The KEF XIO is pricey but worth it if you want a Dolby Atmos soundbar thats equally skilled at movies and music

Date:
Tue, 30 Dec 2025 19:30:00 +0000

Description:
The KEF XIO is a powerful TV speaker that brings refined, cinematic energy to movies and shows, and has class-leading music reproduction. This performance comes with a hefty price, which may feel too high when you consider its lack of inputs or expansion potential.

FULL STORY ======================================================================KEF XIO soundbar: Two minute review The KEF XIO can be installed either on a tabletop (shown above) or flipped up for a flat wall-mount configuration (Image
credit: Future / Simon Cohen)

The KEF XIO Dolby Atmos soundbar brings a new level of power, elegance, and versatility to the normally utilitarian soundbar category. And though KEF
asks a pretty penny as the price of admission, the XIO delivers a performance that few soundbar systems can match. The fact that it looks just as good hanging on a wall as it does when placed horizontally is the icing on the cake.

As the companys first Dolby Atmos soundbar, the KEF XIO is not quite as mesmerizing for height and surround effects as the Sonos Arc Ultra or Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus , but it makes up for that small weakness with sublimely clean audio and impressively robust bass. And when it comes to playing music, its no contest; the XIO is the best soundbar Ive ever tested.

There are a few small quibbles. Not enough inputs, a smartphone app that doesnt do as much as many competitors, and a remote that could do with a few more buttons. But overall, the KEF XIO is a formidable sound machine for all of your entertainment needs. KEF XIO soundbar review: Price & release date
The KEF XIO's included remote control could use a few more buttons to be
truly useful (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) $2,499.95 / 1,999.00 (around AU$3,765) Released July 2025

KEF launched the XIO, the companys first Dolby Atmos soundbar, in July 2025
in a variety of markets, including the UK and the US.

While KEF is well-known and widely praised for its long heritage of producing passive hi-fi speakers, the British brand is no stranger to powered audio.
Its LS series of wireless, amplified bookshelf speakers has been a favorite
of audiophiles since the first models debuted, and KEF continues to expand
its active lineup, most recently with its reboot of its passive Coda speakers as the Coda W.

KEF brings this amplified speaker experience to the XIO, along with its Uni-Q driver technology, and throws in some new innovations for good measure, like its Velocity Control Technology, a sensor-based system that actively monitors the XIOs four low-frequency drivers to minimize distortion.

At $2,499.95, the KEF XIO lives in a soundbar category dominated by other high-end audio brands, like Bang & Olufsens Beosound Stage ($2,900), Sennheisers Ambeo Soundbar Max ($2,999.95), and the Devialet Dione ($2,199).

Price isnt the only thing these models have in common: All are designed to be single-speaker solutions. Although you can add an external subwoofer to the XIO and the Ambeo Soundbar Max, none of these soundbars offers surround channel expansion. KEF XIO soundbar review: Specs

Dimensions (W x H x D)

47.6 x 2.8 x 6.5 inches (1209 x 71.2 x 165mm)

Speaker channels

5.1.2

Connections:

HDMI 2.1 ARC/eARC out, optical digital audio, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-C (service only)

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Sub included

No

Rear speakers included

No

Features

AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, UPnP, Dolby Atmos Music, 360 Reality Audio, Night Listening mode, Room Correction, native integration of music services including Tidal, Qobuz, Amazon Music, more KEF XIO soundbar review: Features Image 1 of 2 The KEF XIO rear panel ports include a wired subwoofer output (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Image 2 of 2 The XIO's surface controls (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen)
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi with comprehensive streaming support Room correction Four built-in subwoofers with force cancellation

Lets get the bad news out of the way first. Despite its hefty price, the KEF XIO is a little shy on ports. You dont get any HDMI inputs to make up for the one it will grab from your TV, and theres only a single optical port as an alternative for physically connected external devices.

This makes the XIO less desirable for those who want to hook up turntables, Blu-ray players, or game consoles. On the other hand, KEF has included a dedicated subwoofer output, a fairly rare feature on soundbars at any price.

Its wireless connection suite, however, is excellent, with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, plus Apple AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Tidal Connect, Spotify Connect, and UPnP/DLNA support. Depending on your music source and the protocol you
choose, you can stream to the XIO at up to 24-bit/384kHz for lossless, hi-res audio playback.

Thanks to all of those wireless protocols, its easy to stream from almost any app. You can also access several leading streaming services inside the KEF Connect app, including Amazon Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Deezer.

Using the KEF Connect app, you can trigger the XIOs room correction feature. Id characterize it as semi-automatic: you still need to tell the app how high the speaker is mounted and how big your room is, but after that, it does the rest.

If theres one area that sets the XIO apart from other soundbars, its the driver configuration, especially KEFs approach to low frequencies. The XIO uses a set of four 2 x 6-inch P185 racetrack subwoofers mounted in horizontally opposed pairs. This force-cancelling arrangement reduces cabinet vibration, while KEFs newly developed Velocity Control Technology uses
sensors and a feedback loop to minimize distortion. Features score: 4 / 5 KEF XIO soundbar review: Performance (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Brilliant Dolby Atmos performance Astonishing two-channel stereo rendering Missing height and surround level adjustment

Can a single soundbar recreate true movie and music magic? While purists may scoff, the KEF XIO is exceptional.

Buried under its low-key exterior is a series of six, 2-inch Uni-Q MX
drivers, two 2-inch full-range drivers, and a four-driver subwoofer array,
all of which are discretely powered by class D amps, to the tune of 820 watts of total power.

What those specs cant convey is how great the XIO sounds when it gets going. The performance is smooth, balanced, and immensely powerful. Your neighbors probably wont agree, but the XIO rewards loud listening better than any other soundbar Ive tested.

The benefits of KEFs acoustic design start to reveal themselves at 50%
volume. Bass is deeply resonant, yet detailed and at times quite musical.
Yes, you can feel it, but it stops just shy of shaking furniture. Could it be further improved with a subwoofer? Sure. But believe me, unless you have a really big room, or arent happy unless your vision gets blurred by sub-bass, you dont need one. Image 1 of 3 The XIO's speakers include a built-in four-driver subwoofer array (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Image 2 of 3 (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen)

In fact, if you want more of a gut-punch, more immersion, or just more , simply dial up the volume. Doing so had a proportional effect on my smile.
The XIOs sound is so clean, so free from vibration or distortion, you may not even notice as the decibels approach unhealthy levels.

As I ran the XIO through my usual Dolby Atmos test clips from Mad Max: Fury Road, Ford v Ferrari, Unbroken, Dune , and No Time To Die , I was impressed
by both the immersiveness and the dialogue clarity. The soundbar also does a decent job with Dolby Atmos Music.

However, I wouldnt classify the XIO as the best single-speaker Atmos soundbar Ive heard.

In fact, Sonoss Arc Ultra ($1,099) can go toe-to-toe with the XIO for thunderous bass, and even edges out the XIO for surround channel effects. Meanwhile, Sennheisers Ambeo Soundbar Plus ($1,799.99) runs in the opposite direction, with slightly less low-end punch, but with far more effective surround and height immersion.

Its not entirely surprising, given that the XIO is KEFs first kick at the Dolby Atmos can. Moreover, in making the XIO wall-and-surface-mount friendly, it compromised a little on the directionality of its drivers. The side-firing drivers always face out at a 90-degree angle, as do the height drivers. Its hard to do any kind of beam-forming when thats the setup.

All of this fades into the background when you stream music. The XIO may not be the king of the Atmos hill, but when it comes to delivering two-channel sound, its staggeringly good.

The challenge that all soundbars face with stereo music is achieving sufficient separation of left/right channels. At just over 47 inches, the XIO isnt any wider than other flagship soundbars, and yet it convinced me I was listening to discrete speakers set much farther apart. When sitting dead center, it gave me a level of stereo imaging I wasnt expecting, and a nearly perfect phantom center channel. Given that nearly all soundbars have actual center channels, youd think this would be a no-brainer, but it rarely works out that way.

The KEF Connect app offers only six EQ presets (Default, Movie, Music, Night, Dialogue, and Direct), with no manual equalizer controls. There are no bass/treble or loudness controls either, unless you create a new EQ profile using the apps Expert mode.

For most content, the Default mode worked best for my tastes, but each preset is enjoyable in its own way. Dialogue mode can improve the intelligibility of TV speech, but its also a handy way to improve vocal clarity when listening
to Dolby Atmos Music mixes that may push vocals further away. Performance score: 5 / 5 KEF XIO soundbar review: Design Image 1 of 3 The XIO is
available in Slate Black (seen here) or Silver Grey fabric finishes (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Image 2 of 3 (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Fully removable grilles, elegant, understated look Wall-mountable No visible indicators when surface-mounted

From a design perspective, the KEF XIO is a radical departure from the companys trademark aesthetics, which puts exposed speaker drivers proudly on display. The XIO, by contrast, is demure, hiding all 12 of its drivers behind elegant, splash-proof fabric grilles in Slate Black (seen here) or Silver
Grey finishes.

Those grilles cover all but the central top aluminum surface, which houses
the bars touch controls on one side, a discrete KEF logo on the other, and a covered driver in the middle.

Though it may not scream KEF, its a smart choice. Soundbars are generally in your line of sight when watching TV, so the fewer visual distractions, the better. Klipsch went loud-and-proud with the drivers on its Cinema series soundbars, and my eyes kept being drawn to their metallic glint. Want to see the XIOs drivers? Peel away those grilles and, voila.

Though deeper, at 6.5 inches, than many soundbars, the XIO still comes in under three inches tall, which should keep it from blocking the bottom of
most TV screens. It also keeps the XIO from sticking too far off your wall when wall-mounted.

Around the back, youll find the XIOs ports, dedicated buttons to reset the speaker and put it in Bluetooth pairing mode, and something we rarely see on soundbars: a physical rocker switch for power. Typically, soundbars are
always on, even if they may drop down to a low-power mode when not in use.
Its nice to see the option to completely power a speaker down when youre
going to be away for extended periods.

Many soundbars can be wall-mounted, but in the case of the XIO, its a key feature. The speaker automatically detects its orientation, and KEF includes all the hardware you need to get it on a wall. Just be careful this box is a beast, at 23.1 pounds. Hiding the power and HDMI cable may prove tricky. The HDMI and power ports are very close to the bottom edge of the speaker. And while the included power cable has an L-shaped connector to minimize its protrusion, the included HDMI cable doesnt. KEF also includes a backlit
remote control.

The XIOs touch controls let you choose your source, set your volume level, mute the sound, and wake the speaker from its low-power state. Beside the controls is a volume meter a string of little white LEDs. If you wall-mount the XIO, these indicators will be plainly visible, but when sitting on a surface in front of your TV, theyre invisible, and KEF didnt include a secondary set behind the front grille. Design score: 4 / 5 KEF XIO soundbar review: Setup & usability Image 1 of 2 Once connected to Wi-Fi, the XIO's streaming options include AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect, with specific services available within the KEF Connect app (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Image 2 of 2 (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Easy setup and calibration KEF Connect app is a work in progress
Remote could use a rethink

If all you want to do is crank your TV sound, the XIO only takes a few
seconds to install. Plug the HDMI cable into the TV, plug the XIO into a
power outlet, and flip the power switch on the back panel. As long as you stick with TV, Bluetooth, or Optical sources, youre good to go.

But dont stop there. Using the KEF Connect app, you can join the XIO to your Wi-Fi network, which opens up all of the high-quality streaming options like AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and others. It also
lets the app configure the XIO, including the room correction feature, which cant be initiated from the soundbar or the remote.

These steps only take a few extra minutes (more if a firmware update is required). My only complaint is that KEF insists that you create an online account before it lets you do any of this. The rationale is that, should you wish to control the speaker from other devices, an account ensures that all settings are shared between them. In fairness, Sonos, Bose, and many other soundbar companies require the same thing.

Pro tip: Ensure you add TV as a second wake-up source in the preferences section; otherwise, the XIO wont automatically power up when you turn on your TV.

The KEF Connect app takes some getting used to. Its divided into five tabs: Home, Remote, Music, EQ settings, and Device/app settings. And yet, it could probably get away with just the Home and EQ/Device settings sections, since the features of the Remote and Music tabs are duplicated on the Home tab.

Having integrated music service access in the app makes sense, but only if it increases convenience and/or sound quality (versus using the services standalone app). The potential is there, but KEFs execution is weak. Theres a very limited number of services available, with Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music being the big omissions. Within each supported service, navigation can be slow as the app populates the available menu items.

Visually, its a Spartan experience: Menus are text-only, and album art is presented as tiny thumbnails alongside the playlist, album, or track info. I could chalk this up to KEFs minimalist aesthetic, but theres also a lack of a universal search, the single biggest benefit of bringing together music sources in one app.

Having a physical remote is handy. And since KEFs is an infrared (IR) model (as opposed to Bluetooth or other RF standards), you can use any universal IR learning remote instead (including Logitechs now-defunct Harmony line). I
like that its backlit (though just barely) and has an easy-to-use button layout. However, the heart (favorite) button is a bizarre tool. It only lets you pick a favorite function, e.g., Next Source or Set Maximum Volume, and
not a favorite album, playlist, or radio station, which youd normally expect from a favorite button.

Im also a bit disappointed with the EQ shortcut buttons. For some reason, there are only two, and yet the XIO has six EQ modes to choose from. Why are we limited to just two of our favorites? I think KEF should take a page from Yamahas remote control playbook and give us access to all EQ modes.

My biggest critique of the XIOs usability, however, is the lack of front indicator lights I mentioned earlier. I dont think you should ever be in the dark when it comes to your soundbars selected source or volume level, and unless you consult the KEF Connect app, you wont know either if youve got the speaker setup horizontally. Normally, HDMI-connected soundbars can provide feedback to your TV so that you see an on-screen display of volume level, but this didnt happen during my time with the XIO. Setup & usability score: 3.5 / 5 KEF XIO soundbar review: Value The XIO's bundled accessories include wall-mounting hardware (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Expensive Good
for Dolby Atmos, superb for music Limited expansion options

Soundbars are, first and foremost, all about getting better TV sound. The KEF XIO delivers on that mission effortlessly, with big, bold, and perfectly
clean audio. But it doesnt perform this role significantly better than lower-priced options, specifically, the Sonos Arc Ultra ($1,099).

You can add a subwoofer (wired or wireless) to the XIO, but unlike the Arc Ultra and many others, you cant add surrounds, which would significantly increase the XIOs ability to immerse you in a soundtrack.

Still, if you believe a soundbar should be just as killer for music as it is for movies, the XIO rocks, and I have yet to hear a competitive
single-speaker system that can touch its music chops. Value score: 3 / 5 Should I buy the KEF XIO?

Section

Notes

Score

Features

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth streaming plus room correction but shy on ports

4 / 5

Performance

Excellent Dolby Atmos and stereo music performance with powerful bass for an all-in-one soundbar

5 / 5

Design

Elegant, fabric-wrapped design, but no alphanumeric LED display

4 / 5

Setup & usability

Easy setup and calibration, but app and remote control could use some work

3.5 / 5

Value

Expensive, but unbeatable when it comes to soundbar music performance

3 / 5 Buy it if...

You want a single speaker that can do it all
The KEF XIO belongs to a new generation of soundbars that dont need dedicated subwoofers to deliver big, bold bass that you can feel. Whether for movies or music, its a full sonic experience.

You need to wall-mount your soundbar
The XIO isnt just wall-mount compatible, its designed from the ground up to
be hung below a TV. Youll get the same sound quality as a horizontal
placement and youll find everything you need in the box no optional accessories needed.

You dont own (or plan to own) multiple external devices that need
connections
With no extra HDMI inputs and only a single optical input, the XIO is aimed
at those who are content to stream wirelessly or source their audio from a connected TV. Don't buy it if...

You want to expand
Not only are there no wireless surround speakers for the XIO, but theres also no good option for making it part of a multiroom sound system. You can add it to Google Home or Apple Home apps, but these are only basic options that lack the power and convenience of Sonos, Denon Home, Bluesound, or Wiim.

Your TV doesnt have Dolby Atmos
Without any HDMI inputs, youll be missing out on the XIOs spatial audio prowess if your TV cant pass through Dolby Atmos via HDMI ARC.

You want to play vinyl
Without any kind of analog input, youll need a turntable that connects via Bluetooth. That might be convenient, but if youre spending KEF XIO money on sound, you deserve better than Bluetooth for your record collection. KEF XIO soundbar: Also consider

KEF XIO

Sonos Arc Ultra

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus

Samsung HW-Q990F

Price

$2,499.95 / 1,999.00 (around AU$3,765)

$999 / 999 / AU$1,799

$799 / 699 / AU$1,299

$1,999 / 1,699 / AU$2,099

Dimensions (w x h x d)

47.6 x 2.8 x 6.5 inches (1209 x 71.2 x 165mm)

2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches (75 x 1178 x 110.6mm)

27.6 x 2.6 x 3.9in (700 x 65 x 100mm)

Soundbar: 1232 x 70.8 x 138 mm (48.5 x 2.8 x 5.4 inch); Subwoofer: 249 x
251.8 x 249 mm (9.8 x 10.0 x 9.8 inch); Rear speaker: 129.5 x 201.3 x140.4 mm (5.1 x 8.0 x 5.5 inch)

Speaker channels

9.1.4

9.1.4

7.1.4

11.1.4

Connections

HDMI out (with eARC), 3x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, USB-A

1HDMI with eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, USB-A

1x HDMI out (with eARC), 2x HDMI 2.1 in, optical digital audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth

Dolby Atmos/DTS:X

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes

Sonos Arc Ultra

If youd like to expand your system over time, Sonos excellent Arc Ultra ($1,099) offers a similar starting point to the XIO in terms of TV sound and can be expanded with a variety of wireless subs and surrounds. Its also one
of the best multiroom systems you can buy. However, it won't solve the XIOs lack of inputs, and it lacks features like Tidal Connect and Google Cast.

Read our full Sonos Arc Ultra review

Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus

If a single-speaker Dolby Atmos system is your goal, but youd like to spend a little less and get a few more connectivity options, Sennheisers Ambeo Soundbar Plus is well worth a look. Its under $2,000, its got the most immersive sound Ive ever heard from a single speaker, and it has tons of inputs, including 2 HDMI ports, an optical input, and an analog input. Like the XIO, it supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, 360 Reality Audio, MPEG:H, and can even act as an Alexa-powered smart speaker.

Read our full Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus review

Samsung HW-Q990F

If you want to achieve maximum cinematic immersion and dont mind dealing with a few extra speakers, Samsungs HW-Q990F is considered by many to be the best Dolby Atmos home-theater-in-a-box product you can buy, and its still $500
less than the XIO. It lacks the XIOs refined looks with its all-plastic construction, but it delivers stellar spatial performance and includes two HDMI 2.1 inputs.

Read our full Samsung HW-Q990F review How I tested the KEF XIO soundbar (Image credit: Future / Simon Cohen) Used KEF XIO as main audio system for
one week Tested in basement media room Sources: Apple TV 4K, Nvidia Shield 2019, and streamed music from various apps

I spent a full week with the KEF XIO as my main audio system for watching movies, shows, and music in my basement media room. During that time, I
played a variety of Dolby Atmos test clips from movies like No Time To Die, Ford v Ferrari, Mad Max: Fury Road, Dune , and Unbroken , paying special attention to details like dialogue clarity, surround sound, and height
channel impact.

I streamed most content from an Apple TV 4K connected via an LG OLED TV,
which fed the MK2 from its ARC output, but I also connected an Nvidia Shield TV to an eARC extractor so I could hear the XIOs treatment of Dolby Atmos in Dolby TrueHD.

I evaluated the effect of the various EQ modes as well as the XIOs room correction feature.

For music, I used a variety of apps, including Apple Music, Tidal, Qobuz, and Amazon Music, listening to a wide range of genres and formats, like Dolby Atmos Music. Some were played from apps on the Apple TV 4K and Nvidia Shield, while others were streamed wirelessly using AirPlay, Bluetooth, Tidal
Connect, and Google Cast. I tested several of these within the KEF Connect
app as well.

Read more about how we test First reviewed: December 2025



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/televisions/soundbars/kef-xio-review


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)