warm. The midrange is smooth and revealing. Soundstage and separation are excellent.
Importantly (and this is where the LUXE and LS60W stand apart from the LS50 Wireless II) they both deliver high-quality sound at loud volumes—making them better suited for bigger rooms.
However…
The LS LUXE and LS60 Wireless differ when it comes to bass response.
You see, the LUXE are fitted with a 6.5-inch UniQ driver, which handles the full range of sound. This is bigger than the 5.25-inch LS50W2 driver.
The LUXE also have other bass-friendly advantages. The new cabinet shape gives them more internal air volume, meaning there’s a softer “air spring” which allows the driver to move more freely. And KEF have added an analog feedback loop, their Velocity Control (VECO) technology, which corrects for distortion when the driver is producing loud bass and lower mids.
All of that is excellent.
However, the LS60W has four 5.25-inch woofers per speaker dedicated to producing bass and lower mids. That’s separate from the 4-inch coaxial drivers which handle the rest of the musical spectrum. And it makes for a serious mechanical advantage over the LUXE.
But does it translate to an actual difference in performance?
Yes. The LS60 Wireless, in a direct listening shootout against the LS LUXE, provide a noticeably bigger bass response, especially at loud volumes. They seem to have deeper extension as well, giving more the sub-bass you feel rather than hear.
Upper bass and midrange performance though, isn’t far off. The LUXE do extend quite well and they always maintain grip: meaning the bass is never boomy, and bass tones are easy to distinguish.
It’s that bit of extra oomph you get with the LS60W, giving it an edge when it comes to bass-heavy music and home cinema.
Which makes it seem like the champion is obvious. Except there’s a catch.
For roughly the same cost, you can add the KEF KC62 subwoofer to the LS LUXE… and that changes the conversation.
Given that bass tones have long wavelengths, and interact with the room more, where you sit to listen and where the bass is coming from matters. When there’s bass playing, if you walk around the room you’ll find it’s louder in some spots and quieter in others.
The challenge with the LS60 Wireless is that the best location for stereo performance is rarely the best location for bass performance.
So the ideal listening spot for the LS60 Wireless is likely to impose a compromise on bass. It could be slightly elevated (and boomy sounding) or slightly reduced. This can be mitigated a little bit using the DSP settings, but
Meanwhile, if you had the LS LUXE with a KC62 sub—which would come in just under the cost of the LS60W alone—you’d have a twofold improvement. The LUXE could be set to “sub mode” in the app, which would reduce the bass load and improve the midrange performance overall. And the KC62 could be placed in the best spot for bass performance at your listening spot, while the LUXE were in the best spots for stereo.
So, to sum it all up…
The LS60 Wireless are the ideal pick for those who prefer one less box, while still getting a big, immersive sound. While LS LUXE are the top performer as long as you add the KC62 subwoofer.
Happy listening!
