I have a pair of the first generation KEF LS50 wireless speakers that I use to play music via Roon. The speakers sound wonderful – when they work. I almost always have problems connecting to them through wifi, whereas other wireless speakers (of lesser quality) that I use always work. I’ve done all reasonable things (updated firmware, changed the cable between speakers, rebooted Roon, etc.) to at best limited temporary success. But most of the time only one speaker will play, or Roon can’t connect to the speakers at all. Any recommendations for very good wireless stereo speakers, like the KEF, that is very stable with Roon? Say, a new version of KEF speakers, or the Cabasse Rialto? Thanks for your suggestions!
Check out the DALI Equi range. Can be WiFi to the Hub box (with BluOS module), and then it’s wireless (but not WiFi) from hub to speakers. Products | High Quality Loudspeakers | DALI Speakers, or the PSB AlphaIQ https://www.psbspeakers.com/product/alpha-iq/.
I know this is not answering your question but, Can you get an ethernet cable to the KEF? That is how I “fixed” their connection to my network.
My LS50 MkII’s have been very stable. Like anything, if the internet is interrupted house wide then they may need to be power cycled, but that’s only happened once. That said, I do have a very good Asus router sending out wifi only a few feet from them, so YMMV depending on your network setup, but most reviews say the connection is night and day from the first version. I feared the worse from them because of the stories about the Mk 1, but that hasn’t rung true at all.
If you really cannot get an ethernet cable to the speakers from a switch, you may be able to do so using powerline Ethernet adapters (‘wireless’ speakers need mains power…). Finding a set that work with Roon could be a challenge as some have shown to be unreliable in the past. But they aren’t expensive to buy online and you can return them if they don’t work reliably.
Powerline isn’t very reliable IMHO. To get a better WiFi signal you better use an extender of the same make as your router and create a mesh network.
Would be a shame not to try this. The Kef speakers are too good to waste…
With an ethernet port you have also a wired connection to the repeater if wireless does not work.
Devialet Phantom II are rock solid on my wifi.
They are not Roon Ready just having BluOS does not make them so as each product has to undergo certification. Dali never did so are not certified products.
I recently purchased the Cabasse Rialto Powered WiFi “connected” speakers for my living room as I have an “open” floor plan 1800 sqft first level home with a 300 sqft “loft” on the second level. ( My primary system is in the loft and includes PS Audio Stellar M700 mono blocks driving Vandersteen TreoCTs and includes a Roon Nucleus, Chord Hugo 2 DAC with Chord’s 2GO streamer, the latter CAT6 EtherNet hard-wired to my network router ).
I chose the Cabasse Rialto as it met my requirements for a 1) powered, WiFi speaker pair that 2) did not require a physical network “wired” connection, nor 3) a wired connection between the L & R speakers, 4) was small with an unobtrusive form factor, 5) relatively room placement insensitive, and 6) benefitted from built-in automated room correction (and other enhancements) too allow listening optimization in my large open floor plan and which had adequate bass response without need for a subwoofer. Quite a list and it “Passed” with A+.
I have a MESH Wi-Fi system (Xfinity xFi Gateway modem/WiFi router, 1000 mbps plan ( modem WiFi router is in the second floor loft) and 2 WiFi-connected, xFi Gen. 2 Pod WiFi MESH extenders on the first level, one of which is in the living room with my Rialtos.
I have had zero network connectivity issues and zero drop out while streaming ( either via direct WiFi using a Qobuz source via the Cabasse Stream Control App [on my iOS devices] nor while streaming using Roon, as, while the Rialto is not a Roon Ready “endpoint”, it is “Roon Tested” and works with Roon via the Apple AirPlay protocol - after first adding it to the home Airplay network with the iOS Home App then “enabling” in it in Roon - described in a much earlier post in this Roon Community).
I look forward to other’s comments who own the Cabasse Rialto. For me it’s been a win/win: audiophile full-range sound (without need for a separate sub), excellent imaging, non-boomy bass (using the automated room correction feature) more that adequate to fill the living room and dining areas at 80+ dB SPL peaks if needed but perfect for low SPL level “non-critical” easy-listening that unobtrusively fills the whole down stairs living spaces.
And most important, it passed “spousal” approval in visual esthetics.
Thanks, Robert; it’s good to hear that you’re having such a good experience with the Cabasse Rialto speakers. I think I will get a pair, when I finally lose patience with my KEFs.
I will second the power line. I use devolo magic and they have been reliable and solve problems of getting Ethernet to 3 endpoints.
Useful info is to set them up close to the main sender then move to where you want them, they remain stable then.
Even wired the KEF LSX11 are awful for me, the KEF connect app is an abomination, that it requires wifi to even setup is a joke. Agree completely with the OP sentiment if you want reliability with Roon KEF is not the answer.
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I have a pair of KEF LSX IIs on my desk that are almost entirely trouble free. They’re connected to a Mac Studio via USB and but they’re also set up as an independent Roon zone. The only time I have to interact with the KEF app is to flip the input from WiFi (network, really) to USB or vice versa.
I’m not sure what the issue is with requiring network connectivity to set up. I think you can set them up with a wired connection, but I might be wrong. Getting them on the network seems like an obvious and necessary thing to me for updates, Roon, setting up the room correction features, etc.
I also have a pair of LS50 IIs and a pair of LS60s. I have one issue with the LS50s which requires me to keep the touch panel disabled. I don’t like this, but it’s not a big deal.
It’s not great. It’s confusing to navigate and would benefit from a design overhaul. The model for navigating between speakers is weird. There’s too much crap on the home screen (though you can modify it with some effort). Speaker profiles are confusing - it’s not obvious or easy to figure out how to create, manage, select them. I don’t use it to select music or manage playback, so I don’t lose any sleep over these issues.
I’m a fan of the KEF line. I believe there are people who have legitimate issues but, overall, I like them quite a bit.
I have the LS50 W2’s & 2 x KC62 subs, they do sound great with Roon & I have them connected via ethernet to the router & via a 3m long cable between the primary & secondary speaker. So I get no drop outs.
My beef with Kef is that the speakers receive updates which we as consumers have no way to decline, I would prefer to update the firmware when I want to, after I have checked for any potential issues in forums.
The sub on the primary speaker was disabled after an update earlier this year, clearly not tested as it disabled the sub out for everyone on that speaker.
Then there was an update that almost worked, the sub worked but kept going to sleep again when listening at low volumes. It’s fixed now but took over a week to fix fully and all due to lack of efficient testing.
I will probably not buy another speaker system again, but if I were in the running for one it would not be active, would be seperate components that do not receive firmware automatically.
Hmmm. Unfortunately I haven’t had the same success with my LS 50 II’s. Same problems as OP.
I also had mine trouble free for close to a year (wired no less), then one day without any warning they cannot be found in Roon, the app will not discover them no matter how many times i reset, move ports or any of the other advice offerered in the hundreds of threads about the app. The app is rightly voted 1 star on the android store.
Good luck in future keeping yours working as I fear this trouble at some point comes to everyone with the LSX IIs
Listening to the LS50W II’s now. No wires, no problems, no dropouts, etc. That said, I do have an ASUS gaming router just feet away from them. They do need a robust signal.
This is a tale of two experiences. Between myself and my son, to whom I gifted a pair of LS50 WIIs and helped him set up, I’ve had direct experience with two pairs of LS 50 W2s (and one KC62), two pairs of LSX W2s, and a pair of LS 60s. They have been virtually trouble free modulo the issue I mentioned with the touch panel on the LS 50 W2s.
Mine are all currently wired to ethernet, though I used the LSX IIs wireless for a while. I’ve used wired and wireless interconnect between the speakers with no issues.
The KEF Connect app looks to be closer to 3 stars than 1 in the US iOS App Store but I have no intention of defending that app. I don’t have the connectivity problems mentioned, but the app has a need for improvement.
This current generation of speakers is my first experience with KEF. It looks like first gen wireless speakers may still be on the “KEF Control” app instead of the “KF Connect” app. Did they ship a new app for the 2nd gen speakers but not move the 1st gen speakers over?
Yep. KEF Connect only works with the LS50 Wireless II, LS60 Wireless and LSX II.
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