KEF XIO Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 Soundbar

Shop KEF XIO Dolby Atmos 5.1.2 Soundbar 

Transcendent sound, Transcendent experience. Read our KEF XIO Dolby Atmos tech review here.

Cinema-Grade Sound In Your Living Room

The KEF XIO Soundbar delivers an elevated home theatre experience with high-fidelity Dolby Atmos spatial audio and KEF’s Music Integrity Engine® (MIE). Powered by a 5.1.2 configuration with spatial audio support and 12 Class D amplifiers, the XIO soundbar transcends the expected limitations of its frame to deliver sound quality and performance that rival KEF's renowned HiFi systems. 

As an official KEF Elite Dealer with 36 years in the HiFi industry, Audio Connection rates the XIO as one of the few soundbars that performs equally well for film and music.

The XIO Soundbar’s 5.1.2 configuration uses three Uni-Q MX drivers and two full-range drivers for an expansive front soundstage, four P185 LF drivers for deep, controlled bass, and two upward-firing Uni-Q MX drivers for genuine Dolby Atmos height. 

With KEF’s Music Integrity Engine (MIE) for Cinema, XIO supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony 360 Reality Audio, and its advanced up-mixing technology intelligently expands the soundstage, converting mono and stereo sources into a rich, spatial soundscape.

Simple placement and setup

The XIO only requires a HDMI cable and power connection, and comes with a wall-mount bracket included in the box. The XIO’s Intelligent Placement Technology automatically adapts the audio output based on the objects around the soundbar. XIO also features adaptive shelf and wall modes for enhanced audio experience. The result is an uncompromising home theatre experience, tailored to its environment.

Pristine dialogue and exceptional vocal clarity

Midrange clarity is key to an exceptional home entertainment experience, and XIO ensures that every word is heard with remarkable detail. A dedicated Dialogue Mode within the EQ presets enhances vocal frequencies while reducing background noise, making speech effortlessly clear. Exceptional sound imaging delivers audio performance that rivals KEF’s renowned HiFi speaker systems, so that whether it’s a whispered conversation or a soaring musical score, every nuance is faithfully reproduced.

Deep, detailed bass in a slim profile

The KEF XIO's P185 LF driver uses P-Flex technology to deliver deep bass. The resulting sound offers a heft and detail you'd expect from a full-fledged luxury system, not a soundbar. The racetrack design with a high aspect ratio (18cm/7" x 5cm/2") allows for a slim profile while offering the performance of a 4" LF driver. Twin P185 drivers are arranged back to back in a force-cancelling configuration that minimises mechanical vibrations. The result is a distortion-free, deep and resonant bass you can clearly hear and feel.

Precision where it counts

Equipped with six Uni-Q MX drivers, the KEF XIO brings KEF's renowned Uni-Q technology to a miniature form. These drivers deliver a balanced soundstage with clarity and accuracy throughout the room. The decoupler, engineered as a precise crossover, separates the LF cone from the HF tweeter dome, allowing the diaphragm to move freely at low frequencies while isolating the dome for high-frequency precision. As a result, the XIO delivers full-bodied, high-fidelity sound for everyone to enjoy, no matter where they are in the room.

Revolutionary sound correction technology

KEF's patent-pending Velocity Control Technology (VECO) is the game-changing built-in sensor at the heart of the P185 LF driver. VECO monitors cone motion in real time and uses a negative feedback loop to minimise distortion and compression. This ensures that the signal reaching the driver's voice coil includes the intended musical signal alongside a correction for any deviations in the driver's motion, maintaining system stability. Distortion is significantly reduced, delivering pristine, undistorted clarity.

Smart and powerful

The mastermind behind KEF's signature sound, the Music Integrity Engine (MIE) for Cinema is the XIO's in-house suite of DSP algorithms, specially tuned to offer multi-channel processing, virtualisation and adaptive placement capability. The result is immersive soundscapes that enhance movie watching, and consistent audio quality regardless of where the soundbar is placed.

Stream anything

The W2 Wireless Platform, adapted from the LS Wireless Collection, offers seamless access to a variety of music services, including Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz and Deezer. You can also stream directly from native apps like Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect and QPlay, ensuring full fidelity in your listening experience. Enhanced with Dolby Atmos and Sony 360 Reality Audio, the XIO creates immersive 3D soundscapes from your music, letting you enjoy every detail.

Perfect fit with today’s TV

Designed for flexibility, the XIO offers HDMI eARC, optical and the option of RCA subwoofer output. While the soundbar itself has sufficient bass for the majority of use cases, for those looking for that bit extra, any KEF subwoofer can be paired wirelessly with the KW2 RX receiver, an accessory designed specifically to ensure effortless and reliable connectivity.

Complete control made simple

Navigate settings, adjust audio preferences and manage playback easily through the XIO top panel, via the remote or through the KEF Connect app. Tune your listening experience to suit your taste and your space using the normal and expert modes in the EQ settings. Presets include Dialogue mode, which enhances speech clarity and intelligibility for TV shows, documentaries and news, and Night mode, tailored for late-night viewing or situations where lower volume levels are necessary.

Minimalist elegance, maximum practicality

With a sleek aluminium top plate and splash-proof fabric, the XIO soundbar combines style and durability seamlessly. Its beautiful, minimal design is crafted to complement any living room, whatever your interior style. Available in Silver Grey and Slate Black, the soundbar includes a wall-mount kit as standard, offering versatile placement options to suit your space and preference.

• Dimensions (HWD) 70 × 1210 × 165 mm 
• Weight 10.5 kg

• HF/MF: 6 x 50 mm (2 in.) Uni-Q MX driver
• HF/MF: 2 x 50 mm (2 in.) full range driver
• LF: 4 pcs of 50 x 152 mm (2 x 6 in.) P185 driver supported by VECO
• Amplifiers: HF/MF: 8 x Class D, LF: 4 x Class D
• Max SPL measured at 1m: 102 dB
• Frequency response (±3dB) measured at 85dB/1m: 34Hz - 20kHz

• HDMI 2.1 eARC
• TOSLINK Optical
• USB Type C (service)
• RJ45 Ethernet (network)

• Wireless Subwoofer output
• RCA Subwoofer output

• KEF Connect
• AirPlay
• Google Cast
• UPnP Compatible
• Bluetooth 5.3

• Spotify via Spotify Connect
• Tidal via Tidal Connect
• QQ Music via Qplay
• Amazon Music
• Qobuz
• Deezer
• HIGHRESAUDIO
• Internet Radio
• Podcast…and more
• *Depends on services availability in different countries

• HDMI eARC up to 192 kHZ/24 bit
• Network up to 384 kHz/24 bit
• Optical up to 96 kHz/24 bit
• *Depends on source resolution

• Amplifier output power: 820 W (Instantaneous total power rating)
• Power input: 100 – 240VAC 50/60Hz
• Power consumption: 400 W (Maximum operating power), <2.0W (ECO mode standby power), <0.5W (Non WiFi mode)