MacDirectory Magazine

Jason Seiler

MacDirectory magazine is the premiere creative lifestyle magazine for Apple enthusiasts featuring interviews, in-depth tech reviews, Apple news, insights, latest Apple patents, apps, market analysis, entertainment and more.

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center channel alone weighs over 24 pounds and is 20 inches wide, which is indicative of the quality of the build construction. KEF speakers are built to last, both their cabinets and their internal components, so you can expect to be using these speakers for at least 10 years.  And while it’s larger than most TV stands will easily accommodate, I’d argue that the sound quality is worth a little rearranging. With an amalgam of speakers to round out my 7.1 surround sound system, I instantly heard and felt the impact of the Q200C sitting below my TV.  Responsible for most dialog, it’s clarity was instantly recognizable even through cable TV, let alone Blu-rays, or my personal vice, video games (which usually take audio engineering seriously).  Conversations sounded like they were happening in the room, high-bit rate recorded dialog was more ‘punchy’ in a natural way, without sounding artificially heightened.  And when I called on the Q200C for low frequency sound, it was surprisingly powerful. While you don't need an entire set of KEF speakers to reap the benefits of something like the Q200C, you do need a power source capable of supplying the passive speaker with everything it needs.  The Q200C, for instance, can draw up to 130 watts, and while the impact of these highly engineered speakers is noticeable at all volumes, they really shine when you turn it up.  So make sure you are using a reasonably specced amplifier before hooking up your KEF Q-series. The entire Q series lineup from KEF, and in particular their Q200C, is designed to take advantage of KEF’s expertise in natural sound reproduction.  They are a logical step up for anyone who is starting to outgrow their Home Theater in A Box system, and the Q200C is a great starting point to continue your investment in, and appreciation for the finer points of music and audio. For more information, visit: http://us.kef.com/q200c MUO With the amount of time, money, and expertise that KEF has invested in its passive loudspeakers, it makes sense that they would take these learnings to the portable Bluetooth market.  Their Muo (named after its much larger and more expensive cousin, the Muon) does exactly that, and provides a portable audio solution for audiophiles interested in the truthful sound reproduction. The Muo shares not only its name, but its designer, with the $225,000 Muon.  Its hourglass figure was created by Ross Lovegrove, a world renowned industrial designer. The curved structure minimizes flat surfaces to interfere with the sound waves, and aesthetically differentiates the Muo from a plethora of boxy Bluetooth speakers. As with KEF’s passive loudspeakers, the Muo itself is surprisingly ‘weighty’ for a Bluetooth speaker. Again, this seems to reinforce the level of engineering on display, and it is a testament to the materials used for the construction of this long-lasting speaker. Its heft is especially reassuring given that it is designed to be laid flat or stood on end, which the speaker will recognize and optimize its audio output depending on its orientation. Two Muos can be paired for a true stereo setup, though a single speaker is really impressive enough that two seems rather superfluous.  The Muo comes with a braided micro USB cable, which is nice to see from a high end brand like KEF, along with other premium features such as NFC pairing to make Bluetooth even easier, and AptX compatibility. AptX is a specific audio codec that enhances the transmission of high quality audio files, so if your music source has AptX support as well, you should notice better sounding wireless audio. The Muo is rated for 12 hours of battery life, though it's not a speaker that I would necessarily want to take on a camping trip or to the beach.  This elegant speaker is best suited around the home where you can truly appreciate its passion for evenly balanced music reproduction.  Its design is one you’ll want to take care of, and this speaker looks good in any of the 6 available colors (though I found the silver to be a striking complement to its design). For more information, visit: http://us.kef.com/muo

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