A question about The KEF LS60 Active DSP Speakers

[Epsonfan]

I have an opportunity to buy a used pair of Kef LS60 active speaker , my question is can I add a center channel and two rear channels using like a single Kef LS50 and a pair of Kef LSXIIs for rears which they're DSP active speakers . Anyone knows ?

 

[lovinthehd]

As long as your avr/pre-pro has the appropriate pre-outs (and an amp channel if you mean the standard LS50).

 

[Eppie]

Was thinking this one over. It would likely only work as lovin suggested, using only the pre-amp outs and internal amps of the AVR. You need centralized volume control. If you use any digital inputs on the LS60 then you would have to control the volume on those separately with the remote. Balancing (level matching) all 5 speakers can be a challenge though.

 

[Cos]

As an LS60 Speaker owner, they are simply amazing for the price point. That being said, I would probably get passive speakers and separate amp If I was building a HT.

The main reason, is that KEF's warranty will not transfer over to the new owner, so if you have problems with the electronics piece, I would not take the risk.

 

[Epsonfan]

I have owned Meridian gear in the past and the concept of DSP active speakers should be the same.Using front speakers as the Master & daisy chain the rest .I called KEF New Jersey office they told me that LS60 is so good that you don't need center or even rear speakers .For a minute I thought I was talking to someone at BESTBUY.

 

[lovinthehd]

I have owned Meridian gear in the past and the concept of DSP active speakers should be the same.Using front speakers as the Master & daisy chain the rest .I called KEF New Jersey office they told me that LS60 is so good that you don't need center or even rear speakers .For a minute I thought I was talking to someone at BESTBUY.

Why would you want to feed the l/r channels to center and surrounds? LOL they may be good, but, not that good.

 

[Eppie]

Daisy chaining from the fronts? That's like permanent all-channel stereo. No surround channels. Not something I would recommend. The LS60 is strictly 2 channel. If you want discrete rear channels for movies you have to let the AVR do the decoding and feed the rears. That can be either with passive speakers via the amps or active speakers via the pre-outs.

Whether or not you benefit from rear channels depends on the room. LS60 on their own would still sound great and you don't need the expense of an AVR if the LS60 has enough inputs for your sources.

Make sure the rear speakers have the required inputs if you want to go surround. As mentioned, for centralized volume via your AVR remote, I am pretty sure you will have to use the analogue pre-outs on the AVR. While HDMI CEC may work from the AVR to LS60 for volume control, you can not daisy chain HDMI to control 2 pairs of speakers. The LSX II is designed to be used as a single pair of front speakers, like the LS60. Any digital sources will need the LSX II remote for volume control.

KEF does advertise that other KEF wireless speakers can link to the LS60 so that Airplay, Chromecast and Roon can stream to multiple speakers at once, but that is just for stereo music. There is no surround decoding, so you can not, for example, connect the TV to the LS60 and then wirelessly connect the LSX II for rear channels. So, to use the LSX II as rear channel speakers, you would need to use the 1/8" analogue auxiliary input, which means running cables from the AVR pre-outs to the LSX II and converting RCA to 1/8" TRS.

You would then want the LS60 and LSX II to be set at a fixed volume and use the AVR volume control to control the volume for all 4. What I don't know is whether the KEFs remember the last volume setting when powered off. If they do, then using 4 speakers via RCA connections should work. If the volume resets when powered off, then you would need to adjust the volume on each speaker each time you turn on the system.

That's my basic understanding of how it would work. Would be ideal if you could find someone who uses those speakers in a surround setup to confirm how it actually works.

 

[Epsonfan]

Daisy chaining from the fronts? That's like permanent all-channel stereo. No surround channels. Not something I would recommend. The LS60 is strictly 2 channel. If you want discrete rear channels for movies you have to let the AVR do the decoding and feed the rears. That can be either with passive speakers via the amps or active speakers via the pre-outs.

Whether or not you benefit from rear channels depends on the room. LS60 on their own would still sound great and you don't need the expense of an AVR if the LS60 has enough inputs for your sources.

Make sure the rear speakers have the required inputs if you want to go surround. As mentioned, for centralized volume via your AVR remote, I am pretty sure you will have to use the analogue pre-outs on the AVR. While HDMI CEC may work from the AVR to LS60 for volume control, you can not daisy chain HDMI to control 2 pairs of speakers. The LSX II is designed to be used as a single pair of front speakers, like the LS60. Any digital sources will need the LSX II remote for volume control.

KEF does advertise that other KEF wireless speakers can link to the LS60 so that Airplay, Chromecast and Roon can stream to multiple speakers at once, but that is just for stereo music. There is no surround decoding, so you can not, for example, connect the TV to the LS60 and then wirelessly connect the LSX II for rear channels. So, to use the LSX II as rear channel speakers, you would need to use the 1/8" analogue auxiliary input, which means running cables from the AVR pre-outs to the LSX II and converting RCA to 1/8" TRS.

You would then want the LS60 and LSX II to be set at a fixed volume and use the AVR volume control to control the volume for all 4. What I don't know is whether the KEFs remember the last volume setting when powered off. If they do, then using 4 speakers via RCA connections should work. If the volume resets when powered off, then you would need to adjust the volume on each speaker each time you turn on the system.

That's my basic understanding of how it would work. Would be ideal if you could find someone who uses those speakers in a surround setup to confirm how it actually works.

I am sticking to Marantz rec & GoldenEar speakers.
Thank you.

 

[Eppie]

I am sticking to Marantz rec & GoldenEar speakers.
Thank you.

Well, it was interesting thinking about an LS60 setup. We are seeing more manufacturers bringing out active speakers but it's easier to run speaker cable to passive speakers than to get power and line-level audio to the same locations. For an active surround sound setup I think they need to make the audio wireless so that you only have to worry about power outlets.

 

[highfigh]

Well, it was interesting thinking about an LS60 setup. We are seeing more manufacturers bringing out active speakers but it's easier to run speaker cable to passive speakers than to get power and line-level audio to the same locations. For an active surround sound setup I think they need to make the audio wireless so that you only have to worry about power outlets.

Newer homes are required to have a lot more outlets than older, so the only thing needed for these is line audio/ethernet and in newer homes, that's really not very difficult unless it's on a floor higher than the lowest. If speaker cable is easy, why not make the jump to active, since outlets are required at specific distances. Granted, they may not be exactly where the speakers will live, but close enough in most cases.

 

[flippo]

Couldn't you use an avr preouts (If avr has them)?

 

[flippo]

Thought a little longer and pre out would mean very long cables. Look into wiim products I believe they are coming out with something that can do this.

 

[Eppie]

Newer homes are required to have a lot more outlets than older, so the only thing needed for these is line audio/ethernet and in newer homes, that's really not very difficult unless it's on a floor higher than the lowest. If speaker cable is easy, why not make the jump to active, since outlets are required at specific distances. Granted, they may not be exactly where the speakers will live, but close enough in most cases.

Not sure how far you would want a line-audio run to be if using unbalanced connections. It would be fine for the front three but for rear channels and ATMOS you would likely want XLR cables. The bandwidth for wireless audio does seem to be improving, though, and any delay issues could be handled by the AVR/AVP. Probably not a big enough market to drive things in that direction yet for higher end speakers. There are wireless systems like this from makers like Sony but they are using small satellite speakers that would appeal more to the soundbar crowd and not HT enthusiasts like members here.

 

[highfigh]

Not sure how far you would want a line-audio run to be if using unbalanced connections. It would be fine for the front three but for rear channels and ATMOS you would likely want XLR cables. The bandwidth for wireless audio does seem to be improving, though, and any delay issues could be handled by the AVR/AVP. Probably not a big enough market to drive things in that direction yet for higher end speakers. There are wireless systems like this from makers like Sony but they are using small satellite speakers that would appeal more to the soundbar crowd and not HT enthusiasts like members here.

I wouldn't use long runs for unbalanced, but there are ways to do it without losing signal level and degrading sound quality. These aren't made for distributed audio, though- more for stereo.

Wouldn't need to be XLR, just balanced- just about any connector will work and a lot of pro equipment uses Phoenix/Euro connectors with bare wire end/screw on connections. But those aren't subject to the whims of AV cable BS, they just work.

 

[Epsonfan]

A friend of mine bought a pair of JTR closed subs spend almost 15k but my god the BASS is awesome , never heard such bass that hits you in waves , not a fat car audio bass but serious audiophile bass. Never heard of JTR but boy they sure make some kick ass subs. TOO expensive for my ears. Where these ppl come from ?..

 

[lovinthehd]

A friend of mine bought a pair of JTR closed subs spend almost 15k but my god the BASS is awesome , never heard such bass that hits you in waves , not a fat car audio bass but serious audiophile bass. Never heard of JTR but boy they sure make some kick ass subs. TOO expensive for my ears. Where these ppl come from ?..

JTR has been around for a while, very capable speakers as well as subs (the former Audioholics sub reviewer even put a pair of JTR speakers in his sub performance category due their capabilites (215RT). One of the top offerings for sure.

 

[rajsingh]

The LS60s are really designed as a self-contained 2-channel active system, not as the front end of a traditional surround processor setup. You can integrate them into home theater with an AVR/processor using the analog input and something like an LS50 Meta or LS50 Wireless for surrounds, but there’s no native KEF ecosystem that seamlessly turns LS60 + LS50 Wireless into a unified multichannel DSP theater package. It’s doable, just not nearly as elegant as people initially expect.