KEF XIO Soundbar

Thank you for choosing KEF soundbar – XIO.

Innovation is what sets KEF apart from its competitors. For over 60 years KEF has been at the forefront of loudspeaker research and development, designing classleading speakers that have dealt with the challenges of reproducing the latest musical formats, and reproducing them to the highest possible quality.

This legacy continues today with "X5" our powerful soundbar system for the digital audio era, promising an unrivaled spatial audio adventure that transforms your TV viewing into a cinematic masterpiece.

Please read and follow this user manual carefully before using the soundbar system.

This user manual accompanies the XIO soundbar (hereafter referred to as " ×| O ^ '' ⟩ , and contains important information on setup and handling.

Before using your "X5" read this user manual and the safety information (as a separate booklet) carefully. This particularly applies to the safety

information. Failure to do so may result in personal injury or damage to XIO.

Retain the user manual and safety information for further use. Make sure to include the user manual and safety information when passing XIO on to third parties.

The following symbols and signal words are used in this user manual.

Check whether XIO or any parts are damaged or missed. If this is the case, do not use the product and contact your retailer.

*Wrapped with KEF-branded Velcro tapes. Use them to organise any loose cables.

Control Panel

IR Receivers

Back Panel Remote Control 1 Favourite button is defaulted as Next source. EQ1 is defaulted as Dialogue mode. EQ2 is defaulted as Night mode. 2 EQ1, EQ2 and Favourite buttons can be customised from the KEF Connect App.

Press on the circled areas to slide open or close the battery compartment cover. Battery life varies based on storage time and usage. Replace with new AAA alkaline batteries if you notice inconsistent performance or the LED indicator stops working.

Place XIO on a TV cabinet or mount it on a wall (see section Wall Mounting Instructions).

On a TV cabinet On a wall

1. Connect the power cable and HDMI cable to XIO.

2. Connect the plug of the power cable into the power socket/outlet. 3. Press the power switch (IO) to set it to the “I” (ON) position.

4. Wait for around 30 seconds while XIO is booting up. The volume level indicators blink sequentially during this process.

For optimal performance, set up XIO with a Wi-Fi network.

1. Download and install “KEF Connect” on your iOS* or Android** device.

Q KEF CONNECT

*Requires iOS 14 or above. Refer to App Store for the latest requirements (subject to change).

**Requires Android 10 or above. Refer to Google Play for the latest requirements (subject to change).

2. Check the Wi-Fi icon on the control panel of XIO. It is ready to be onboarded if the Wi-Fi icon blinks amber/white alternately.

3. Launch the KEF Connect App, create a user account and follow the on-screen instructions to set up XIO.

If your Wi-Fi network is unstable, you can set up XIO without it.

WARNING! This will limit the XIO controls, functionalities and customisations. All important feature updates will also be missed.

1. Make sure that XIO is in the setup mode. The Wi-Fi icon should blink amber/white alternately.

2. Press and hold the Mute button on the remote control until XIO is in the Bluetooth discovery mode.

The Wi-Fi functionality is now disabled.

1. Switch the source to TV through the control panel, remote control or KEF Connect App. The TV icon turns on solid white if connection is made.

• Make sure the HDMI cable is connected to the eARC port of the TV, and the HDMI CEC connection is enabled in the TV settings. For details, refer to the user manual for the TV.
2. Play content on the TV and enjoy the experience with XIO.

Optical icon is solid white.

XIO is in the Optical mode.

Mute icon is blinking.

XIO is muted.

Codec indicator turns on

Blue: Dolby Atmos Orange: DTS:X

Source button and Volume Down button are blinking alternately.

Firmware update is in progress. Do not unplug the power cable until the firmware update is completed.

Press and hold the reset button (RE) on the back panel until the indicator above the button blinks.

If the problem persists, please contact your KEF support team.

• No attempt should be made to install XIO on the wall unless you are sure that you will not be cutting through electric cables, water or gas pipes, or supporting joists.
• Make sure the wall on which XIO will be installed is flat, smooth and vertical.
• Make sure that the wall on which XIO will be installed is undamaged, and that it can support 20 kg per mounting point.
• The mounting kit provided is suitable for concrete walls. Seek professional advice about the installation materials suitable for your wall prior to mounting and replace them if necessary.

1. Determine the installation location using the supplied wall mounting template. 2. Tape the wall mounting template below the TV. Use a spirit level to ensure the template is leveled. Follow the template making sure XIO is at least 25 mm (0.98 in.) below the TV.

Remarks: We suggest leaving at least 100 mm (3.9 in.) of open space above XIO for optimal sound performance.

3. Follow the wall mounting template drilling four holes on the wall with an electric drill.

3.

4. Remove the wall mounting template. 5. Insert the wall anchors into the drilled holes. Then place the wall brackets on the wall and drive the screws into the drilled holes through the wall brackets. 6. Hang XIO on the protruding heads of the wall brackets. Make sure the protruding heads are locked into the mounting holes on the back of XIO.

5.

Hint: Make sure the power cable and HDMI cable are well connected to the back of XIO.

A 12 mm space is reserved between the wall and XIO for routing the HDMI cable back to the TV.

7. Continue your setup by following the instructions in section Connecting XIO to Power and TV.

XIO must be “onboarded” to your Wi-Fi network (see chapter Onboarding) for the best sound quality, wireless streaming and comprehensive control.

• Network standard: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, IPv4, IPv6,
• Frequency band: Dual-band 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz

• A 5 GHz Wi-Fi network is recommended for stable streaming, especially for hi-resolution music.
• Connecting to a guest, office or public network: Office, hotel, guest and public networks often feature additional security or authentication methods which may prevent XIO from connecting. You may need the help of the network administrator to configure the network to allow full functionality if using these kinds of networks.

Place XIO on a TV cabinet or mount it on a wall (see chapter Wall Mounting Instructions).

On a TV cabinet On a wall

1. Connect the power cable and HDMI cable to XIO. Then, connect the HDMI cable to the eARC/ARC port of the TV.

2. Connect the plug of the power cable into the power socket/outlet. 3. Press the power switch (IO) to set it to the “I” (ON) position.

4. Wait for around 30 seconds while XIO is booting up. The volume level indicators blink sequentially during this process.

Install the KEF Connect App on your mobile device to get XIO “onboarded” to your Wi-Fi network.

1. Search “KEFConnect” in the App Store or Google Play Store to download and install the KEF Connect App on your iOS* or Android** device.

KEF CONNECT

Download on the App Store

GET ITON Gole Play

2. Launch the KEF Connect App on your device and create a user account. You may log in with your existing Facebook, Google or Apple account, or create a new KEF account with your email address.

*Requires iOS 14 or above. Refer to App Store for the latest requirements (subject to change). **Requires Android 10 or above. Refer to Google Play for the latest requirements (subject to change).

1. Make sure your mobile device is connected to the network you want to onboard your XIO to. 2. Check the Wi-Fi icon on the control panel of XIO. It is ready to be onboarded if the Wi-Fi icon blinks amber/white alternately.

3. Launch and login to the KEF Connect App on your mobile device. 4. Select “KEF ×| ◯^ '' under “Speakers nearby”.

The speakers with the warning sign ( ) are not set up yet. Select the speakers with this warning mark to get them “onboarded”.

The speakers with the check mark ( \otimes ) are ready for use. This icon will show for speakers already onboarded or directly connected to the network via a cable.

5. Select your local Wi-Fi network. Press “Next” to begin the onboarding process.

You may rename XIO by tapping “Speaker name”.

6. The onboarding process will be done automatically. Tap “Done” when the process is completed.

[Step 4–6]

7. You may be required to update the firmware if a new version is available. Tap “Next” when the update is completed.

8. You may also enable the second wake up source to TV. By doing so, XIO will automatically wake up whenever your TV powers on. Tap “Enable” to activate this function.

9. Finally, you may customise your audio setting with the help of KEF EQ Wizard. Tap “Start” to do so.

1. Make sure your mobile device is connected to your local Wi-Fi network. 2. Check the Wi-Fi icon on the control panel of XIO. It is ready to be onboarded if the Wi-Fi icon blinks amber/white alternately.

3. Launch and login to the KEF Connect App on your mobile device. 4. Allow the app to access your device’s location when requested. 5. Select “KEF ×| ◯^ '' under “Speakers nearby”.

The speakers with the warning sign ( ) are not set up yet.

The speakers with the check mark ( \otimes ) are ready for use.

6. Allow the app to access your device’s Bluetooth when requested.

[Step 4–6]

network, the app needs permission to access precise location services and Nearby Wi-Fi permission.

We will not use this function to check

access to your device's precise location and Nearby Wi-Fi permission

XIO - 123456

LS50 Wireless II

to scan and connect to the speaker.

We only use Bluetooth to transfer data between this app and the speaker dduring setup.

7. Tap “Choose a Wi-Fi network”. 8. Select your local Wi-Fi network and then tap ^ '' Next ^ '' 9. Input the password of your local Wi-Fi network and then tap ^ '' Next ^ '' 10. Connection process will be done automatically. Tap “Next” when the process is completed.

If preferred, create a new name for the speakers and then tap “Next”. This name will be used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

11. You may be required to update the firmware if a new version is available. Tap “Next” when the update is completed. 12. Activate Google Cast, or set up later in “Settings”.

13. You may also enable the second wake up source to TV. By doing so, XIO will automatically wake up whenever your TV powers on. Tap “Enable” to activate this function.

14. Finally, you may customise your audio setting with the help of KEF EQ Wizard. Tap “Start” to do so.

If your Wi-Fi network is unstable, you can set up XIO without it.

WARNING! This will limit the XIO controls, functionalities and customisations. All important feature updates will also be missed.

1. Make sure that XIO is in the setup mode. The Wi-Fi icon should blink amber/white alternately.

2. Press and hold the Mute button on the remote control until XIO is in the Bluetooth discovery mode.

The Wi-Fi functionality is now disabled.

If you want to set up XIO via Wi-Fi again, a factory reset is necessary.

• No attempt should be made to install XIO on the wall unless you are sure that you will not be cutting through electric cables, water or gas pipes, or supporting joists.
• Make sure the wall on which XIO will be installed is flat, smooth and vertical.
• Make sure that the wall on which XIO will be installed is undamaged, and that it can support 20 kg per mounting point.
• The mounting kit provided is suitable for concrete walls. Seek professional advice about the installation materials suitable for your wall prior to mounting and replace them if necessary.

1. Determine the installation location using the supplied wall mounting template. 2. Tape the wall mounting template below the TV. Use a spirit level to ensure the template is leveled. Follow the template making sure XIO is at least 25 mm (0.98 in.) below the TV.

Remarks: We suggest leaving at least 100 mm (3.9 in.) of open space above XIO for optimal sound performance.

3. Follow the wall mounting template drilling four holes on the wall with an electric drill.

3.

4. Remove the wall mounting template. 5. Insert the wall anchors into the drilled holes. Then place the wall brackets on the wall and drive the screws into the drilled holes through the wall brackets. 6. Hang XIO on the protruding heads of the wall brackets. Make sure the protruding heads are locked into the mounting holes on the back of XIO.

6.

Hint: Make sure the power cable and HDMI cable are well connected to the back of XIO. A 12 mm space is reserved between the wall and XIO for routing the HDMI cable back to the TV.

7. Continue your setup by following the instructions in section Connecting XIO to Power and TV. Also see instructions in section Cable Management.

• Use the KEF-supplied HDMI cable — Ultra High Speed HDMI-certified for up to 8K/60Hz and full eARC support. It is compact and flexible for easy and clean routing.
• Use the KEF-supplied Velcro tapes (wrapped around the HDMI and power cables) to neatly secure and organise any loose cables.
• Use the centre hole of the wall-mounting template as a guide to create a small cut-out (6 cm or above) in the wall for cable routing (see the blue circle in the figure below). This allows the cables to route directly back through the wall for a seamless, clutter-free installation.

2. Hang XIO on the protruding heads of the installed wall brackets. The connected cables can be routed through the space between the wall and XIO and guided through the wall cut-out.

3. Tighten the cables using the KEF-supplied Velcro tape.

4. Tidy up the cables.

1 Favourite button is defaulted as Next source. EQ1 is defaulted as Dialogue mode. EQ2 is defaulted as Night mode. 2 EQ1, EQ2 and Favourite buttons can be customised from the KEF Connect App.

• Insert two AAA batteries into the battery compartment before use. To do so, press on the circled areas to slide open or close the battery compartment cover.
• Point the remote control to one of the IR receivers. Make sure there are no obstacles between the remote control and XIO during use.
• Battery life varies based on storage time and usage. Replace with new AAA alkaline batteries if you notice inconsistent performance or the LED indicator stops working.

The connection and operation status can be easily checked through the colours and patterns of the LED indicators on the control panel.

XIO is compatible with HDMI eARC (Enahnced Audio Return Channel) output from your TV for integrated control through a single HDMI cable.

Connect the HDMI output port of your TV and the TV eARC port (V) on the back panel of XIO via an HDMI cable.

• In your TV setting, turn on HDMI CEC in the HDMI settings.
• Refer to the user manual of your TV for details as manufacturers may name the HDMI connections differently (e.g. Anynet+ for Samsung, Simplink for LG).

1. Switch the source to TV through the control panel, remote control or KEF Connect App. The TV icon turns on solid white if connection is made.

• Make sure the HDMI cable is connected to the eARC port of the TV, and the HDMI CEC connection is enabled in the TV settings. For details, refer to the user manual for the TV.
2. Play content on the TV and enjoy the experience with XIO.

All playback controls can be done with the remote control of your TV.

Install the KEF Connect App on your mobile device to get XIO “onboarded” to your Wi-Fi network (see chapter Onboarding).

1. Switch the source to Wi-Fi through the control panel, remote control or KEF Connect App. The Wi-Fi icon turns on solid white if connection is made.

2. Play content on your mobile device and enjoy the experience with XIO.

Apple Airplay can extend XIO to become part of a multi-room wireless music system which can be controlled with iOS devices. If you have more than one pair of AirPlay speakers connected to the same network, select the pairs for playback of the same audio output at the same time.

You can control the volume of the speakers individually or together as a group.

Note: Legacy AirPlay (AirPlay 1) speakers are not compatible with multi-room streaming.

For more support, visit Apple.

You can group the speakers and Google Cast devices together for synchronous music throughout the home.

1. Make sure you have accepted the Google Cast requirements. 2. Check your mobile device if it is connected to the same Wi-Fi network or linked to the same account as your speakers. 3. Open the Google Home App. 4. Follow the instructions in the App to add “KEF XIO” to “Home”.

5. Tap “Settings” and then the " > " icon in the “Devices, groups and rooms” section.

6. Tap each device (including the sets of speakers) you want to add to the group. A check mark will appear next to each device you have selected.

7. Tap “Next” 8. Enter a name for your group.

9. Tap “Save”.

You can use Siri to control playback (e.g. skipping tracks, controlling the volume level) while your iOS mobile device is streaming music to XIO.

You can use Google Assistant to control playback (e.g. skipping tracks, controlling the volume level) while your Android mobile device is streaming music to XIO.

You can pair your Bluetooth devices (e.g. computers) with XIO through Bluetooth connection.

• Switch the source to Bluetooth through the control panel, remote control or KEF Connect App. The Bluetooth icon turns on solid white if connection is made.

1. In Bluetooth mode, check the Bluetooth icon on the control panel. If it is pulsing, XIO is in the discovery mode and ready to pair with a Bluetooth device.

If the Bluetooth icon stays lit, XIO is already paired with a Bluetooth device. To disconnect the connected Bluetooth device, press once the Bluetooth pairing button (BP) on the back panel. The Bluetooth icon pulses when it is ready to pair with a new Bluetooth device.

Alternatively, press the Bluetooth pairing icon located at the upper right corner of the remote control in the KEF Connect App to disconnect the paired device.

2. Turn on the Bluetooth feature of your device and select “KEF ×| ◯^ '' (or the name you have created for XIO) from the list of available devices to pair.

When Bluetooth pairing is done, the Bluetooth icon will stay lit.

XIO remembers your most recently paired Bluetooth devices. Once Bluetooth mode is selected, XIO will automatically connect with your recently-paired device if it is around.

In the KEF Connect App, use the control elements below for playback controls. The volume control, play/pause, previous and next functions can also be operated on the remote control.

You can connect your devices with optical output (e.g. TV and game consoles) to XIO through an optical cable.

Connect the optical output of your device and the optical input (O) on the back panel via an optical cable.

Make sure your TV is set to output digital audio in PCM format. Refer to the user manual of your TV for details.

1. Switch the source to Optical through the control panel, remote control or KEF Connect App. The OPT icon turns on solid white if connection is made.

2. Play content on the device and enjoy the experience with XIO.

All playback controls (except adjusting volume) must be done on the connected device.

You may edit the Home screen to show or hide tiles (e.g. Music in the Cloud) or buttons that are of frequent or less frequent use.

1. Tap the edit icon ( ) at the top right of the app. 2. Tap the " + " or ^ { I I } - / / symbols or drag and drop to show or hide a tile.

3. Tap the edit icon ( ) at the top right of a tile. 4. Tap the " + " or ^ { I I } - / / symbols or drag and drop to show or hide a button in the tile.

• Use the buttons under “Remote Control” to directly turn on XIO from that particular source, or change the audio source.

• To turn off XIO, tap the active source button.

The KEF Connect App allows you to access and play back music from your music streaming services as well as Internet radio stations and Podcasts.

1. To stream music, tap “Amazon Music” under “Music in the Cloud” in the KEF Connect App.

2. Login to your Amazon Music account.

3. Browse and play music to start streaming.

1. To stream music, tap “Deezer” under “Music in the Cloud” in the KEF Connect App.

Deezer

2. Login to your Deezer account.

3. Browse and play music to start streaming.

1. To stream music, tap “HIGHRESAUDIO” under “Music in the Cloud” in the KEF Connect App.

2. Login to your HIGHRESAUDIO account.

3. Browse and play music to start streaming.

1. To stream music, tap “Qobuz” under “Music in the Cloud” in the KEF Connect App.

2. Login to your Qobuz account.

3. Browse and play music to start streaming.

1. To stream music, tap “Spotify” under “Music in the Cloud” in the KEF Connect App.

Spotify

You will be prompted to the Spotify App on your device to stream music to XIO.

2. Browse and select music to play in the Spotify App. 3. Tap the device icon ( ) at the bottom of the playback screen. 4. Select “KEF ×| ◯^ '' (or the name you have created for XIO) from the selection menu to start streaming.

[Step 2–4]

1. To stream music, tap “TIDAL” under “Music in the Cloud” in the KEF Connect App.

TIDAL

2. Login to your TIDAL account.

3. Browse and play music to start streaming.

1. To access Internet radio, tap “Radio stations” under “Live Stream” in the KEF Connect App.

2. Browse and play a radio station to start streaming.

1. To access podcast contents, tap “Podcasts” under “Live Stream” in the KEF Connect App.

2. Browse and play a podcast to start streaming.

In case you cannot find radio stations in the Internet Radio, you can register them for easy access.

1. To access Custom Stations, tap “Custom Stations” under “Live Stream” in the KEF Connect App.

2. Tap “Add Radio URL”.

3. Input the URL and station name of the radio station and then tap “Add”. The registered radio station is now saved under Custom Stations for easy access.

Alternatively, tap the option “submit a request” to send a request to add it.

4. If necessary, tap a custom station to edit it.

The below features are available to control playback or behaviour. Please note that these features may not be available to all music sources and there may be slight differences in the control interface.

Tap the search icon ( ) to look for artists, albums or songs in the current music source.

In the playback screen, tap the option icon (…) and then select “Add to favourite” or “Remove from favourite” to select or deselect an item (music, podcast, radio station) as favourites.

Alternatively, tap the option icon (…) next to an item (e.g. track, album, playlist), or press and hold on an item and then select “Add to Favourites” or “Remove from Favourites”.

To show the favourites in your current music source, tap “Favourites” in the main menu.

Adding a track to the queue means the track will be played after the current playing track. The queue is not permanent and cannot be saved.

1. From the playback screen, tap the option icon (…).

2. Select “Add to Queue” to add the track to the end of the Queue. Or select “Play next” to add the track as the next song.

Depending on your selections, you can also add all tracks from an artist, all tracks from an album, or all tracks from a playlist to the queue.

From the playback screen, tap the queue icon ( ) at the top right.

1. To edit the playback sequence, press and hold the three bars ( ) on the right hand side of a track and then drag the track up or down the queue.

2. To remove a track from the queue, tap the edit icon ( ) at the top right.

3. Select the track in the queue and then tap the trash bin icon ( ) to remove it from the queue. You may also select multiple tracks for removal or tap the select all icon ( ) to select all tracks at once.

A playlist is a list of tracks that can be played back in the preferred sequential order. Playlists can be saved for future listening.

In the current music source, tap “Playlists” in the main menu.

1. From a list of tracks or from the playback screen, tap the option icon (…) on the right.

2. Tap “Add to playlist”.

3. Tap “Create new playlist”.

4. Create a name for the playlist and then tap “Create”.

1. From a list of tracks or from the playback screen, tap the option icon (…) on the right

2. Tap “Add to playlist”.

3. Select the playlist you want to add the track to.

Depending on your selections, you can also add all tracks from an artist or all tracks from an album to the playlist.

1. In the playback screen of the track to be removed, tap the option icon (…).

2. Tap “Remove from playlist”.

1. In the playlist, tap the option icon ( ) at the top right corner.

2. Tap “Delete playlist”.

Delete playlist

For the best audio performance, apply sound settings according to your listening area.

This feature helps customise your audio settings with our comprehensive EQ setup.

1. Tap “Start” to begin the EQ wizard.

2. Turn on the Intelligent Placement Technology (IPT) switch on the back panel. This will enable XIO to detect the positioning within your room and optimise the EQ settings. Then tap “Next”.

3. Follow the instructions on the screen to proceed with the EQ setup.

This feature enhances your XIO’s audio performance by automatically adjusting the EQ settings to match your listening environment.

The calibration process takes approximately 45 seconds, during which the audio output will be paused.

If any interruptions occur – such as switching audio sources, using the remote control, or adjusting the control panel – the process will stop and need to be restarted.

1. Tap “Start” to begin IPT calibration.

2. Turn on the Intelligent Placement Technology (IPT) switch on the back panel. This will enable "X5" to detect the positioning within your room and optimise the EQ settings. Then tap ^ I I N e x t ^ I I .

#

3. Follow the instructions on the screen to proceed with the calibration.

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the EQ settings icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Add new profile”. You may also tap “Start EQ Wizard” to guide you through the setup process, see chapter EQ Wizard.

3. Select “Normal mode”.

4. Create a name for your new profile and then tap “Save”.

5. Configure the settings according to your listening area.

• Sound profile (Default / Music / Movie / Night / Dialogue / Direct)
• Calibrate with IPT (see chapter Calibrate with IPT)
• How high is your soundbar? ( > 6 5 c m / > 100 cm )
• How large is the room? ( < 2 0 m ^ 2 / 2 0 - 4 0 m ^ 2 / > 40 m ^ 2 )
• Do you have a subwoofer connected (No / Yes)
• Subwoofer model
• Which wireless adapter are you using? (None / KW1* / KW2*)
• Soundbar/subwoofer balance
• Subwoofer volume (1 to 10)
6. Tap “Save” when the settings are done.

*KW1 and KW2 can be selected at the same time.

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the EQ settings icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Add new profile”. You may also tap “Start EQ Wizard” to guide you through the setup process, see chapter EQ Wizard.

3. Select “Expert mode”.

4. Create a name for your new profile and then tap “Save”.

5. The Expert Mode lets you configure the EQ preferences in greater precision. Configure the settings according to your listening area.

• Sound profile (Default / Music / Movie / Night / Dialogue / Direct)
• Calibrate with IPT (see chapter Calibrate with IPT)
• Treble Trim (-3.0 dB to 3.0 dB)
• Bass Extension (Less / Standard / Extra)
• Subwoofer connected (Yes/No)
• Subwoofer model
• High-Pass Frequency (On/Off, 50 Hz to 120 Hz)
• Sub Out Low-Pass Frequency (40 Hz to 250 Hz)
• Sub Gain (-3.0 dB to 3.0 dB)
• Sub Polarity (On/Off)
• Which wireless adapter are you using? (None / KW1* / KW2*)

*KW1 and KW2 can be selected at the same time.

• Default: A versatile setting suitable for most scenarios, balancing sound for both music and movies.
• Music: Optimizes sound for music, delivering balanced, natural audio with clear details and minimal effects.
• Movie: Enhances cinematic experiences by boosting dialogue, expanding the soundstage, and emphasizing impactful effects.
• Night: Enhances soft sounds and reduces loud ones by compressing dynamic range, ensuring clear, balanced audio without disturbing others during late-night viewing.
• Dialogue: Enhances speech clarity by emphasizing vocal frequencies and reducing background noise, making it ideal for TV shows, documentaries, and news programs where understanding spoken words is essential.
• Direct: Outputs audio without virtualisation or enhancement; for 2-channel music, sound only plays from two speakers.

How large is your room (Expert Mode: Bass Extension): This setting adjusts the bass extension of the speakers. The larger the room selected, the lower the roll-off point.

Soundbar/Subwoofer Balance: This controls the bass output between the soundbar and the subwoofer. If the slider is moved more to “Subwoofer”, most of the bass output will be handled by the subwoofer.

High-Pass Frequency: Frequencies above the set point will be played by the soundbar.

Sub Out Low-Pass Frequency: Frequencies below the set point will be handled by the subwoofer. This can overlap with the high-pass frequency to help integrate the soundbar/subwoofer more effectively with no dip or peak in overall response.

Sub Gain: This changes the signal level output to the subwoofer.

Sub Polarity: Ideally, the soundbar and subwoofer should be moving in the same direction at the same time, otherwise frequencies can be cancelled out. Switching the polarity of the subwoofer can resolve a perceived lack of bass response.

Which wireless adapter are you using?: KW-1 and KW-2 are a subwoofer adapter kits which transmit signals wirelessly, enabling your subwoofer to be optimally placed. Enable this option if you are using KW-1 or KW-2.

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the EQ settings icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Default” and then select a EQ profile to apply to the speakers. The profiles with a star icon are created in Expert mode.

1. In the selected EQ profile, tap the option icon ( ) at the top right.

2. Tap “Rename profile”.

3. Create a new name for your profile and then tap “Save”.

1. In the selected EQ profile, tap the option icon ( ) at the top right.

2. Tap “Delete profile”.

This menu allows you to view your personal details (account name and profile picture) of your registered user account, or delete your account.

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “View profile”.

KEF user

XIO

3. To delete your account, tap “Delete Account” at the bottom of the screen and follow the instructions. The process may take up to 10 business days, and you will receive a confirmation email once it is completed.

Send me updates from KEF

DELETE ACCOUNT

permanently removed.

logged out from app.

DELETE ACCOUNT

This menu allows the KEF Connect App to switch to another pair of speakers for control and streaming. All speakers must first be set up through the same KEF Connect App before they are available for selection.

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap the name of the connected speakers.

3. Select another pair of speakers for control and streaming.

The speakers under “Speakers Nearby” are on the same network but not ready yet to be controlled through the KEF Connect App on your mobile device.

This menu allows you to find out more information about the connected speakers, rename the speakers and disconnect the speakers from the KEF Connect App.

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap the name of the connected speakers.

KEF user

XIO

3. Tap the info icon ( \textcircled{1} ) next to the name of the speakers.

XIO

LS50 Wireless II

4. Check the MAC address, IP address and firmware version of the speakers. You can also rename the speakers, forget the speakers (disconnect them from the KEF Connect App) or perform factory reset.

Choose your speaker

Speaker name

MAC address

IP address

Firmware version

Network

FACTORY RESET

This menu allows you to configure various speaker preferences. To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Speaker preferences”.

3. Configure the settings.

This setting determines how long (ECO (20), 30 or 60 mins) the speakers will remain idle before automatically entering Standby Mode. If “never” is selected, the speakers must be manually turned off.

This setting enables a second source to automatically turn on the speakers when there is audio input from the selected source. This option is not available when Standby Mode is set to ECO.

This setting enables the speakers to automatically switch to the TV mode when your TV is powered on.

This setting enables the LED indicator lights to fade out after 5 seconds of inactivity.

This setting enables the LED indicator lights to turn off when the speakers are in Standby mode.

This setting enables the start up tone to be muted when the speakers are turned on.

This setting enables the control panel to be locked (LED indication will still be on).

This setting selects the preferred virtualiser (Dolby or DTS Virtual X).

This setting wakes up the subwoofer simultaneously when the speakers turn on. The function only supports KEF subwoofers and may not be compatible with other subwoofers.

This menu allows you to configure volume settings. To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Volume”.

Volume

3. Configure the settings.

This setting allows you to configure how the volume control should be displayed.

• None: No volume control will be displayed during playback.
• Slider: The volume control will be displayed as a slider for adjustment.

Tap the speaker icon on the left to mute or restore audio output from the speakers.

• –/+: The volume control will be displayed as ^ { I I } - / / and " + " buttons for adjustment.

Tap the speaker icon in the middle to mute or restore audio output from the speakers.

This setting allows you to configure the number of volume steps for each single press of the physical volume buttons of your device.

This setting is only available on iOS devices. The hardware volume buttons refer to the physical volume buttons on your device. Disable this setting when you are experiencing conflicts with other music streaming apps over Wi-Fi connection.

This setting allows you to configure the maximum level when adjusting the volume. The setting applies to all sources.

This setting allows you to configure the speaker wake up volume to your desired level when the speakers are powered on. The setting can be applied to all sources, or you can set different wake up volume for each individual source.

Wake Up volume – All sources

Wake Up volume – Individual sources

This menu enables you to set a sleep timer and alarm for your XIO. You can specify a sleep time, allowing the XIO to turn off according to your schedule. Additionally, XIO can automatically wake up with your set alarm and play audio based on your chosen album, playlist or radio channel. To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Schedule”.

1. Tap ^ { I I } > ^ { I I }

2. Select a preset sleep timer or tap ^ { I I } > ^ { I I } to customise it.

3. Tap “Start” to start the sleep timer.

1. Tap “Add new alarm”.

2. Set up the alarm details and then tap “Save”.

Alarm sound: Follow the on-screen instructions to select your desired album, playlist, or radio channel for playing audio with the alarm schedule.

• Tap the button to activate or deactivate a scheduled alarm.

Everyday

• Tap “Stop” to stop the alarm until the next scheduled time, or tap “Snooze for 10 mins” to briefly mute the alarm.

1. Tap the edit icon ( ).

2. Tap the ^ { I I } - / / symbol to delete the unwanted alarm.

This menu allows you to configure the streaming settings and assess your network quality. To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Performance”.

3. Configure the settings.

This setting allows you to select the audio quality for music streaming services inside the KEF Connect app.

• Hi-Fi (Hi-Fi quality): Always select this setting for the best audio quality. The highest quality depends on the music streaming service and your subscription.
• High (CD quality): Select this setting when the speakers are in a crowded network and experiencing quality drop-outs.
• Normal (MP3 quality): Select this setting when the speakers are in a crowded network and experiencing audio drop-outs.

This setting allows you to assess your network quality. For details, see chapter Speaker Connection Test.

• Speaker connection test: Select this option to perform a network quality check.

• Test history: Select this option to review the test history.

• Learn to improve your connection: Select this option to access the KEF website for tips on assessing and improving your network quality.

The speakers check the server every 4 hours if a new firmware update is available. If a firmware is available, it will check if the firmware update is compulsory or not.

If a firmware update is compulsory, it will start the update when:

• The speakers are in standby mode, or
• The Wi-Fi source or Bluetooth source has been idle for 60 minutes.

If a firmware update is not compulsory, it will be carried out when:

• The speakers are in standby mode between 2–3 am, or
• The Wi-Fi source or Bluetooth source has been idle for 60 minutes.

A firmware update will not occur when the speakers are in use.

This menu allows you to manually check for firmware updates.

To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Speaker update”.

3. If an update is available, tap “Update now” to proceed with the firmware update.

This menu allows you to reset the home screen and send analytics.

To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Application”.

3. Configure the settings.

This setting allows you to set a theme mode (System, Light or Dark).

This setting allows you to reset the Home screen of the app to default settings.

This setting allows the KEF Connect app to anonymously send improvement analytics to KEF. We recommend this setting is enabled to help KEF to improve product performance.

This setting allows you to adjust the IR remote control responses on your speakers and customise the favourite and EQ buttons. To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Remote control”.

3. Select “C2 remote”.

4. Configure the settings.

This setting allows you to enable or disable the IR reception on the speakers.

This setting allows you to customise the function of the favourite button on the remote control (e.g. source selection, control panel lock, maximum volume settings, volume settings, Bluetooth pairing, and subwoofer output adjustment).

This setting allows you to assign sound profiles (e.g. movie, dialogue) to the EQ buttons on the remote control.

This setting is related to Google Cast activation, sending device usage and crash reports to Google. To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Google Cast”.

This menu allows you to report issues, give suggestions and make general enquiries.

To access this menu:

1. In the KEF Connect App, tap the Setting icon ( ) at the bottom of the Home screen. 2. Tap “Support”.

3. Select the type of support you need and proceed as instructed on the screen.

4. When reporting an issue, your email program will automatically attach the speaker logs that helps KEF investigate the issue. Please add a description of the problem in the email message as well.

An audio codec is a device that encodes and decodes audio data. In addition, the spatial technology enables immersive, three-dimensional sound experiences. The spatial audio codec goes beyond traditional stereo by adding depth and spatial cues, allowing sounds to be perceived from various directions, including above and below the listener.

Examples of spatial audio codec:

• Dolby Atmos
• DTS:X
• SONY 360 Reality Audio,
• AirPlay Spatial Audio
• MPEGH

Feature Optical HDMI eARC HDMI ARC Wireless

Object based formats

Lossless formats

Note: Compatibility is subject to source and content parameters. Maximum supported sample rates and bit depths are shown for each configuration.

Water and other liquids that have penetrated the housing may cause a short circuit.

• Never immerse XIO in water or other liquids.

Improper handling of XIO may result in damage.

• Do not use any aggressive cleaners, brushes with metal or nylon bristles, or sharp or metallic utensils such as knives, hard scrapers and the like. They could damage the surface.

1. Disconnect the power cable of XIO from the power socket/outlet before cleaning. 2. Clean the surfaces of XIO with a clean lint-free cloth. If necessary, use an alcoholfree cleaner (e.g. screen cleaner, eyeglass lens cleaner) to remove stubborn stains. 3. The acoustic fabric is treated with surface waterproofing and dirt-resistant properties to ensure lasting quality. Use a soft cotton cloth to pick up loose debris from the surface. Alternatively, use a low-powered vacuum or a car vacuum cleaner to gently pull out anything stuck within the fabric or mesh grill.

Sort the packaging before you dispose of it. Dispose of paperboard, cardboard and wrappings in accordance with your local guidelines.

Old appliances may not be disposed of in the household waste!

XIO is an electronic product and may not be able to be disposed of as household waste. Please dispose of it in accordance with the regulations in force in your city or county. This ensures that old appliances are recycled in a professional manner and reduces negative consequences.

Batteries may not be disposed of with household waste!

As the end user you are required by law to bring all batteries, regardless whether they contain harmful substances* or not, to a collection point run by the communal authority or to a retailer, so that they can be disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner.

* labeled with: Cd = cadmium, Hg = mercury, Pb = lead

Press and hold the reset button (RE) on the back panel until the indicator above the button blinks.

To ensure the best compatibility with "X5" we recommend connecting it to a TV with an eARC interface. eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) is the latest audio return channel technology that supports high-bitrate audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS:X, MPEG-H and 360 Reality Audio, if the TV supports those codecs. This ensures the best possible audio quality from XIO.

Use the audio sync or lip sync feature on your TV. Additionally, ensure all devices have the latest firmware updates.

Ensure you are using an HDMI eARC/ARC connection and that both your TV and the content source support Dolby Atmos. Set your TV’s audio output to “Bitstream”, “Auto” or “Bypass” and select Dolby Atmos–enabled content.

You can use the volume buttons on the XIO’s top panel or remote control. If connected via HDMI ARC/eARC, you can use your TV’s remote control to control the volume. XIO also supports volume control via KEF Connect app.

Check that both XIO and your TV are powered on and correctly connected to your TV’s HDMI eARC/ARC port. Ensure your TV’s audio output is set to “External Speaker” or “Soundbar.” Also make sure CEC is enabled on your TV.

Try increasing the volume and ensure the input source is correct on XIO.

XIO HDMI (ARC/eARC) is designed to connect to a TV’s ARC/eARC port.

Laptops usually have HDMI OUT ports for sending video and audio signals to external displays (such as monitors or TVs), not for sending audio signals directly to a soundbar.

XIO supports projectors with ARC/eARC output port.

The optimal room size is up to 40m2.

KEF reserves the right, in line with continuing research and development, to amend or change specifications. E&O.

Works with

Apple AirPlay

Google Cast

REALITY AU DIO

Spotify

Spotify

X

Dolby Atmos

DEEZER

TIDAL

TIDAL connect

Bluetooth

Use of the Works with Apple badge means that an accessory has been designed to work specifically with the technology identified in the badge and has been certified by the developer to meet Apple performance standards.

The XIO is a premium speaker compatible with AirPlay. To use AirPlay with XIO, the latest version of iOS, iPadOS, or macOS is recommended. Apple and AirPlay are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. The trademark “iPhone” is used in Japan with a license from Aiphone K.K.

Google Cast is a trademark of Google LLC.

The Spotify Software is subject to third party licenses found here:

https://www.spotify.com/connect/third-party-licenses. Use your phone, tablet or computer as a remote control for Spotify. Go to spotify.com/connect to learn how.

Dolby, Dolby Atmos, and the double-D symbol are registered trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. Confidential unpublished works.

Copyright \circledcirc 2012–2024 Dolby Laboratories. All rights reserved.

For DTS patents, see http://patents.dts.com. Manufactured under license from DTS, Inc. or DTS Licensing Limited. DTS, DTS:X, and the DTS:X logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of DTS, Inc. in the United States and other countries. \circledcirc 2021 DTS, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The MPEG-H Audio System logo is a trademark of Fraunhofer and is registered in Germany, the Unites States and other countries.

360 Reality Audio requires subscription to compatible music streaming service – subscription fees may apply. Compatible services may not be available in certain countries/regions.

Please visit sony.net/360RA/ to check compatibility of the service.

The terms HDMI, HDMI High-Definition Multimedia Interface, HDMI Trade dress and the HDMI Logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of HDMI Licensing Administrator, Inc.

The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

For further information, please visit KEF.com

KEF reserves the right, in line with continuous research and development, to amend or change specifications without prior notice. E. & O.E.

Unit: mm (inch)

The speaker connection test in KEF Connect shows you how much network bandwidth is available to your KEF wireless speaker system. It considers every stage of your network by downloading a file from a random server to the speakers – from the bandwidth provided by your internet service provider (ISP) and server traffic, all the way to the speed of the connection between your router and speakers. The other value shown is the ‘ping.’ This is a signal we use to check if the server is reachable and tells us how long it takes.

Different music streaming services have different recommendations depending on the audio file sizes involved:

Note that these are minimum dedicated speeds recommended by the services themselves. KEF recommends 13 Mbps or above dedicated bandwidth to ensure stable streaming of large high resolution music files.

What this means is that your total network bandwidth must exceed the total bandwidth requirements of all devices on the network. If your active network devices need more bandwidth than what is available, then you may experience slower speeds, reduced performance and dropouts. This is not as much of a problem for web browsing or file downloads (except for being slower) but is especially problematic for music streaming.

The bandwidth provided by your ISP (Internet Service Provider) is advertised as ‘up to’ as this is the maximum bandwidth you can expect coming into your network. This can be affected by many things such as the quality of the provider’s cabling, ‘Fair Use’ clauses in the agreement and the amount of people accessing the same server.

But even if you get the maximum advertised bandwidth from your ISP, the home network may be creating a bottleneck. Major factors include interference, obstructions and distance between the router and device. Even time of day can have an effect – if more people are using the internet in your area, that can reduce bandwidth. However, there are some simple things to try that can really help improve your test score.

Internet connectivity tests are often optimised to give you a theoretical ‘best scenario’ speed and can be a good indicator for what your ISP is providing but will not tell you specifically what bandwidth your KEF speaker system will be able to take advantage of. The KEF Connect speaker connection test more closely represents what happens when using the speaker system normally:

There are a few ways in which bandwidth may be improved. Some are very simple and require no knowledge of computers and routers, whilst others are slightly more advanced, involving changing router settings. Always refer to the router manual, and if in doubt, do consult a professional.

First, it is important to determine how your speaker system is connected to your router – wired by Ethernet cable or connected wirelessly.

1. Ensure the router firmware is updated.

This is a basic step for any electronic device, as updated firmware may address known bugs.

2. Reboot the router.

Routers are basically computers and are affected by the same problems. Bugs and temporary errors can cause too much memory being used, or the router can be overheating (one reason to not place it in an enclosed space!). In addition, there may be IP address conflicts. Rebooting the router will often help with these issues. In fact, rebooting the router should be done on a regular basis, or whenever network performance is slower. Some routers even have the option to schedule reboots, so you can ‘set and forget.’

3. Check the cable for damage/excessive kinks.

Cable length for home networks is rarely an issue (Cat 6 Ethernet can carry 10 Gbps over 37 m/121 ft for example), but if they are bent too far or damaged, performance can be compromised.

4. Reconsider using ‘network homeplugs’ if you are doing so.

These devices use your mains wiring as an extension of an Ethernet cable. Whilst a convenient solution, they don’t always work as expected, as they are highly dependent on the quality and topology of your mains wiring.

Steps to take if using a wireless connection. These steps do not involve changing the settings of your router:

1. Ensure the router firmware is updated.

This is a basic step for any electronic device, as updated firmware may address known bugs.

2. Reboot the router.

Routers are basically computers and are affected by the same problems. Bugs and temporary errors can cause too much memory being used, or the router can be overheating (one reason to not place it in an enclosed space!). In addition, there may be IP address conflicts. Rebooting the router will help with all these issues and should be performed periodically (every 2 months or whenever the network seems considerably slower than normal).

3. Try connecting with an Ethernet cable to your router.

This may not always be possible, but if it is, going cabled will eliminate the issues described below.

4. Reduce distance between the router and device.

Wi-Fi signal is like sound – the further you move away from it, the ‘quieter’ it is – the less bandwidth is available.

5. Move transmitting devices away from the speakers.

Transmitting devices such as cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, baby monitors and even routers can cause interference if too close. You can troubleshoot by turning off nearby transmitters and seeing if this improves the network performance of the KEF speaker system. If it does, try increasing the distance between the devices.

6. Reduce obstructions between the router and device.

And just like with distance, obstructions can block signal, reducing bandwidth. Metal is the worst offender (reinforced concrete, back of mirrors), followed by concrete, plaster and brick. This is one of the big reasons to get the router out of the basement, or the cupboard under the stairs.

7. If your router is in a different room, try switching to the 2.4 GHz band.

Most modern routers are dual band. This means they transmit on both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz bands. The 5 GHz band has higher potential bandwidth, but far shorter range and is highly affected by obstructions. It may be possible that, whilst the 2.4 GHz band has a lower total bandwidth, in practice it is a better choice when the router and speakers are not in the same room.

8. If you have a lot of neighbours, or a lot of network devices, try the 5 GHz band.

If you have a lot of devices on the 2.4 GHz band, then there may be little available bandwidth left. If your KEF speaker system is close to the router and has little to no obstructions, try connecting it to the 5 GHz band for more bandwidth. If there are obstructions, try migrating network devices that are closer to the router to the 5 GHz band instead, freeing up bandwidth on the 2.4 GHz band. This is also useful if you have a lot of neighbours close by, as their networks may be interfering with yours.

These steps are a little bit more advanced and may involve changing router settings. Always follow your router manual, or consult a professional:

1. Change your band channels.

Both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are comprised of multiple channels. Other nearby networks on the same channels will compete for bandwidth, so use a ‘network analyser’ app to determine which channels are less congested and adjust in your router settings. This issue is more common with 2.4 GHz due to the longer range and lower bandwidth, increasing the chance and severity of interference. 2.4 GHz channels also overlap – good options are generally 1, 6 and 11. Channel selection is often set to ‘auto,’ but some routers are better at swapping channels than others, so it can be useful to set the channel manually.

A note on 5 GHz channels – not all channels are open for public use in various countries. Check with your local authority as to which channels are unrestricted (most routers will automatically turn these off if the router is correctly configured for the country).

2. Disable band steering.

Some routers offer a feature called ‘band steering.’ The idea is that the router will automatically place a device onto the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz depending on which is best for that device at the time. Again, some routers are better at this than others, with some preferring to stick with a weaker 5 GHz network rather than switching to a stringer 2.4 GHz network.

3. Disable combined SSID and operate separate 2.4 GHz and 5GHz channels.

Some devices allow you to set the same name/password for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels of your router. This can be very useful, but some devices do seem to want to default connecting to 2.4 GHz when 5 GHz would be better, and vice versa. Maintaining separate 2.4 GHz and 5GHz networks will help with optimising bandwidth by allowing you to manage what devices are placed on which network.

Mesh networks and Wi-Fi extenders can be very useful tools to improve network coverage in the home. However, they must be planned and installed correctly for the best performance. The information below is a summary of mesh network considerations - for more technical details or assistance in setting up a mesh network, please refer to the manufacturer or an expert network device retailer.

The most important thing to remember is that they are effectively repeaters – they receive data from the router, and then pass it on to the next node or device. This adds latency (delay), but they are also limited by available bandwidth – the connection between a router and a node is subject to the same issues outlined earlier – distance, obstructions and interference.

So, when designing a mesh network or planning where to place Wi-Fi extenders, budget for more nodes than you think you need, and place them closer together. This will help maximise the potential bandwidth.

It is also worth noting that different router manufacturers handle mesh technology differently, and there may be compatibility issues with networked devices. If this is the case when using a KEF wireless speaker system, please send a support request, including the speaker logs, through the KEF Connect app.

Power consumption of XIO in different operation modes:

*Both Non Wi-Fi mode & Non Wireless modes are with HDMI auto-wake-up feature.

XIO works with universal programmable remote control provided that the remote control manufacturers have implemented KEF IR command codes in their remote controls.

The following table lists the command codes required.