KEF LS60 Subtle "Crackling" or "Static" only with Roon

Audio Gear Talk KEF
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I have a SonicTransporter i5 running Roon and just installed a pair of LS60. All firmware and software are up to date. My network is a fairly robust Ubiquity UniFi installation. I experience subtle random crackling when anything is played through the Roon server. This happens in both wired and wireless mode on the LS60. If I use Qobuz or Tidal directly through their App or KEF Connect there is no crackling. I’ve tried every setup possible in Roon and through KEF Connect with no success - a minor, random crackling is heard through both speakers when using Roon. This is experienced with standard files up to 192 kHz.

If anyone has had this experience and has solved the issue please let me know what might be a solution.

KEF NA reached out to me yesterday by email with copies to my local dealer and the National US Sales Director saying they are looking into the issue and asked for the MAC address of the speakers and the version of Roon. The Roon version is the latest as previously noted.

I anxiously await their reply.

Intermittent Distorted Playback on KEF LSX II via Roon (ref#L63RXS)
Static clicks on Roon playback using KEF LS60W speakers (ref#5C4WAT)
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Do you think this fixes the crackling/static/popping issue with standard format files on Roon as well? Thanks for the pointer.

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Read the rest of the thread.

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Thank you, I did read it but the thread seems like it is about a DSD issue and not intermitted crackling or static with PCM? Perhaps, I’m wrong and if so, sorry I just don’t see the same issue although, as you say, they may have a fix for this. I’ve reached out to them and we will see what they say. Maybe they are working on this?

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[quote=“maximasr, post:18, topic:323108”]

It’s not just DSD, it’s everything I play from Roon it’s distorted.

[/quote]

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Got it! Let’s see if there’s a firmware fix they can offer me. We can’t be the only ones with LS60’s and Roon can we?

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In my case, PCM issues were limited to DXD (= hi-res PCM at 352.8 kHz, up to 32 Bit). I did not have any issues pertaining to regular hi-res, i.e. up to 192 kHz.

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I’ve got DSD just failing via Roon to LS50 Wireless IIs. I have to reboot the speakers via the Kef app to resolve it (after failing audio source becomes unavailable). I tested this scenario because of this and the related threads–I don’t do DSD generally. I provide this data point in case others are experiencing the same thing (or Kef is watching).

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I bought a pair of LS60 recently as my local shop knocked 15% off, I set them up ethernet and wired between and started running through tracks and albums

I gave up after 4 days and sent them back, I was getting “Tizzy” (is that a descriptor ??) distortion especially on orchestral music and older recordings like 70’s rock. I put it down to recording quality.

I had only 7 days in which to return them so I never got to the bottom of it

Previously I was 100% headphones and on specific recordings was not seeing the level of “Tizzing” on my Reference Headphones (Sennheiser HD800)

I decided that speakers were not for me and Invested in Meze audio Elites as my primary source

I would however like to see any outcome of your dealings with KEF, the new Luxe one’s have reignited the itch :smiling_face_with_horns:

1 Like
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I’m experiencing crackling on my KEF LS50 Wireless II speakers. It’s intermittent and only happens when I am using Roon. The TV is fine and so is the Qubuz app. Will this fix work with LS50s as well?

Random Crackling with Roon on KEF LS60 Speakers (ref#GYGFAV)
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So far, there is no “fix” assigned to my issue. Please open a support request to KEF and Roon so that we might get this truely fixed. If this is happening with KEF active, network speakers both KEF and Roon need to know.

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I have been experiencing this on my KEF LS50 w2 speakers for months, and it’s infuriating. Zero crackles or pops or distortion of any kind when using other non-Roon inputs, including while streaming Tidal and/or Qobuz through the native KEF app.

Really hoping Roon can address this.

Random Crackling with Roon on KEF LS60 Speakers (ref#GYGFAV)
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Have you reached out to KEF support? If not, you need to. You should also open up a support ticket with Roon as well. They both need to know these issues so that they can solve them. Silence gets us nowhere. KEF called me today and we discussed it and they said they’d push an interim firmware update to me and that might fix the issue.

1 Like
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KEF has quickly and graciously updated my firmware to 3.0.132 and it seems that the issue is now resolved. Very good response from KEF USA. Nice, and unusual to have decent customer service these days. I think I’ll get another pair of KEF’s for the Family Room!

2 Likes
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My LS50II do the same just with Roon, try reset Roon and speakers but not help.

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Contact KEF and see what they say is the best way to correct the issue.

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I had this on my LS50 W II for a few weeks now at least. Same symptoms - only via Roon and not on any other endpoints.

Enabling Headroom Management for the KEF seems to have solved it. Doesn’t make sense or explain why it was happening but no more crackles.

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Welcome! Headroom Management via Roon didn’t make any difference for me - still crackling until the firmware update.

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I’ve been working with Kef on the ls60 issue. They sent me the firmware update and I am still getting distortion on the LS60’s only thru roon. Qobuz Connect, and the tv sound is perfect. The firmware update did change the output conversion.