Anyone going to buy the new KEF Coda wireless system?

[Gel Man]

I had Kef’s wireless 50 II’s for a while. Their DSP controlled bass never sounded right to my ears. There is something it did whilst limiting that didn't sit right.

DSP or room correction, even plain EQ is great but needs to be used carefully. It is no substitute for good engineering or a product used out of its comfort zone. Great for problem rooms where acoustic treatment is not an option.

Don’t let people on here know you returned it, you will never hear the end of it. 😀

 

[record_spot]

Don’t let people on here know you returned it, you will never hear the end of it. 😀

If a product doesn't work out for someone, why would anybody berate them for returning it?

 

[record_spot]

I had Kef’s wireless 50 II’s for a while. Their DSP controlled bass never sounded right to my ears. There is something it did whilst limiting that didn't sit right.

DSP or room correction, even plain EQ is great but needs to be used carefully. It is no substitute for good engineering or a product used out of its comfort zone. Great for problem rooms where acoustic treatment is not an option.

They do seem to split opinion from what I've read from some users. Some rave about them, others can't quite take to their sound, for whatever reason.

I've never been madly keen on their design style and prefer the look of the LSX variants.

 

[Gel Man]

If a product doesn't work out for someone, why would anybody berate them for returning it?

Exactly! Well said man.

 

[Gel Man]

You were accurately quoted throughout: "The LSX is really only suited for smaller rooms" from earlier in the thread. That's been the entire thrust of your opinion on the model.

That doesn't stack up, you've been informed that 100w actives - the AVI DM5 - works well in a larger room, the Tannoy DC4 did likewise some years ago, and the Quad 9as actives did too. There's no reason the LSX II would be any different.

My opinion is based on my in-use experience. Yours from a few YouTube videos. Do the math.

Is true though according to WHF review:

KEF LSX II review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2023 winner. A fantastic, multi-talented streaming system perfect for smaller rooms

www.whathifi.com

 

[record_spot]

Is true though according to WHF review:

KEF LSX II review

What Hi-Fi? Awards 2023 winner. A fantastic, multi-talented streaming system perfect for smaller rooms

www.whathifi.com

I repeat the several answers I gave to the other poster and now, to you.

 

[Gel Man]

The LSX is really only suited for smaller rooms, and this is a widespread experience. The Coda W is a larger speaker, albeit with the same 100w power rating and no wifi streaming. But KEF is pushing its bespoke phono stage and latest Bluetooth aptX Lossless facility. It also retains the HDMI port.

So it's horses for courses, but I maintain the Coda will be better suited for larger rooms.

So we were right, they are better…

KEF's Coda W are a twist on its five-star active speaker systems, but is this new model a success?

The Coda W swap full streaming abilities for Bluetooth and a built-in phono stage

www.whathifi.com

 

[record_spot]

So we were right, they are better…

KEF's Coda W are a twist on its five-star active speaker systems, but is this new model a success?

The Coda W swap full streaming abilities for Bluetooth and a built-in phono stage

www.whathifi.com

Only if you're prepared to believe someone who hasn't heard either model, and took the written opinion of a review as being chapter and verse.

Despite that greed never heard a 100w active speaker either. Bottom line, the departed Manic was talking out his hat.

 

[Gel Man]

Only if you're prepared to believe someone who hasn't heard either model, and took the written opinion of a review as being chapter and verse.

Despite that greed never heard a 100w active speaker either. Bottom line, the departed Manic was talking out his hat.

Fair enough. Do you know what happened to Manic without giving to much away?

 

[record_spot]

Fair enough. Do you know what happened to Manic without giving to much away?

I think it's pretty obvious if you look at his last posts. Maybe, lots of his posts. I don't want to say too much as he's not here to defend himself.

Nothing to do with me ultimately, but if you go down the road he chose, it's a pretty fast track out the building I guess. I'd maybe say that was more than just that one chat that got him the heave-ho but you'd need to ask the Moderator. I just happened to not take too kindly to some of his comments both to me and to others. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't exactly shy in responding to them, or taking them kindly, but his comments to others were completely uncalled for and way out of order.

The issue I had with his opinion on the gear was that he hadn't heard the LSX II to make an informed opinion in the first place, never mind the Coda W. He'd gone by reviews.

Now, I'm the first one to admit that when it comes to purchases, I'll go by reviews from a variety of sources too - which I appreciate sounds hypocritical - however, I've used actives and small passives for years, so I think I can make an informed comment to some degree.

The AVI DM5 are by coincidence also 100w speakers. That's 100w per speaker split into (roughly) 70w / 30w per driver at a guess. I don't have the manual to hand to give you the exact numbers.

They have no problem filling a larger room. I think you might want to add a subwoofer in all likelihood to fill the sound out a little so you can blend the bass end as they're a little lean (not untypical of some actives) but in terms of their output capability, there's no issues. I'd imagine the LSX pair are similar.

I've a decent sized lounge and the DM5s have ample on tap. I'm running a NAD-3120 amp just now into a pair of passive Mordaunt-Short MS10i speakers from the mid-1990s. The NAD has about 20 watts to offer up. I don't need to go too far up the scale with that before it's too loud.