British Audio brand KEF has taken the wraps off a new high-end 5.1.2-channel soundbar that it claims deploys a whole host of innovations to deliver “a transcendent cinematic sound experience” for both movie and music fans.
The catchily-named XIO soundbar seeks to live up to this claim – and a premium price by soundbar standards of $2,499.99/£1,999 – with a suite of classic KEF-style features such as Uni-Q MX technology, a P185 low frequency driver with P-Flex system, a new patent-pending Velocity Control Technology, and a version of KEF’s famous Music Integrity Engine (MIE) that’s been adapted to cinema purposes. All deployed with a focus on optimising the soundbar’s performance with all three of the AV world’s most popular spatial sound formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio.
The 5.1.2 channels of sound, comprising five main channels, one subwoofer channel and a pair of overheads, are delivered by 12 class D amplifiers, and the accuracy with which they place sound effects correctly in a three dimensional spatial soundstage is enhanced by KEF’s new Intelligent Placement Technology – a built in calibration tool that automatically adapts the soundstage to take account of any objects you might have placed around the soundbar.
Also included among the KEF XIO’s processing features are Night, Music and Dialogue Modes, the latter of which enhances vocal frequencies in a mix while simultaneously reducing background noise.
As you can see from the images of it accompanying this article, the KEF XIO boasts an unusually slender, vertical-profile design. KEF claims, though, that the stylish enclosure (which features a sleek aluminium top plate and splash-proof fabric and is available in Slate Black or Silver Grey color options) can still provide a bass performance equivalent to a typical four-by-four-inch low frequency driver thanks to an arrangement of twin KEF P185 LF drivers positioned back to back in a mechanical distortion-reducing force-cancelling configuration, enhanced by P-Flex technology.
Adapted from KEF’s award-winning KC62 and KC92 subwoofers, this low frequency enhancement system essentially resists acoustic pressure within the cabinet, enabling the driver to move more precisely and reduce the potential for distortion.
The KEF XIO’s new Velocity Control Technology, meanwhile, places a sensor at the heart of the P185 LF driver so that it can monitor cone motion and deploy a negative feedback loop as required to further minimize the effects of distortion and compression.
Six KEF Uni-Q MX drivers have been included in the soundbar to deliver what the brand says will be a balanced, crisp, accurate and room-filling soundstage. These are smaller versions of the iconic Uni-Q drivers KEF has been using to great acclaim in other speakers for many years now, and feature a decoupler engineered as a precise crossover to separate the driver’s low-frequency cone and high frequency dome. This gives the diaphragm more room to move while leaving the dome isolated to enhance treble precision.
Further processing support for the XIO’s driver arrangement comes from KEF’s proprietary Music Integrity Engine (MIE) for Cinema, which combines everything from multi-channel processing to virtualisation processing and adaptive placement in its bid to create a compelling three-dimensional sound space in even the most challenging room environments.
The XIO’s connections include an eARC-capable HDMI port, an optical digital audio output, and an RCA subwoofer line out so that you can add an external subwoofer. It’s even possible to add any KEF subwoofer to the XIO wirelessly courtesy of a specially designed optional extra KW2 RX receiver accessory.
The XIO is also equipped with a new W2 Wireless Platform that’s been adapted from KEF’s LS Wireless Speaker Collection to obtain premium results from a wide range of the biggest streaming services, including Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz, and Deezer.
Controlling the XIO, finally, can be achieved via an included remote control, a set of buttons attractively integrated into the soundbar’s top panel, or through a KEF Connect app with a visual interface that makes it easier to tune the listening experience to your tastes and space.
Early access to KEF’s new premium XIO soundbar is available now via KEF’s US and UK Websites.
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