The KEF XIO is a premium 5.1.2-channel soundbar with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio.
Following in the footsteps of Marshall, British audio specialist KEF is entering the TV audio space with the launch of its very first soundbar.
Available in black or silver, the KEF XIO is aimed squarely at the high-end segment, competing with brands like B&O, Sonos, Sennheiser and Marshall.
Three flavors of spatial audio
The XIO supports three spatial audio formats: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and Sony 360 Reality Audio (MPEG-H) for music.
It also features WiFi, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, and Bluetooth.
The KEF XIO is available in black or silver. Photo: KEF
It’s a 5.1.2-channel system driven by 12 Class-D amplifiers, with KEF’s Uni-Q MX driver arrays, two upfiring speakers, and four bass units. KEF’s Music Integrity Engine (MIE) with Cinema DSP handles signal processing, and there's support for HDMI 2.1 eARC and onboard room calibration.
A clever twist is the KW2 RX wireless subwoofer receiver (£149 / €179 / $160), which lets you connect any subwoofer wirelessly. Alternatively, you can use the RCA output on the soundbar for a wired connection.
The KEF XIO launches in mid-July, priced at £1999 / €2299 / $2500. It can be placed flat or wall-mounted.
