North American Reviews for 2006-2008

“Over the year I’ve seen enough ‘wireless’ speaker systems to fill a dumpster – an apt description because the consistency of the audio response was often more suited for being tossed in the trash than used. That’s not the case with the KEF wireless system, and my only complaint is that I have to return it now since the review is done.”

Wireless Report Card Review: “[KEF Universal Wireless] was hands-down the easiest system to set up in the roundup.  My review sample cam sans manual, and I still had everything up and running in just minutes…I never lost the connection, no matter where I placed the receiver units in relation to my speakers.”

The KEF Universal Wireless has been chosen by The Perfect Vision Magazine as Gear of the Year for 2007, as per the original review from June/July 2007 Issue 78.

“One thing I practically never turned off was the pair of $140,000 KEF Muon speakers – one of only a hundred stes in existence and the first pair in the U.S. Even with Bruce Springsteen’s Magic playing so loud we couldn’t talk, every sound was incredibly distinct.”—Peter Martin

“As a result, the 201/2 can stand tall among the best of the current sand-mounted speaker designs, and it puts KEF back on the map as a leader in applying advanced technologies that result in better-sounding loudspeakers.  The big British brand name of my youth is back, and based on my experience with the 201/2, it’s better than ever.” –Doug Schneider

“Bottom Line: ‘I am not worthy, I am not worthy.’ That’s what I thought when I first started listening to these speakers. But not surprisingly, I quickly grew accustomed to their luxurious sound, and I soon realized I could get very used to this level of fidelity….What more can I say? With the 207/2, KEF has earned its place as the Rolls-Royce of speaker builders.” – Ken C. Pohlmann

“KEF, one of Britian’s leading speaker manufacturers, had a press event earlier this week in New York City to show off their new Muon speakers. I was curious to see the speaker in the flesh, and now that I have I can say the pictures don’t do it justice. They are the most beautiful speakers I’ve ever seen… It never ceases to amaze me that the folks who live well rarely seek out state-of-the-art audio.” –Steve Guttenberg.

"KEF’s Universal Wireless System provides fine sound quality and a simple, flexible and effective way to spread music around your home or to set up no-fuss wireless rear speakers. Wireless sound used to be a pipe dream, but thanks to this affordable KEF system, it’s now a reality." --Chris Martens,
rates this system 9.8 out of 10!

"KEF’s separate, high-end home theater offerings are excellent, and its beautifully styled packaged systems, such as the new KHT 5005.2, maintain KEF’s sound-quality standards…. The KHT 5005.2 handles home theater and music with equal zeal. Some may blanch at the $2000 price tag, but for a speaker system that looks and sounds this good, it’s money well spent…we further tested the [system’s] home theater stamina with the Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man’s Chest DVD. When the giant Kraken sea monster attacks the Flying Dutchman and men are picked up in its tentacles and tossed overboard, the KEF system was impressive. Whatever remaining doubts we had about the little system’s gravitas disappeared when we heard the ship break in half." --Steve Guttenberg,
Editors Rating: 8.3 EXCELLENT

"Really simple three-piece system and very straight forward….Pretty much plug and play, and works EXACTLY as advertised. This is as close as a wireless system can come to duplicating ‘wired sound quality,’ really excellent, worth the premium that KEF charges versus a lot of the generic wireless systems out there." --John Falcone

"The Fivetwo Series Model 11 was prominently featured in the June issue of Best Magazine in the “Best Home Entertainment” section on Home Theater and Flat Panel TVs. A full spread featured impeccable images of the system, and a full explanation of how the system works and what it is meant to achieve in the home."

"…What we got instead was sound. It came from everywhere and, when you closed your eyes, nowhere in particular. You just felt it. The room was engulfed in music. Yeah, it was the Beatles’ “Because” transitioning into “Get Back,” not exactly amateur-hour dreck, but that wasn’t it. I had listened to the same tarck on my iPod days before. With good ear buds. Now it seemed like I hadn’t ever heard it. Not like this – the hair-raising, three part harmonies, an onslaught of bass pushing the air out of my lungs. I had just walked in from a convention where there were a thousand new and better ways to deliver music, but at that moment it occurred to me that we had all forgotten what it meant to Deliver Music." -David Katz

"With the system in full swing, I soon was on the receiving end of what the engineers at KEF intended when they developed the fivetwo series – simple setup and arguably unbeatable performance against any other 2-channel system on the market. The bottom line with the KEF fivetwo series is that it is everything that KEF intended it to be. " --Clint Walker

"We started the KEF Model 11's stress tests with some music. Acoustic songs from Crosby, Stills and Nash had plenty of snap and clarity. Vocals and guitars were vividly presented, and the soundstage was wider than the actual positions of the speakers in our home theater. Listening in stereo, we were happy to note that the system didn't produce even a hint of the processed sound we get from most virtual surround systems. The Model 11 impressed us in the way it presented the tactile details and textures running through Radiohead's Kid A CD, and the KEF HTB2 subwoofer's low bass support brought out the same level of detail in the bass. Yes, the sub is expensive, but it's also the best sub we've ever used with a virtual surround system. It makes a difference you can feel." --Steve Guttenberg,
Editors Rating: 8.3 Excellent

KEF was named a finalist in the Consumer Electronic Association's 2007 TechHome Mark of Excellence Awards. The KEF Ci3-80QT LCR Motorized In-Ceiling speaker is poised to take home the honors in the Best Speaker Category. Winners will be announced during an awards ceremony on March 9, 2007 during the Electronic House Expo Spring 2007 in Orlando, Florida.

"A snap to set up. Sophisticated esign, inside and out - no mean feat at this price. Cute and curvaceous... This system also produced clear and warm renditions of the soulful acoustic guitar and bass licks on the Keb' Mo's debut album." --C.T.

"Killer home theater doesn't have to take over your entire home. The KEF FiveTwo Series delivers five-channel sound from just two speaker cabinets. Model 7 is a compact bookshelf system with seven of KEF's patented Uni-Q 'point source' drivers that provide deeper bass and a rear-placed punch. You'll actually think surround sound is coming from the back."

" 'Damn, these are fine-looking!' That's what I thought as I pulled the speakers out of their cartons, running my hands across their sculpted wooden cabinets. Then when I heard their silky-smooth sound, I realized that beauty is more than veneer-deep." -Ken C. Pohlmann

"Finding speakers that both look cool and sound good has always been difficult, but the KHT 3000 5.1 Surround Sound Home Theater System...pulls it off remarkably well. "

"When is a speaker not a speaker? That's the question KEF wants its dealers to ask their clients. The Ci50 is designed to look like a standard 50-mm low-voltage lighting fitting.