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KEF Is Running a Rare Deal on Its Sonos-Rivaling Soundbar

It promises to deliver a “transcendent cinematic sound experience.”

Modern living room with a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, green and white lounge chairs, a wireframe side table, and a potted tree.KEF
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By Tucker Bowe

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Last summer, KEF introduced its first Dolby Atmos wireless soundbar to compete with the likes of Sonos, Bose and Samsung (as well as countless others). It’s the KEF XIO.

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Like other flagship Dolby Atmos soundbars, KEF’s XIO promises to be a one-box audio solution that greatly improves your TV’s sound (especially for those who have trouble hearing dialogue).

Gray KEF soundbar with fabric-covered speakers and a circular speaker grille on a white background.
The KEF XIO is the company’s first-ever Dolby Atmos soundbar. It normally costs $2,500 on its own.
KEF

KEF’s first-ever Dolby Atmos soundbars

But because it’s KEF, it promised to sound even better and look more stylish while doing so. At the time, the British hi-fi maker claimed the XIO could deliver a “transcendent cinematic sound experience.”

But this elite sound also came at a cost, literally. The KEF XIO is priced at $2,500, making it one of the most expensive Dolby Atmos soundbars on the market.

Now, however, KEF is running a rare deal on the XIO, but there’s a catch.

Modern living room with a large flat-screen TV, blue sectional sofa, brown cushioned chair, and round black coffee tables.
KEF claims it can deliver a “transcendent cinematic sound experience.”
KEF
Two people watching a soccer match on a wall-mounted TV with a soundbar and subwoofer in a living room.
As shown in the photos, the KEF XIO can rest flat on a surface or be wall-mounted, and its orientation changes accordingly.
KEF

KEF’s XIO is unique among Dolby Atmos soundbars for several reasons. Most notably, it’s a beast.

On its own, the XIO is a 5.1.2-channel soundbar with 12 individually amplified drivers: three front-firing, three up-firing, two side-firing and four woofers.

In total, the soundbar is capable of delivering an incredible 820 watts of power.

Modern living room with a wall-mounted flat-screen TV above a long dark wood media console, an orange sofa, and a small wooden coffee table.
When not watching TV, the XIO supports high-resolution streaming over Wi-Fi (up to 24-bit/384kHz).
KEF
Living room with beige sectional sofa, round white and pink coffee table, wall-mounted wooden shelves, and flat-screen TV.
The soundbar supports immersive sound formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio
KEF

Aside from power and sound quality, the most interesting thing about KEF’s XIO is that its design (and sound) changes depending on whether it’s wall-mounted or resting on a media console.

When resting flat on a surface, only two of the three up-firing Uni-Q MX drivers are activated. When wall-mounted, the “top” of the soundbar is reoriented to face the listener and this third driver activates and becomes the soundbar’s center channel.

The soundbar is equipped with multiple sensors and technologies that enable it to automatically detect its orientation and adjust its sound accordingly.

Gray rectangular soundbar with fabric-covered ends and a circular speaker in the center.
KEF redesigned its famed Uni-Q drivers to fit into its first Dolby Atmos soundbar.
KEF
Black rectangular soundbar with fabric covering and a circular control panel in the center.
The KEF XIO is basically a Sonos Arc Ultra, but on steroids.
KEF

A home theater bundle, deal

Right now, KEF is running a promotion on the XIO soundbar … but only when purchased in a home theater bundle with one of its powered subwoofers (and the necessary receiver for the subwoofer to connect wirelessly to the subwoofer.)

You can save up to 20 percent off.

KEF makes a variety of differs subwoofers, which vary in size and power. There are bundled deals with the XIO soundbar on six different subwoofer options.

KEF is set to keep this home theater promotion through July 25th, so you’ve got a good chunk of the summer to decide whether to pull the trigger. (Although KEF is hoping you decide to do so before the World Cup starts on June 11th.)

SHOp the Bundles
About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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