Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The KEF XIO sound bar gives you room-filling Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound, with satisfying built-in bass, in a slim, stylish bar that works on a TV stand or hangs on the wall. It uses miniature versions of KEF's Uni-Q coaxial drivers to bounce sound off your walls and ceilings.
Shop for KEF XIO soundbar:
Slate Black: crutchfield.com/i-rYTVc34X/p_991XIOSBBK/KEF-XIO-Soundbar-Slate-Black.html
Silver Grey: crutchfield.com/i-rYTVc34X/p_991XIOSBGY/KEF-XIO-Soundbar-Silver-Grey.html
This isn't the only sound bar that does this, but when we were reviewing it for our video, we noticed that the sound was enveloping in a different way than some other soundbars we've tried. That's likely due to KEF using the same driver design principles as on their wired and wireless speakers, like the Q Meta series, LS50, and others. Their stereo speakers are known for having a wider "sweet spot" for listening, and the XIO uses 8 miniature versions. The result? Sound everywhere.
And yet, soundtrack details cut through with the proper precision. There is the perception of more sound surrounding you, but not at the expense of realism. This becomes very apparent when you listen to music encoded as spatial audio, such as Dolby Atmos music on TIDAL.
Along with KEF's 8 Uni-Q MX drivers, the XIO employs 4 P185 racetrack-shaped drivers to deliver deep bass. The bass is deep and somewhat surprising, given that the XIO is a slim bar without an accompanying subwoofer. It doesn't replace the impact of a separate sub, but it's satisfying enough for most of us. If you want even more bass, there's a traditional sub output for a powered subwoofer, and the XIO can even connect to multiple KEF subs using their KW2 RX receiver.
The XIO performs brilliantly as a 2.1-channel music system, too. You can connect high-res services like TIDAL and Qobuz using their Connect feature for their high-quality streaming files, and the XIO does an outstanding job, with a wide stereo sweet spot just like their speaker pairs.
All told, this is KEF's first sound bar, and they have captured what makes their speakers sound so great and stuffed it into a slim sound bar. KEF fans will appreciate the pinpoint imaging with a wide listening sweet spot.
VIDEO CHAPTERS:
0:00 KEF is known for room-filling sound
0:23 Place it on a stand or on the wall
0:48 Uses driver tech from their speakers and subs
1:42 Physical connections
1:56 Add KEF subs wirelessly
2:10 Decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
2:31 Great for music streaming, too
3:03 KEF Connect app
3:22 Out-of-box impressions
3:45 Listening impressions: The Shining
4:38 Listening impressions: music
5:33 Overall impressions
6:11 Contact info
Crutchfield, America's trusted electronics specialist since 1974, has award-winning customer service, free lifetime tech support, and free shipping on most orders. Shop for all your audio and video needs at Crutchfield.com and sign up for the catalog and email newsletter at crutchfield.com
See more home and car electronics videos on our channel: youtube.com/user/crutchfieldtv
12 reasons to buy from Crutchfield: crutchfield.com/about/valueprops.aspx
The KEF XIO sound bar gives you room-filling Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround sound, with satisfying built-in bass, in a slim, stylish bar that works on a TV stand or hangs on the wall. It uses miniature versions of KEF's Uni-Q coaxial drivers to bounce sound off your walls and ceilings.
Shop for KEF XIO soundbar:
Slate Black: crutchfield.com/i-rYTVc34X/p_991XIOSBBK/KEF-XIO-Soundbar-Slate-Black.html
Silver Grey: crutchfield.com/i-rYTVc34X/p_991XIOSBGY/KEF-XIO-Soundbar-Silver-Grey.html
This isn't the only sound bar that does this, but when we were reviewing it for our video, we noticed that the sound was enveloping in a different way than some other soundbars we've tried. That's likely due to KEF using the same driver design principles as on their wired and wireless speakers, like the Q Meta series, LS50, and others. Their stereo speakers are known for having a wider "sweet spot" for listening, and the XIO uses 8 miniature versions. The result? Sound everywhere.
And yet, soundtrack details cut through with the proper precision. There is the perception of more sound surrounding you, but not at the expense of realism. This becomes very apparent when you listen to music encoded as spatial audio, such as Dolby Atmos music on TIDAL.
Along with KEF's 8 Uni-Q MX drivers, the XIO employs 4 P185 racetrack-shaped drivers to deliver deep bass. The bass is deep and somewhat surprising, given that the XIO is a slim bar without an accompanying subwoofer. It doesn't replace the impact of a separate sub, but it's satisfying enough for most of us. If you want even more bass, there's a traditional sub output for a powered subwoofer, and the XIO can even connect to multiple KEF subs using their KW2 RX receiver.
The XIO performs brilliantly as a 2.1-channel music system, too. You can connect high-res services like TIDAL and Qobuz using their Connect feature for their high-quality streaming files, and the XIO does an outstanding job, with a wide stereo sweet spot just like their speaker pairs.
All told, this is KEF's first sound bar, and they have captured what makes their speakers sound so great and stuffed it into a slim sound bar. KEF fans will appreciate the pinpoint imaging with a wide listening sweet spot.
VIDEO CHAPTERS:
0:00 KEF is known for room-filling sound
0:23 Place it on a stand or on the wall
0:48 Uses driver tech from their speakers and subs
1:42 Physical connections
1:56 Add KEF subs wirelessly
2:10 Decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
2:31 Great for music streaming, too
3:03 KEF Connect app
3:22 Out-of-box impressions
3:45 Listening impressions: The Shining
4:38 Listening impressions: music
5:33 Overall impressions
6:11 Contact info
Crutchfield, America's trusted electronics specialist since 1974, has award-winning customer service, free lifetime tech support, and free shipping on most orders. Shop for all your audio and video needs at Crutchfield.com and sign up for the catalog and email newsletter at crutchfield.com
See more home and car electronics videos on our channel: youtube.com/user/crutchfieldtv
12 reasons to buy from Crutchfield: crutchfield.com/about/valueprops.aspx
