KEF XIO: Dolby Atmos soundbar with 12 speakers, 820 watts and wireless subwoofer adapter debuts
KEF's first soundbar competes in the premium price segment, as KEF is asking $2,499 for the XIO. This price might be justified by its robust specs and features, as the 47.6-inch long soundbar is equipped with twelve drivers and dedicated Class-D amplifiers.
This means that the KEF soundbar has a 5.1.2-channel configuration with a total output of 820 watts. The audio system can reproduce frequencies between 37 Hz and 20 kHz and hit a volume of up to 102 dB. Four rectangular 50 x 180 mm P185 drivers are responsible for the bass, with three drivers firing forward and three upward. The soundbar can be laid flat or mounted on a wall, a sensor automatically detects its position and adjusts the sound accordingly. With Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio, KEF supports the most important standards for spatial audio.
The KEF XIO soundbar can be connected to televisions via Toslink or HDMI eARC. Music can also be streamed wirelessly via Bluetooth 5.3 or Wi-Fi 6, both Apple AirPlay and Google Cast are supported. In conjunction with the KEF Connect smartphone app, music from streaming services such as Tidal, Spotify, Amazon Music, Qobuz, and Deezer can be played natively.
Price and availability
The KEF XIO soundbar is available for $2,499 at the manufacturer's online shop, in either gray or black. The KW2 RX receiver, which establishes a wireless connection to any dedicated subwoofer, is priced at $199.
Source(s)
