Taking the visual impact of its LS50 loudspeaker to a higher level, KEF has teamed with the Dutch designer Marcel Wanders to create a limited version LS50W speaker.
KEF says its Nocturne Special Edition takes advantage of the LS50W loudspeaker's curved baffle and the shape of its proprietary Uni-Q driver array system to provide homeowners with a unique aesthetic design that emanates from the speaker's tweeter.
Some of the design elements that Wanders used for the speaker include musical notation and other architectural elements to help “craft his fractured linear design, sections of which glow in the dark.”
“There is an orchestrated tempo to this medley. By allwoing for the individual discovery of the musical elements, the design possesses a distinctive rhythm all on its own,” notes Wanders.
Gabriele Chiave, creative director at Marcel Wanders, comments the design goal was to celebrate a nocturnal theme.
“We wanted to honor the nocturnal concept,” she says.
“The eloquent depth to the light and dark shades, textures and patterns allude to what you would experience in a dream-like state.”
Summarizing the KEF LS50 — the Basis for the Nocturne Special Edition
Using the LS50 as the starting point, KEF says the powered LS50W is designed to meet its company goal of providing homeowners with solutions that deliver a quality audio experience that complements their lifestyles.
The new speaker provides a choice of 2.4GHz/5GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connectivity options, and the speaker incorporates a 24-bit/192kHz signal path that includes a pair state-of-the-art digital-to-analog converters (DACs).
The implementation of the Uni-Q driver array KEF also explains enables the speaker to produce a smooth and large soundstage to fill a variety of home spaces.
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In addition, the speaker also offers a choice of streaming services such as Spotify and Tidal, and it also integrates the Roon platform to provide music management and multiroom audio capabilities to the product.
Control capabilities include the companion KEF LS50W app to provide a complete turnkey music system to homeowners.
