Wireless active speaker systems are one of the most popular components in modern hi-fi. They combine all the traditional components of a stereo system into a pair of bookshelf speakers, so you have a super versatile plug-and-play system that supports both physical sources and wireless streaming.
For years, KEF has been the most prominent brand in wireless active speaker systems. Its LS50 Wireless II ($2,500) are the current gold standard, but the speakers are quite large and expensive. The good news is that the LSX II ($1,300) is a shrunk-down and more affordable hi-fi system … but it’s still far from cheap.
KefGP100 WINNER
KEF LSX II LT
Specs
| Power | Up to 200 watts |
| Resolution | Up to 24-bit/384kHz |
| Connectivity (wireless and wired) | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming; HDMI eARC, Toslink optical, digital coaxial, USB |
Enter the KEF LSX II LT ($1,000). The speaker system is nearly identical to the LSX II in basically every way — size, power, sound quality, and versatility — but with select small tradeoffs that have enabled KEF to drop the price by a few hundred bucks. It’s the company’s most affordable wireless speaker system to date.
Photo by Tucker Bowe for Gear PatrolAs far as those trade-offs, there are two main ones. The speakers are both individually amplified, but both amplifiers are built-in the primary speaker and thus the two speakers need to be always tethered together. And secondly, the LT speakers lack an analog AUX input aren’t the best for a turntable.
But if you’re looking to hook these active speakers to a TV (via HDMI ARC) or computer (via USB-C), or stream high-resolution audio over Wi-Fi, they’re probably the best bang-for-your-buck all-in-one hi-fi systems you can buy.
