KEF X300A Wireless Digital Hi-Fi Speaker System - Gunmetal Grey (Pair)

Wonderful sounding speakers that are leagues beyond what what I was using previously (Logitech Z-550). Full rich sound with lots of fidelity. I would say that they're probably better for listening to music, watching movies than gaming as the soundstage was somewhat lacking for me compared to my go-to headphone setup.HOWEVER...After owning these for 2 years, the volume of the left speaker experienced a drastic drop off. I never pushed these hard (volume ~ 20%). I found myself having to turn the left speaker volume to full to match that of the right on ~20%. I contacted support, and they ran me through a couple of troubleshooting steps, before declaring that there was indeed an issue, and that I could send them in for repair...at a cost of $250!6 months later, the volume in both speakers is drastically lower. I have to bump both speakers to full gain to match the level of the speakers in my monitor on 30%. Ridiculous.If you don't mind spending money for things like this but expect long term value in return I would stay far far away from the X300As. Don't know anything about the rest of the products KEF offers but based on my experience with them, I would look for a product with a longer warranty in this price range.

UPDATE MARCH 2017:I've had the X300As for over 3 years now and continue to be thrilled with them. I use them very often and they continue to work perfectly. I've played them for friends who include classical composers, professional musicians, and recording engineers, and they were all blown away by the X300A's.I now subscribe to TIDAL, the more expensive subscription option that streams FLAC or "masters." It sounds ridiculous through the X300As. Like, crack for your ears. I don't like paying $20/month, but I did the 90-day free trial, during which time I got addicted to how great it sounds. I also like very much that TIDAL pays higher royalties to the artists than Spotify and Apple Music; I have friends who are professional musicians and recording artists, and they feel they're totally being screwed over by Spotify and Apple Music). I worked hard to rationalize the $20/month subscription fee (What if I go to Starbucks 2 fewer times per month? What if I buy 1 fewer CD per month?). And here we are.This update adds 3 things to my original review:1. There is a new product you should consider alongside these KEFs: the Audioengine HD6 speakers.  Audioengine HD6 Powered Speakers (Pair) Walnut  They're in the same price range as these KEF X300As and have similar specs, but they have more connectivity options including optical and bluetooth, and they come with a remote. I don't know if they sound as good as these KEF X300As, but anyone considering the X300As should try to audition both before making a purchase decision. I don't know where you could try the Audioengine HD6s, but (at least in my part of the country) most high-end audio stores that carry KEF speakers have a pair of the X300As you can listen to.2. The X300As, like most high-end speakers, require burn-in time. So don't be put off by reviewers who say they just hooked up their pair and are disappointed in the sound quality. I was, too, especially considering how expensive they are. But after 4-5 hours of burn-in, they will sound good and you will start to hear their potential. After 20 hours, they will sound much better. They will continue to improve over the next 30-60 hours, though the gains will be more subtle. To burn them in, just play a playlist on infinite repeat while you're at work, and overnight if your stereo is far enough from your bedroom that it won't disturb you. If you can run them 10 hours per day for the first few days, you'll be good and the remaining little bit of burn-in can occur in normal use over the coming weeks or months.3. Sometimes I buy audio gear and absolutely love it for a while, but then I lose interest if I get something nicer a few years later. Last year, I bought a nice integrated amp and a pair of KEF LS50s. (The LS50s required burn-in time, too.) I *love* this new system so much. But I continue to listen to the X300As nearly every day and I still love them as much as ever.My original review from January 2014 follows:------------------------------------------------------------------There are lots of reasons to NOT buy the KEF X300A powered speakers. (Spoiler alert: buy them anyway.)- They're very expensive. There are other powered speakers that sound great and cost less.- There are only two input options: USB and 1/8" mini jack. No RCA, no XLR, no optical, no built-in wireless streaming. Cheaper speakers have some or all of these other input options.- The X300A's "feet" are permanently attached to the bottom. The feet will show if you lay them on their sides (e.g. to fit in on a bookshelf with limited vertical space).- There's a bit of a cable mess: each of the two speakers has its own power cord and there's a cord running between them (though there's no power brick, thankfully).- For best sound, you really should put these on speaker stands, an extra expense if you don't already have a spare pair. (Though, this is true for any good speakers.)- If you like your music bass-heavy, skip these. They don't have a subwoofer output, and they are not bass-heavy. (That said, I like bass and I don't think the X300As are lacking--otherwise I would have returned them and looked for something else.)With all these reasons NOT to buy the KEF X300As, why should you still consider them? One reason: They sound AMAZING.Let's contrast them with the much beloved $500  Vanatoo Transparent One Powered Speakers (Black, Set of 2) , which is a terrific and less expensive option I recommend you check out. The Vanatoo T1s sound great, have tons of input options, and the bass is loud yet clean and tight. The KEF X300As cost $300 more than the T1s, what does this extra $300 buy you?The T1s have a single Class D amplifier in the left speaker, which feeds a signal through an included standard analog speaker wire to a passive right speaker. The KEF X300As have a total of FOUR Class A/B amplifiers: each speaker has separate amps for the woofer and tweeter. Each speaker has its own DAC. The connection between the two speakers is digital. IMHO, all of this is well worth the extra $300.And let's not forget the actual speakers: KEF is a 50+ year old British company that makes audiophile speakers. The speakers in the T1 units are very good, for sure. But they're no KEFs. KEFs make your music sound ALIVE, they make it BREATHE. They make you want to stay up 'til 3AM listening to all of your highest-fidelity recordings, because through the KEFs they have a warmth and vibrancy you didn't quite notice before.If all you can afford is $500, buy the Vanatoo T1s. You'll probably love them. Everyone else who buys them does. Except me. I returned them after hearing the KEFs, which made the T1s sound a bit harsh and less warm in comparison.Another alternative is the new  Audioengine A2+ Premium Powered Desktop Speakers - Pair (Black)  for $250. Like the KEFs, the A2+ have USB input and a built-in DAC. I have a pair of the A2s (nearly identical to the A2+ but missing the DAC) and they sound great. Not as good as the Vanatoo T1s or KEF X300As, of course. But for the money, they're absolutely great. They sound very musical, unlike most computer speakers. And they get pretty loud yet remain clean- and warm-sounding. You could probably be very happy with them. I've had mine for 2.5 years and have loved them--still do.If you want bang for the buck, buy the A2+ or T1s and save some money. But if you want the BEST SOUND and are willing to pay for it, don't waste your time with the cheaper speakers. Just save yourself a lot of trouble, get a pair of the KEF X300As and be done with it.If you're interested in the KEFs but struggling with the idea of spending $800, here are two ways to rationalize spending this much money:1) It's true, spending $800 hurts. But the sting of the high price only hurts in the short run; in a couple months, you will have fully recovered from it but will enjoy these amazing speakers for many years to come.2) Don't think of the KEFs as computer speakers. Think of them as a budget audiophile system. It would cost you more to buy a similar-sounding system with separate components. The  KEF Q100W Bookshelf Loudspeakers - American Walnut (Pair)  are similar to the X300As but without the amp and DAC, and cost $550. To add an amp and DAC of comparable quality to those inside the X300As would bring the total cost of the system to well above what you'll spend on the X300As.Here are some tips and miscellaneous info about the KEFs:1) If using with Mac running OSX, go into Audio MIDI Setup, click on KEF X300A Speaker, and make sure Format is set to 96000.00 Hz and 2ch-24bit Integer, this makes a big difference on my system. (Thanks to Nhat Le for this tip!)2) Don't count on being able to plug the USB cable from the KEFs into a USB hub. I use a hub with my Macbook Air because it has only 2 USB ports. When plugged into the hub, the KEFs sound broken and crackly. But when plugged into a USB port on the computer itself, the KEFs sound perfect.3) Experiment with the positioning. I urge you to put these (or any good speakers you might buy instead) on stands, which will significantly improve the soundstage, EQ, and emotional impact. 26 to 36" tall stands should work well for most folks whether you're using these as computer speakers near a desk or as a stereo system for a room. Amazon has decent ones starting at $40/pair, like these:  SANUS SYSTEMS BF-31B Wood Speaker Stands 4) If you MUST put them on your desk, there are some things you can try to get better sound: There's a switch on the back of the left speaker to toggle between "desk" and "stand", try it in both positions. The KEFs come with baffles you can place inside the rear-facing ports. Try putting the KEFs on little desk stands if you can (like the Audioengine DS2s). And keep them at least 2-3" away from the back wall.5) I've tried three ways of connecting audio sources to the X300As and can rank them by sound quality: Best is computer USB out to KEF USB in using the included cable. Second best is source to external DAC to KEF's analog 1/8" mini jack input. (In my case, the source is an iPhone 5 and the DAC is a FiiO E17). Third best is source to KEF's analog 1/8" mini jack input using no DAC. Third best still sounds very good. But using the USB input to take advantage of the high-quality DAC built into the X300As is better.6) If you really must have wireless and are willing to spend even more, KEF has a version of the X300As that have built-in Airplay and DLNA (no bluetooth, unfortunately).  KEF X300A Wireless Digital Hi-Fi Speaker System - Gunmetal Grey (Pair)  Alternatively, you could purchase and attach a separate adapter for bluetooth or airplay. But for best sound quality and performance, stick to a wired connection, particularly from the USB audio out of your computer.7) My pair sounded better after a week or two of break-in time. I ran them during the day while at work, so it only took a week to log 50 hours. So, if you don't absolutely love how they sound out of the box, if they don't quite meet your expectations, I urge you to let them break in and give them another chance before returning them. You've got a whole month, and Amazon is great about taking returns.--** Tip for people who own iPhones **The standard way of playing an iPhone through the X300A's is by plugging a cable into the iPhone's earphone jack and plugging the other end into the X300A's auxiliary audio input. Unfortunately, the X300A's aux input bypasses the X300A's excellent internal DAC, so the audio quality isn't as good as when you plug the USB cable into your laptop.I recently discovered that I could get MUCH better sound by using an Apple Lightning-to-USB adapter ($29). Then you connect the iPhone to the X300As using the same USB cable you'd use to connect your laptop to the X300As. The sound is more open and spacious and clear. I have an iPhone 6, but I also tested this with a friend's iPhone 5 and it works.I cannot guarantee this will work for everyone. The Apple adapter is intended to connect cameras, not audio gear, to the iPhone or iPad. Some people have had luck connecting portable DAC/headphone amps to their iPhones using this adapter--I have not (despite experimenting with every possible setting on the DAC and the iPhone). But the adapter is only $30. It's worth a try.

Before I start with the review, let me briefly lay out what I listen to and my main systems to give you my perspective of things in audiophile speakers.I mostly listen to 80-90s rock and pop, some electronic, and classical piano. I have two reference systems both with mid-fi front end (about 2000 dollar per equipment, dacs, amp, etc). One system uses KEF's LS50, and my most used reference runs Ohms Acoustics' 2800s.Ok, now onto my review:I needed a system that fits into a small room which I'm converting to a study. Given the size of the room, full size passive systems just won't do due to the rooms shape and acoustics. So after my satisfactory purchase with my LS50s two years ago, I want to give KEF's UniqQ drivers another go because I'll mainly use the new system for very near field listening, so room will play a lesser role in the overall sound.After reading lots of reviews for the wired version, I jumped on the Christmas sale for the wireless pair because I'd like the added flexibility and the white finish. Initial set up is easy enough but KEF's only included a 6-foot USB cable between speakers. So if you need to place these further apart you'll need to get a longer USB cable yourself like I did. I won't bore you with how to set up the wireless portion because, these days, as long as you are young enough to use a smart phone, you are pretty much set. (I've only tested the wireless mode with Apple devices).Initial impression(first 3 days): Highly detailed and resolving, almost to the veil side of the things with some bad recordings. Mids and extermely accurate and spooky sometimes for vocals. Lacks low end, but enough to get by if you mess with your EQ a little bit.After about a week of use: Lower end opened up a little bit and highs are tamed a bit probably due to burn-in. Very Neutrual and resolving to the point that it ALMOST gives my headphone rig a run of it's money which runs a Sennheiser HD800.After about two weeks of use: low end opened up even further. I can say that unless you are a hardcore bass head, this set of KEFs will amaze you how much punch it throw with these two tiny little boxes. Mids and highs are still your typical KEF UniqQ driver sound, highly resolving, detailed and airy, especially for near field listening. The music fill out my room and doesn't sound like it's coming from these two tiny boxes at all! You will be floored with good vocal recordings.How does it compare with my other two systems: Almost on par with them! So unbelievable value for money.Cons: the analog input is mediocre probably due to the fact the build-in DAC will have to digitize the signal first. You won't get to hear what these speakers are capable of if you only use the analog line in. Limited connectivity. I wish there is a sub out on these babies.Conclusion: Have you ever considered an active system that's bi-amped with 4 mono amps and active crossovers but never get to try it due to setup cost? These speakers will give you a taste of that in a tiny small package with wireless connectivity build-in!Highly recommended!

These speakers are excellent (for the price i paid which was ~$600). They are very neutral and balanced, and after the recommended break in period have good volume and clarity in all ranges considering they are computer speakers. I am very pleased.However, there is a fact that purchasers should be aware of. These speakers have amplifiers in each speaker, which is good. How ever they also contain a DAC (digital to analogue converter). This is great for plugging in USB, for which the speakers are made. However, there is also a mini port line in which someone may hope to go direct in bipassing the speaker DAC because they have their own. This will not work as the mini port has a converter which takes the analogue from your DAC and converts it to digital, then that signal is processed by the speaker's DAC. The result is NOT pretty. I know this from experience.I am not upset about this because the price I paid was fair for what i got. However, there are sellers on here who are selling for $900 and over $1000. I would absolutely have been disappointed if i paid that much for these speakers. Please, if you are planning on spending that much on a pair of KEF get a pair of LS50 which are passive and better quality. Don't spend more than $700 on these. They are good...but not THAT good.

Really a fantastic speaker system. I'm a boarderline audiophile, but don't have the listening experience on high end systems to really consider myself as such. The word I would use to describe the sound that I first heard coming from these speakers is "exciting".So far, I'm a little disappointed in the overall bass output, but the sound is so vivid that I'm willing to accept this deficit as a reasonable trade off. I thought that I loved bass, but perhaps what I really love is sound. It's also in my office and perhaps thumping bass is a little abnoxious.I've not yet hit the suggested 50 break-in point. There is controversy around whether this will actually make any difference vs simply getting used to the sound, but I am hopeful. Some professional reviewers seem to suggest that after 50 or so hours of play time, the speakers really come into their own. I guess I'll find out.Ultimately, I love everything about these speakers except the bass. Other reviewers have also commented on this, so it wasn't a huge surprise and they aren't without any bass. It's just less than I thought I preferred, but worth the trade off for ridiculously good sound quality.Edit: Don't count on much of a change after the 50 hour break in period. There is controversy as to whether speaker break-in is audible. My perception of the sound coming out of these things hasn't changed.I'd also like to add that the lack of real bass eventually drove me to find a workaround. I truly love the sound that comes out of these speakers and replacing them would be a tough sell. Instead, I figured out a way to tee the bass using "voice meeter" and the onboard soundcard with bass management connected to a sub. So now my home office looks a little bit like a recording studio, but man does the sound ever rock!

My price was 380$ for this kind of speakers I can't resist .. small in perfection - scratch in backside and little scratch at front face of one speakerI'm very happy with this purchase. . Sounds perfect with my Flac and hires filesI received this speakers within 5 days of ordering

By far the best PC speakers I have owned, my alternate system is a high end tube setup. These are not much of a compromise as I listen to the PC setup more and more.

They sound good. Buy them.