My subwoofer is so ugly that I keep it out of sight, but as Sonos has long proven with the Sonos Sub, adding a speaker to your living room doesn't necessarily mean investing in ugly audio equipment that you don't want anyone to see. . And now audio legends KEF have their own take on the stylish subwoofer with not one but two new models you'll want to show off rather than hide behind the couch.
The new models are the KC92 force-canceling subwoofer and Kube subwoofers, which come in four speaker sizes: 15, 12, 10 and 8 inches, and both offer smart technology to give an impressive boost to the low end of the best systems surround sound or home theater systems.
KEF KC92 and KEF Kube: Key Features and Specifications
The KEF KC92 is the flagship here. It has a 9-inch dual-driver subwoofer placed in a force-canceling configuration, which uses origami-style pleated pleats to resist sonic pressure without sacrificing sound quality: the pleats absorb air pressure, allowing the driver move more precisely.
Force cancellation occurs when a speaker system uses two woofers firing in opposite directions. This creates an equal opposing force that reduces, and almost completely eliminates, vibration that would normally move from the speakers to the cabinet and add unwanted resonance. It's increasingly common in high-end subwoofers: both the Sonos Sub and Sonos Mini also use forced cancellation.
The KC92 has 500W of Class D amplification per driver (one kilowatt total) to fill even the largest space, but despite its power it is neither big nor bulky. The gloss white version in particular is attractive, and there's also a gloss black option.
The Kube, on the other hand, comes with a choice of four speaker sizes (8-inch, 10-inch, 12-inch and 15-inch) and the long-throw, front-firing speakers offer what KEF says is a “powerful experience.” below”. There is 300W of Class D amplification and, thanks to extensive connectivity options, each Kube is compatible with virtually any existing amplifier via line-level and speaker-level inputs.
KEF's SmartConnect feature optimizes gain levels by detecting whether a mono or stereo output is being used, and can also connect wirelessly via KEF's KW1 Wireless Subwoofer Adapter, sold separately.
As is usually the case with KEF products, KEF members are the first to order. The KC92 is currently accepting pre-orders for delivery in mid-April and the Kubes are scheduled for release in early March. The Kube range starts at £599 for the 8-inch and rises to £1,149 for the 15-inch, while the KC92 costs £2,499. You can learn more at KEF.com.
