App Profile: KEF Stream

Ban Fox Media

Rating: 1/5

With your streaming app that is. The LS50 speakers are great, yet are handicapped by an app that is as unusable as it is unstable. Think multiple restarts of the app and speakers due to connectivity drops despite that my Google Wifi point is less than a foot away from the master speaker. The app has not been updated in almost a year, despite the 1.8 star rating here, proof that KEF either doesn’t care or has given up. I don’t which is worse, honestly. On top of all this, the Tidal integration is a minimalist horrid interpretation of the original version. Likely selling these speakers and moving to a Sonos.

frankenevr

Rating: 3/5

First the dumb: you must find and turn off speakers from Control app. Then go back to Steaming app, which will find your iTunes library, and then you can stream over WiFi (once your speakers are setup on your network, which isn’t difficult.) Now the okay: Latest app ver. will let you adjust volume in app using side buttons on iPhone (so you don’t have to switch back to control app), however when you are not in app, volume up/down don’t work. You can create playlist in the app, and it will also populate playlists from your iTunes library. You don’t have to use tidal to steam if your iTunes library is good enough. Finally the good: speakers are outstanding, with good looks, soundstage, base response, and crisp detail at high volume, even over WiFi. KEF apps are taking hard knocks (maybe deservedly do). I am posting a review for iPhone/iTunes users to allow that app experience with KEF is okay. Speakers are worth the minor annoyances of WiFi streaming. You can always connect your laptop or iPad to USB port. The included KEF remote will allow play, advance, back, and volume control.

KabookieP

Rating: 1/5

I am in the same camp as most here. Love the speakers, the software is outrageously bad. Even worse is KEF’s complete lack of interest in their product and customer satisfaction. At AXPONA (before KEF had their temper tantrum) people were lined up outside the door for these with credit cards ready. Your just going to ignore these people?! KEF are you going to do anything to make your product useable? This thing is awful!