Founded in 1961 as Kent Engineering and Foundry, the venerable brand has previously worked with Lovegrove on the Mu headphones and Muo portable speaker, alongside earlier collaborations with the late Sir Terence Conran. With the LS LUXE, Lovegrove has given the compact speaker enclosure a fluid, curvaceous form intended to function both as a streaming active speaker and a sculptural object for the living room, departing from traditional crisp-edged cabinets.
Design and Concept of the KEF LS LUXE
Grace Lo, KEF’s president and head of global marketing, described the design philosophy, stating, True luxury doesn’t announce itself – it transforms the atmosphere of a space, blending design excellence and acoustic mastery in a way that feels both immersive and effortless.
She added, When people ask what luxury sounds like, this is our answer.
The system is available in three color finishes: Dusk Titanium, Eclipse Black, and Mineral White.
Acoustic Engineering and Driver Technology
The LS LUXE builds upon KEF’s previous work, arriving five years after the launch of the LS50 Wireless II active bookshelf speakers. While both models feature the 12th-generation Uni-Q coaxial design, the LS LUXE places its 1-inch vented aluminum-dome tweeter in the acoustic center of a larger 6.5-inch magnesium-aluminum alloy woofer, upgrading from the 5.25-inch cone found in the LS50.
Behind this point-source configuration sits KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology (MAT), functioning as an acoustic black hole designed to absorb 99 percent of the tweeter’s unwanted rearward sound. This mechanism reduces distortion, minimizes sound coloration, and achieves a natural soundstage by combining with an organic, rounded, low-diffraction enclosure featuring robust materials, a flexible decoupled enclosure, and an advanced bulk-molding compound.
Furthermore, the system incorporates Velocity Control Technology (VECO), which utilizes sensors for more controlled bass. According to KEF, VECO was previously used in the XIO soundbar but is being employed in a speaker for the first time with the LS LUXE. Each speaker also features its own dedicated subwoofer output, allowing users to connect external subwoofers such as the KEF KC62.
Amplification, Software, and Connectivity
Software and power handling form a central part of the acoustic setup. The Music Integrity Engine (MIE) uses specially tuned digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms to maintain precision, sound balance, and dynamics under heavy loads. Each individual speaker combines a 100-watt Class AB amplifier with a 280-watt Class D amplifier, delivering a total of 380 watts per speaker, or 760 watts of total amplifier power in a stereo setup.
The LS LUXE operates on the W2 wireless platform, supporting streaming services such as Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz, and Deezer, alongside playback via Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, QPlay, AirPlay, and Google Cast. The system also supports Hi-Res playback up to 24-bit/384 kHz and multi-room audio. For physical sources, the speakers include HDMI-eARC, analog, optical, and coaxial inputs, enabling connection to televisions, CD players, game consoles, and turntables.
Setup, Control, and Extras
System configuration and customization are handled through the KEF Connect app, which provides a Normal mode with step-by-step instructions and an Expert mode for detailed equalizer settings. The app also supports built-in advanced room EQ DSP to adapt the speakers to different room environments, alongside special presets for KEF subwoofers. Roon Ready certification is planned but scheduled for release in 2027.
Additionally, optional S-Luxe floor stands with integrated cable management are available to support placement separate from music sources.
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