KEF Muo 2025 Portable Bluetooth Speaker: Hi-Fi Sound on the Go

The KEF Muo 2025 is a second-generation portable Bluetooth speaker that brings audiophile-grade sound and design into a compact, go-anywhere package. Nearly a decade after the original Muo’s debut, KEF has reimagined this speaker with modern tech and a focus on high-fidelity performance. Designed by renowned industrial designer Ross Lovegrove (of KEF Muon fame), the new Muo blends premium acoustics with a sleek, durable build, delivering powerful bass, crisp detail, and room-filling sound that defy its size. In this guide, we’ll explore the Muo 2025’s key specs, design, features, and what sets it apart, so you can decide if this stylish hi-fi portable fits your listening needs.

Key Specifications & Features (At a Glance)

• Drivers & Amplification: 1 “racetrack” oval mid-bass driver + 1 × 19 mm dome tweeter, powered by 40 W total Class-D amplification (30 W for lows, 10 W for highs). This bi-amp design promises robust bass and clear treble from a small form factor.
• Frequency Response & Output: 43 Hz – 20 kHz frequency range and up to ~90 dB SPL max, delivering full-range sound with minimal distortion for its size. KEF’s Music Integrity Engine DSP optimizes dynamics and clarity across volumes.
• Battery Life: Up to 24 hours playback on a charge. Fast-charge gives ~3 hours of play in 15 minutes, with ~2 hours for a full recharge. Perfect for all-day outings or extended listening sessions.
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4 wireless (with LE Audio) supporting Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codec for 24-bit/48 kHz audio. Backwards-compatible with standard SBC/AAC codecs for broad device support. Features True Wireless Stereo pairing and Bluetooth Auracast for multi-speaker broadcasting. USB-C port doubles as a wired 24-bit/48 kHz DAC connection for laptops/desktops.
• Design & Build: Ultra-portable (≈216 mm × 82 mm × 59 mm) and lightweight (~740 g) aluminum chassis. Iconic curved grille design by Lovegrove, inspired by KEF’s sculpture-like Muon speakers. Available in seven vibrant finishes (Silver Dusk, Amber Haze, Orange Moon, Blue Aura, Moss Green, Cocoa Brown, Midnight Black), each with a matching carry strap.
• Durability: IP67 water & dust resistance (fully dustproof and submersible up to 1 m). Operates from -20 °C to +45 °C without issues. Rugged yet refined for outdoor adventures, travel, or daily use.
• Extras: Built-in microphone with noise/echo cancellation for crystal-clear speakerphone calls. KEF Connect app support for firmware updates and EQ presets to tune sound to your taste.

Shop the KEF Muo at ListenUp

Design and Build Quality

The KEF Muo 2025 makes a strong style statement while emphasizing practicality. It retains the sculpted, triangular silhouette of its predecessor – a shape that not only looks striking but also houses the drivers optimally. The grille’s flowing pattern echoes KEF’s legendary Muon floorstanders, reflecting Ross Lovegrove’s signature organic design touch. The speaker’s body is crafted from premium anodized aluminum with strategic use of recycled plastics for certain components, combining rigidity with eco-conscious design. The result is a unit that feels solid and luxurious in hand, yet is light enough (1.6 lbs) to toss in a bag without a second thought.

Available in seven bold colorways – from earthy Moss Green and Cocoa Brown to vibrant Orange Moon and classic Midnight Black – the Muo lets listeners match their speaker to their personal style. Each finish comes with a tone-on-tone fabric carrying strap, making it easy to hang the Muo in a shower, on a bike, or from a tree branch at a picnic for on-the-go tunes. The design is versatile: you can stand it vertically or lay it horizontally, and its internal sensors will auto-adjust the EQ based on orientation to maintain balanced sound. This attention to real-life use means the Muo looks and sounds great however you position it.

Despite its refined looks, the Muo 2025 is built for the real world. The IP67 rating means it’s fully dustproof and can survive spills, rain, or even a drop in the pool. KEF also engineered it to handle extreme temperatures from winter freezes to summer heat without degradation. In short, the Muo’s build quality instills confidence – it’s a premium-feeling speaker that can handle daily commutes, outdoor parties, or tossing into luggage. Lovegrove’s influence is evident not just in aesthetics but in how form meets function here: the curved surfaces and robust materials contribute to both acoustics and durability.

Connectivity and Compatibility

Staying connected with the KEF Muo is effortless thanks to its modern wireless and wired options. At its core, the Muo features Bluetooth 5.4, one of the latest versions of Bluetooth that brings enhancements like Bluetooth LE Audio support and improved energy efficiency. This allows the Muo to utilize Qualcomm aptX Adaptive – a high-quality codec that can deliver 24-bit, 48 kHz audio wirelessly with low latency. In practical terms, that means if you have a compatible source (like a smartphone or DAP that supports aptX Adaptive), you’ll get near-CD-quality streaming with minimal lag. The codec can even adjust on the fly to maintain a stable connection in crowded RF environments, so dropouts are rare. For devices like iPhones that don’t support aptX, the Muo also handles AAC, and it of course works with standard SBC – ensuring any Bluetooth source can pair up and play nicely.

Paring

Pairing is made especially user-friendly by one-tap Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair support. Android phones and Windows PCs will recognize and connect to the Muo almost instantly, sparing you digging through Bluetooth settings. Once paired, the connection remains robust within the typical ~10 m range, allowing you to wander with your device. The Muo can remember multiple devices, making it easy to switch between, say, your phone and laptop.

Wired Hi-Res Audio

For those times you want wired audio (or need to avoid wireless codec compression), the Muo has a handy trick: its USB-C port doubles as an audio input DAC. Simply plug the Muo into a computer via USB, and it becomes a 24-bit/48 kHz external speaker for your PC/Mac. This is great for desktop use – for example, streaming lossless audio from your computer or enhancing Zoom calls with the Muo’s far better sound and microphone. No 3.5 mm aux jack is present, but the USB-C digital input covers most use cases with superior fidelity.

True Wireless Stereo (TWS) and Auracast

Multi-speaker setups are also on the menu. With True Wireless Stereo (TWS) mode, you can pair two Muo speakers into a dedicated left/right stereo pair for genuine two-channel separation. This dramatically expands the soundstage and is perfect for small home theater setups or immersive music listening. Additionally, the Muo embraces the new Bluetooth Auracast broadcasting technology: with a compatible phone or transmitter, you can link multiple Muo units (beyond two) to play perfectly synced audio throughout a space. Auracast even allows grouping with other Auracast-enabled speakers, making the Muo an option for wireless multi-room or party-mode audio – a forward-looking feature that few competitors have as of 2025.

KEF Connect

On the app side, KEF provides the KEF Connect app for iOS and Android. While not strictly required, the app lets you adjust settings, select EQ presets, check battery status, and update firmware easily. It’s a simple, intuitive interface to fine-tune the speaker (for example, KEF might offer preset EQ modes for indoor vs. outdoor sound). The app also ensures your Muo stays updated with the latest DSP improvements that KEF may release.

Speakerphone

In terms of compatibility, any Bluetooth-capable audio source can work with the Muo – smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, etc. It supports the standard Bluetooth profiles for audio (A2DP, AVRCP) and headset functionality (HFP for calls). The built-in microphone means you can use the Muo as a high-quality speakerphone. Thanks to advanced echo and ambient noise reduction, call quality is clear, and your voice comes through without the muffled “speakerphone” effect. Whether joining a conference call or chatting with friends hands-free, the Muo handles it well. (Voice assistant integration isn’t built-in, but you can always trigger Siri/Google Assistant on your phone and have responses play through the Muo.)

One thing to note: the Muo is purely a Bluetooth/USB speaker – it doesn’t have Wi-Fi streaming, AirPlay, or Chromecast capabilities on its own. KEF focused on perfecting the Bluetooth experience and sound quality rather than adding smart-speaker functions. For many hi-fi enthusiasts, this is a worthy trade-off; however, if you require multi-room Wi-Fi audio or voice assistants, you’d need to add an external solution. Overall, the Muo’s connectivity suite is comprehensive for wireless audio and forward-looking with Auracast, ensuring it slots seamlessly into both casual and high-performance listening scenarios.

Sound Performance

Despite its small size, the KEF Muo 2025 is engineered to deliver seriously impressive sound – both subjectively to the ears and in terms of technical capability. KEF poured decades of acoustic know-how into this portable, aiming for a true hi-fi experience scaled down. The result, by all early accounts, is a speaker that sounds “bigger” and more refined than one might expect.

At the heart of the Muo’s sound is its unique driver configuration. Rather than the typical single full-range driver or dual passive radiators found in many portables, the Muo uses a two-way design: a high-excursion oval “racetrack” mid-bass driver paired with a dedicated 19 mm dome tweeter. The racetrack driver (approximately 2.3″ by 4.6″ in size) handles the lows and mids, and its elongated shape moves more air than a comparably sized round driver, yielding deeper bass response. KEF specifically designed this driver to produce deep, dynamic, and controlled bass while minimizing distortion and power draw. In practice, the Muo can reach down to about 43 Hz on the low end – an impressive feat for a portable speaker – meaning you get real sense of bass kick and fullness on music genres from electronic to rock. Listeners describe the bass as punchy yet tight, avoiding the boomy or muddy quality that plagues many small speakers.

Equally important, the dedicated dome tweeter takes care of the high frequencies. By giving the treble its own driver, the Muo can reproduce delicate details like vocals, strings, and cymbals with greater clarity and dispersion. Highs come through as bright and detailed but not harsh, maintaining a natural tone even at higher volumes. The midrange (voices, guitars, etc.) benefits from the tweeter handling the top end, since the mid-bass driver isn’t stretched to reproduce treble. This contributes to an open, balanced sound where instruments and voices remain distinct.

The overall tuning reflects KEF’s hi-fi heritage: neutral and transparent, with an emphasis on accuracy over exaggerated bass or gimmicky “loudness.” That said, the Muo can get plenty loud for its size – roughly 90 dB SPL maximum, enough to fill a medium-sized room or provide background music outdoors. Crucially, it maintains composure at higher volume; KEF’s design (both mechanical and electronic) minimizes distortion, so you don’t hear the driver “straining” until you push to extremes. The company’s Music Integrity Engine (MIE) DSP plays a big role here: this suite of algorithms (inherited from KEF’s flagship speakers) continuously adapts the sound to retain detail and balance at all listening levels. For example, at low volumes, MIE applies a dynamic bass boost to keep the sound full, and at high volumes it acts as a limiter to prevent clipping or driver stress. The MIE is also responsible for the clever automatic EQ that adjusts output when the speaker is upright vs. horizontal, ensuring consistent tonal balance in either orientation.

Imaging and soundstage are notable as well. With one Muo, you get a nicely expansive mono sound that can project well into a room (thanks to the wide dispersion of the tweeter). But the real magic comes when using two Muos in stereo: the left-right separation creates a genuine soundstage, allowing for stereo imaging that can place instruments in space. This is something most single Bluetooth speakers simply cannot do. Audiophile listeners will appreciate that two Muos can deliver a true stereo experience for near-field listening at a desk or even a small living room – with clear channel separation, centered vocals, and a sense of depth in the music. Even with one unit, however, listeners note the Muo produces a cohesive and rich sound that belies its physical dimensions, with excellent clarity in vocals and a taut bass foundation that gives music energy.

In terms of technical measurements, KEF cites a frequency response of 43 Hz–20 kHz for the Muo, which covers essentially the full audible spectrum minus the very deepest sub-bass and highest harmonics. Importantly, the bass isn’t just about extension – the P-Flex surround technology (borrowed from KEF’s high-end subwoofers) uses a pleated surround on the racetrack driver to resist the internal air pressure at high outputs. This innovation keeps the bass clean and impactful by preventing the cone from warbling under stress (a common issue in small sealed speakers). So even when a heavy bass track drops, the Muo delivers tight thump without buzzing or bottoming out. The combination of the P-Flex surround and the rigid aluminum enclosure means distortion stays low across the range, and transient response (how quickly it can start/stop sound) is excellent for a portable.

Dynamics – the ability to go from quiet to loud and convey punch – are also commendable. The Muo can handle dynamic swings in music (like the snap of a snare drum or a sudden bass drop) with surprising authority for its size, thanks to the ample amplifier power and the mechanical design that maximizes driver excursion while keeping control. While it won’t replace a full-size hi-fi system for large-scale dynamics, in its category the Muo stands out as more refined and powerful-sounding than typical lifestyle speakers. It’s equally at home playing detailed acoustic jazz at low volume or pumping out upbeat tracks for a small gathering.

Overall, the KEF Muo 2025’s sound profile is one of clarity, balance, and impact. It’s tuned to satisfy discerning listeners who value accuracy, yet it remains engaging and fun to listen to. Whether you’re streaming lossless music from Tidal or just playing a Spotify playlist at a barbecue, the Muo brings a level of sonic sophistication rarely found in ultra-portable speakers. KEF’s trickle-down technology pays off in a speaker that earns its audiophile credentials. In short: big hi-fi sound in a small, stylish package.

Shop the KEF Muo at ListenUp

Unique Technologies and Features

• Racetrack Driver & P-Flex Surround: The long-oval mid-bass driver isn’t just an odd shape – it’s key to the Muo’s bass performance. By having a larger surface area (compared to a circular driver of the same width), it moves more air for deeper bass. KEF’s P-Flex Surround (adapted from their high-end subwoofers) gives the driver a pleated edge that stiffens against internal pressure. This means when bass hits, the cone travels cleanly without the “ballooning” effect that can smear sound. Together, these enable remarkably clean, punchy bass from a compact speaker – a clear differentiator versus standard portables that rely on smaller drivers or passive radiators.
• Dedicated Tweeter: Unlike the original 2015 Muo which used a dual-cone driver, the Muo 2025 employs a separate 19 mm aluminum dome tweeter for the high frequencies. This dedicated tweeter extends the treble response and improves clarity. High hats, flutes, and vocal breaths come through with detail that one-box designs often miss. The tweeter’s inclusion is a nod to true two-way hi-fi speaker design, uncommon in this product class.
• Music Integrity Engine (MIE) DSP: KEF’s proprietary digital signal processing suite actively monitors and adjusts the Muo’s output to maintain tonal balance and minimize distortion. Borrowed from KEF’s top-tier wireless speakers, MIE uses algorithms for Dynamic Range Control and bass optimization so that the Muo sounds full at low volumes and clean at high volumes. It also handles the auto-EQ when you stand the Muo up or lay it down, so you always get the best sound without manual tweaks. This level of DSP sophistication is a big upgrade over the first-gen Muo and one of the reasons the new model can deliver audiophile-like sound in varying conditions.
• Bluetooth 5.4 with LE Audio (Auracast): The Muo 2025 is one of the early adopters of Bluetooth LE Audio in a consumer speaker. Auracast is a broadcast audio feature of Bluetooth 5.4 that lets one source stream to multiple sinks. For users, this means you can daisy-chain an unlimited number of Muo speakers (or other Auracast devices) in perfect sync, far beyond the typical two-speaker limit. For instance, at a party you could have three or four Muos around the area all playing the same music simultaneously – a trick not easily done with older Bluetooth tech. This positions the Muo as not only a standalone speaker but part of a scalable audio system. (Auracast requires the source device to support it as well.)
• High-Resolution Audio Support: With aptX Adaptive, the Muo can handle audio up to 24-bit/48 kHz over Bluetooth. While true lossless over Bluetooth isn’t possible yet, aptX Adaptive comes close, dynamically adjusting to give the best possible bit rate and resolution your connection allows. For those with hi-res music files, this means the Muo won’t be the bottleneck in quality. And if an even more pristine signal is needed, the USB-C wired mode delivers an unchanged 24/48 stream directly to the speaker’s DAC.
• Robust Battery & Fast Charge: The 24-hour battery life is roughly double what the original Muo offered and generally above-average in today’s market. This means less frequent charging and confidence for day trips. The inclusion of quick-charge (3 hours playback on a 15-min top-up) is another practical touch – even if you forget to charge before heading out, a short pit stop gives you plenty of playing time.
• Build & Durability Enhancements: Compared to its predecessor, the new Muo is tougher. It gained an IP67 weatherproof rating and a more ruggedized design for outdoor use. KEF also managed this without making the speaker bulky – it’s still sleek and actually lighter than some rivals with similar specs. The use of recycled materials is a unique selling point too, appealing to environmentally conscious buyers without compromising quality.
• Stereo Pairing and Versatility: The ability to create a stereo pair with two Muos is a standout feature for serious listeners. Some competitors allow stereo mode, but KEF’s implementation with dedicated left/right channels and acoustic tuning for near-field means two Muos can legitimately replace a small stereo system for a desk or TV. The Muo is equally at home in a hi-fi desktop setup (via USB to a computer) as it is in a backpack on a hike – few products can straddle audiophile usage and casual portability in this way.

Real-World Usage Examples and Scenarios

The KEF Muo 2025 is a versatile companion for many situations. Here are a few examples of how its features shine in everyday use:

• Outdoor Gatherings: Backyard BBQs and Park Picnics. With its loud, clear output and IP67 durability, the Muo is ideal for outdoor get-togethers. Hang it from a tree or umbrella with the strap, and enjoy full-range music that cuts through ambient noise. The long battery life easily lasts an all-day picnic, and if more sound is needed, you can link multiple units via Auracast to cover a larger area in sync. Plus, no need to baby it if the weather turns – a bit of rain or dust won’t stop the music.
• Desktop & Work-From-Home Setup: High-fidelity sound for your workstation. Place the Muo by your computer monitor, connect via USB-C, and you’ve got a mini hi-fi system for your office. Its small footprint doesn’t clutter your desk, but it delivers rich, non-fatiguing audio for background music during work or clear reproduction of colleagues’ voices on conference calls. The auto orientation EQ ensures balanced sound whether it’s upright next to a laptop or laid on its side on a shelf. Incoming call? The built-in microphone means you can use the Muo as a speakerphone – your clients will hear you loud and clear without echoes.
• Travel & Hotel Use: Portable luxury audio on the go. Weighing under 2 lbs, the Muo slips into a carry-on or backpack easily. In a hotel room, it can fill the space with your favorite relaxing tracks far better than tinny phone speakers. Its Bluetooth flexibility lets friends take turns DJing on a group trip, and with aptX Adaptive, audio stays high quality. The robust build means you don’t worry about it in your luggage, and that quick 15-minute charge can give you a boost of tunes while you get ready for your next excursion.

Shop the KEF Muo at ListenUp

Shop the KEF Muo Portable Bluetooth Speaker at ListenUp

The KEF Muo 2025 stands out as a premium portable Bluetooth speaker that successfully bridges the gap between audiophile sound quality and everyday convenience. It delivers a level of sonic performance – clear highs, articulate mids, and genuinely punchy bass – that is rarely heard from a device of this size. At the same time, it’s wrapped in a beautiful yet rugged design by Ross Lovegrove, offering lifestyle appeal in seven colors to suit any taste. With 24-hour battery life, modern Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity, and thoughtful features like USB-C audio and stereo pairing, the Muo is as comfortable in a hi-fi setup as it is at a pool party. KEF’s legacy in high-end audio shines through here, making the Muo 2025 an enticing choice for those who refuse to compromise sound quality even on the go.

If you’re at the “learn and compare” stage looking for a portable speaker that doesn’t sacrifice refinement, the KEF Muo 2025 should be high on your list. It redefines what a Bluetooth speaker can be by injecting true hi-fi sensibilities into a travel-friendly form factor. Audiophiles and casual listeners alike will appreciate the difference in clarity and build excellence that the Muo brings against more common alternatives.

Ready to hear the Muo 2025 in action? Shop the KEF Muo at ListenUp. You can check detailed specs, read user reviews, or even drop by one of our ListenUp showrooms for a hands-on demo.