KEF LSX Wireless Music System

I wanted to have these a bit and work through the pros and cons before reviewing. Simply put, I don't think you can buy better speakers for your desktop! That said, setting them up correctly plays a BIG part in just how good they will sound. If you want a Bluetooth speaker system, save some money (a LOT of money) and buy something else. Bluetooth won't allow these speakers (or any speakers) to shine. Not saying there's anything wrong with the implementation, it's just that the best 4k monitor won't shine with a 480p signal either. Same thing. Now, I worked through hardwired from my Macbook Pro's headphone jack to USB to USB > DAC > Optical. Straight from the headphone jack is good, but midrange distortion is present as soon as you really push the volume. Straight USB is better, but the ultimate is using a DAC (in my case a relatively cheap Topping D10s) not for the DAC itself, but to get the Optical out so that the LSX's own DAC gets used bypassing the Macbook Pro's DAC. The midrange distortion goes away and the imaging is greatly improved (and it's spectacular, to begin with). Add in some stands (Kanto S4's work well) and you're set. My test material has primarily been high res tracks (24bit 96khz or better) that I know well via my main system (B&W speakers etc, so a high bar). The imaging is very precise in the LSX and that is by far its strongest attribute. The fullness and bass of these speakers is incredible given their size, but physics always wins and they don't have the weight of a full-size speaker. That said, in a near-field position I'm not sure that's a bad thing. They have enough. They don't feel lacking so much as by comparison to full-size speakers, you certainly notice the difference as you would expect. The highs are pristine, smooth, and not at all brittle or fatiguing. If anything I've been surprised how little they feel accented in any way. Mids are clear and string if not particularly weighty. I don't think you can compare these speakers to their larger KEF cousins. These are not particularly audiophile precise speakers so much as just very pleasant to listen to for long periods of time. They probably lean a bit more to the high fi side with some colorization versus impeccable accuracy, but the colorization is indeed pleasing and the accuracy isn't lacking. It's a very nice balance these speakers manage rather effortlessly. Now for the price....... ah yes, you certainly do pay for what you get. If you're not going to take the time and effort to get high-quality source material to these speakers in the cleanest way, it's probably not nearly worth the money. If you don't appreciate high-end audio, it's probably not worth the money. Good audio has to mean something to you for these speakers to make any sense at all. If it does, they do deliver. The caveat is the limitations of a desktop speaker in a near-field situation in no way disappear because it says KEF on the speakers and they cost a lot. I can imagine the right sub configured correctly would improve these speakers even more, but I wouldn't say it's a must-have at all. These are really good as they are and nothing else really comes close in the world of desktop speakers. To find better I think you're into the bookshelf world that would take over your desktop visually and audibly overpower the listener. I can highly recommend the KEF LSX provided you take the time to set them up correctly and feed them good source material. They won't make me need or want to replace anything in my main system, but they do allow me to get close enough in a place where I spend a LOT more time listening as I work. The entry price is indeed VERY high and only really worth it if you place as much value on good sound as I do, but if you do, I don't think you'll find better for your desktop.