KEF XIO Soundbar Launch - Premium 5.1.2 Home Theater Sound
The new KEF XIO Soundbar delivers true 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos & DTS:X immersion, KEF-grade hi-fi musicality, and a minimalist design that finally lets you replace the tangle of boxes and wires with one sleek system. Ready to experience cinematic sound at home? Check out the KEF XIO Soundbar now available at ListenUp.
TL;DR - The new KEF XIO delivers true 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos & DTS:X immersion, KEF-grade hi-fi musicality, and a minimalist design that finally lets you replace the tangle of boxes and wires with one sleek system. Ready to experience cinematic sound at home? Shop KEF XIO Soundbar →
The New KEF XIO 5.1.2 Channel Soundbar – Cinematic Sound Meets Cutting-Edge Simplicity
Your 75-inch OLED looks incredible… but the flat-panel speakers still make whispers mushy and explosions underwhelming. KEF XIO fixes that in one move. Engineered by the loudspeaker legends behind the LS50 Meta and KEF Reference Series, XIO wraps you in spatial audio that rivals a dedicated component theater - without the complexity.
Read to find out why the KEF XIO is the most complete premium soundbar of 2025.
Meet the KEF XIO – Overview & Key Specs at a Glance
| Channels | True 5.1.2 (L/C/R, surround, dual up-firing Atmos) |
| Drivers | 6 × 50mm Uni-Q MX, 2 × full-range, 4 × P185 LF drivers with VECO |
| Amplification | 820 W total – 12 discrete Class-D amps |
| Frequency Response | 34 Hz – 20 kHz (±3 dB) |
| Max SPL | 102 dB @ 1 m |
| Inputs | HDMI 2.1 eARC, Optical Toslink, Ethernet RJ45 |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 / 5 / 6 GHz), AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Streaming Services | Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, Amazon Music, Deezer & more |
| Footprint | 47.6 × 6.5 × 2.8 in (W × D × H) |
| MSRP | $2,499.99 |
What Stands Out
- Dolby Atmos & DTS:X: dual-codec support means every disc or stream plays natively.
- P185 LF Drivers + VECO (Velocity Control Technology): active distortion-killing tech at the heart of the P185 LF driver, this soundbar digs deep and brings the bass down to 34Hz.
- Intelligent Placement Technology (IPT): built-in calibration auto-adapts to wall- or shelf-mounting for consistent response.
Author's First Impressions
This Is a Premium Soundbar
And boy does it sound premium. The sound stage is outstanding, the imaging is accurate and immersive, the details are all there. The up-mixing technology is a blast. This sound bar is an experience, and it's worth it. Expect a full review on the KEF XIO soon.
Why Audiophiles & Movie-Lovers Alike Will Love XIO
Crystal-Clear Dialogue
Dedicated center-channel Uni-Q driver plus DSP dialogue mode lift speech out of the mix so you never ride the volume during quiet conversations.
Deep, Detailed Bass
Back-to-back 18 × 5cm P185 racetrack woofers cancel cabinet vibration and can produce lows down to 34Hz.
Minimalist Design
A bead-blasted aluminium top plate and splash-resistant fabric look as good as they sound, available in Silver Grey or Slate Black.
5.1.2 Immersion
This is the real deal. True 5.1.2-channel surround sound in a premium soundbar.
Immersive Technology Breakdown
Dolby Atmos, Sony 360 Reality Audio, & DTS:X – Overhead, Around, Everywhere
12 drivers total, 2 up-firing drivers place sound objects in 3-D space, while KEF’s Music Integrity Engine for Cinema keeps timing razor-sharp.
Uni-Q MX Drivers
These drivers ensure a balanced soundstage, delivering crisp, accurate audio across the entire room. The decoupler, engineered as a precise crossover, separates the LF cone and HF tweeter dome, a design that allows the diaphragm to move freely at low frequencies while isolating the dome for high-frequency precision.
Velocity Control (VECO)
A feedback sensor measures woofer motion in real time and applies distortion-correction, slashing distortion for bass you feel, not flub.
The KEF XIO Soundbar is the best premium soundbar that ships as a complete 5.1.2 system and supports all major surround formats.
Setup Tips & Tricks
- Update the KEF XIO Soundbar: Connect the KEF XIO Soundbar to your internet and open up the KEF Connect App (using the same Wi-Fi / Internet that the KEF XIO is connected to). Follow the instructions in the app to update.
- Placement: Center the bar at ear height on your shelf or on the wall with the included Wall Mount Kit.
- eARC: Use the supplied Ultra-High-Speed HDMI cable and enable bit-stream passthrough on your TV.
- Fine-Tune: Engage Dialogue preset for news, Night mode for late viewing, or dive into the EQ in the KEF Connect App for manual tweaks.
- Looking for More Bass: Pair any KEF subwoofer wirelessly with the KW2 RX receiver.
Order the KEF XIO Soundbar Now
KEF XIO pairs reference-grade acoustics with the plug-and-play ease of a soundbar, giving you towering cinema sound, hi-fi musicality and living-room-friendly looks.
Ready to hear what you’ve been missing?
Buy the KEF XIO Soundbar now at ListenUp
Want to hear the KEF XIO Soundbar live? The KEF XIO Soundbar can be heard at any ListenUp retail location. Our Denver and Boulder stores are showing the XIO Soundbar in Slate Black. Our Colorado Springs and Albuquerque stores are showing the XIO Soundbar in Silver Grey.
Check out our follow up to this post - ListenUp visited the KEF Music Lounge for an exclusive first listen to KEF’s XIO Soundbar - Check out our video and XIO Soundbar listening Impressions.
ListenUp is an authorized online KEF dealer - shop with confidence.
