In the event you’ve determined you may reside with out the niceties in your subsequent pair of true wi-fi ANC earbuds, the one query it’s important to ask your self is: do I think about ‘easy’ and ‘understated’ to be optimistic or detrimental qualities?
Execs
- Balanced, shiny sound
- Snug match and pleasing end
- Good battery life
Cons
- In need of sonic drive and vigour
- No management app or EQ adjustment
- Neither noise-cancelling nor name high quality impress
Key Options
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ConnectivityBluetooth 5.0
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Water resistanceIPX5
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Battery life24-hour battery life
Introduction
In the event you’ve even a passing curiosity in hi-fi typically, and loudspeakers particularly, you’ll know the title KEF. The corporate’s seldom been on the cutting-edge of know-how, however when it has branched out – because it has with its LS50 and LSX wi-fi stereo audio system – the outcomes have typically been spectacular.
The Mu3 are the corporate’s first stab at wi-fi earbuds – and they also enter a market that’s about as crowded and aggressive because it will get. It’s going to take greater than a model title with heritage to make the Mu3 successful…
Availability
- UKRRP: £199
- USARRP: $249
- AustraliaRRP: AU$299
The KEF Mu3 true wi-fi energetic noise-cancelling earbuds are on sale, and so they’ll set UK prospects again £199. KEF’s US web site will promote you a pair for $249, however American prospects received’t want to buy round for all that lengthy earlier than they do a bit higher.
In Australia, in the meantime, you’re a value round AU$299 – which isn’t the same old stage of profiteering to which Australian prospects have develop into resigned.
Design
- Designed by Ross Lovegrove
- Good shiny plasticised end
- Compact earbuds, huge charging case
This isn’t the primary time KEF has turned to Ross Lovegrove to design its merchandise; the corporate’s flagship loudspeakers, the wildly costly Muon, are his work. However despite the fact that Muon are a few metres excessive, his title doesn’t characteristic as prominently on them because it does right here. The packaging and the charging case each bear his title. There’s even a bit card amongst the quick-start information and guarantee data, principally giving Mr L the big-up.
What you get with Ross Lovegrove design is an natural look, with blobby curves and delicate recesses strongly to the fore. The place the earbuds are involved, the result’s a bean-like look – and at a compact 25 x 18 x 26mm, they’re not even notably huge beans. Their form makes the earbuds simple to place and ensures they keep comfy for hours on finish.
Contemplating how compact the earbuds are, the charging case appears a bit on the hefty facet – even when that heft is mitigated a bit by its predictable curvaceousness. No less than there’s first rate energy saved right here: the charging case is sweet for round 15 hours, whereas the buds themselves maintain a really spectacular 9 hours.
So the KEF will go all day and all evening earlier than they must be hooked up to the mains by way of the case’s USB socket. Simply 5 minutes powering up is sufficient to maintain them working for an hour.
Options
- Bodily, somewhat than touch-controls
- Bluetooth 5.0
- 8.2mm dynamic drivers
Ordinarily, we’re not enamoured by bodily controls on wi-fi earbuds. Very often the sound relies upon, to a lesser or better extent, on the place of the buds within the wearer’s ear – and having to exert stress on a management button can have an effect on the best way the earbuds match. However right here, the only button on every earbud is judged fantastically. As such, it’s attainable to manage ‘play/pause’, ‘quantity up/down’, ‘skip forwards/backwards’, ‘reply/finish/reject name’ and ‘noise-cancelling on/off/ambient sound’ simply, and with out affecting the match.
That is doubly excellent news as a result of there’s no different person interface with the Mu3, besides from the music participant itself. No voice-assistance, and no management app – and consequently no facility to regulate EQs.
The impression of sturdy construct high quality is strengthened by the IPX5 ranking. So long as you’re moderately cautious, and keep away from – for example – scuba-diving, the Mu3 ought to fortunately survive the odd splash or two.
The KEF hook up with your music participant or smartphone by way of Bluetooth 5.0. That’s greater than ok to deal with hi-res digital audio information from any of the quite a few streaming providers providing the great things. They’re additionally blessed with simultaneous transmission, to maintain left/proper latency to an absolute minimal. That is simply as nicely, provided that any variety of rivals provide aptX Low Latency connectivity at this kind of cash.
As soon as the audio file is on board, it’s delivered by way of a pair of 8.2mm full-range dynamic drivers. And if there’s any space of true wi-fi earbud specification to which KEF can lay declare to experience, it’s right here…
Sound high quality
- Open, spacious sound
- Not probably the most thrilling pay attention round
- Noise-cancelling is a partial success
Sound high quality right here, as all over the place else, is kind of subjective and a matter of style. We’re assured that those that like a pleasant, calm audio expertise will discover a lot to admire within the Mu3, whereas those that favour a little bit of sonic shock and awe will really feel somewhat short-changed.
With a pleasant huge Tidal Masters file of Prince’s Woman Cab Driver taking part in, there’s no denying the load, heat and all-around generosity of the KEF presentation. Low frequencies are as burly as a night-club bouncer, whereas on the reverse finish of the frequency vary there’s an agreeable mixture of chunk and gentility – there’s by no means any suggestion that the Mu3 will enable the track to run away with itself. In between, the mid-range reveals sufficient tremendous element to pack that inimitable vocal with character.
The journey from the underside of the frequency vary to the highest is easy, integration is easy, and the general stability of the sound is, sure, easy. There’s an overriding suggestion of fine style to the KEF presentation that’s positive to thrill anybody who listens to music to be soothed somewhat than energised.
The Mu3 appear not possible to shift out of their consolation zone. Huge by Newham Generals ought, by rights, to impress a response – it’s a recording designed to interact under the waist, to intimidate, to goad. However the KEF boring the sharp edges, dial down the assault and, within the course of, rob the recording of loads of its raison d’etre. These buds merely aren’t ready to slum it, and can decide you in your musical tastes in the event that they’re not as shiny and, nicely, easy as these earbuds would favor. It follows that dynamism and drive are in comparatively quick provide, too.
‘Delicate’ and ‘inoffensive’ might simply as simply apply to the energetic noise-cancellation right here, too. With the ANC switched off, the neat approach the Mu3 match affords a level of passive noise-isolation. Nonetheless, change it on and, whereas exterior sounds are unarguably lowered, there’s nothing just like the negation provided by equal Bose, Sony or Sennheiser options.
‘Inoffensive’ isn’t a phrase you could possibly carefully apply to the decision high quality on provide right here, although. KEF could also be a titan of loudspeaker design, however it has no pedigree the place telecommunications are involved – and it reveals. It’s simpler and fewer aggravating to ship a textual content message than it’s making an attempt to conduct a dialog utilizing the Mu3.
Conclusion
The KEF Mu3 aren’t good, however they’re good for some listeners. Listeners who worth a heat, open and unthreatening presentation, who like a little bit of individualistic design, who don’t thoughts their noise-cancelling headphones not fairly cancelling all of the noise, and who by no means intend to make use of them to make telephone calls. The remainder of us will weigh up these not-inconsiderable ‘execs’ towards the not-quite-as-numerous ‘cons’, after which think about a few of the many options that this kind of cash will purchase.
Do you have to purchase it?
You want a weighty, heat sound
The KEF Mu3 are the sonic equal of an enormous cuddle.
You need your earbuds to have the ability to tough it (in audio phrases)
It’s not that the KEF are flustered by dynamic and/or attacking music; it’s simply that they’d somewhat not interact.
Verdict
In the event you’ve determined you may reside with out the niceties in your subsequent pair of true wi-fi ANC earbuds, the one query it’s important to ask your self is: do I think about ‘easy’ and ‘understated’ to be optimistic or detrimental qualities?
Trusted Rating
Greatest affords
FAQs
Does the KEF Mu3 have a management app?
No, these earbuds don’t assist a management app. All options will be adjusted onboard
Does the KEF Mu3 have contact controls?
No, the Mu3 opts for bodily buttons over contact controls
