Skip to main content

Transform your desktop with the KEF X300A powered PC loudspeakers

kef_x300A_1bxCheck out our review of the KEF X300A desktop speakers.

Fifty years is a long time in any industry, but it’s an eternity for an electronics manufacturer. It’s easy to understand why the folks at KEF have been in a party mood for the past 12 months. Its flagship Blade model (which runs a cool $30,000 per pair) utilizes its state-of-the-art Uni-Q drivers. That technology has trickled down to its R-series and can now be found on its LS50 ($1,500) 50th anniversary model, and brand new X300A powered loudspeakers, which, at $800, may be the biggest bargain of all.

Desktop audio has matured a lot in recent years, and it’s easy to spend thousands of dollars on a pair of monitors, amplification, and DAC. Laptops and Mac minis have replaced expensive single-disc players, and – combined with third-party playback software like JRiver Music Center or Pure Music – offer sound quality that mega-buck players used to offer for ten times the price.

Digital audio has taken a quantum leap, and it’s now very possible to build a truly outstanding system for your desktop for under $1,000. KEF, apparently, thinks they can do it for even less.

The heart of the X300A is its Uni-Q single-source driver, which is incredibly lightweight and rigid. The Uni-Q combines a 1-inch aluminum tweeter and 5.25-inch midrange woofer in one driver, offering amazing dispersion. The first thing you notice about the Uni-Q designs is the coherency of the sound – the resolution, clarity, soundstage, and dynamic capabilities are second to none. You may be listening to one driver, but it actually sounds like three or four working together to cover the entire frequency range. Being able to do this in a box that measures 11 inches by 7 inches by 9 inches (HWD), is no small feat.

The X300A powered loudspeakers utilize two class AB 50W/channel audiophile-grade amplifiers that use high performance toroidal transformers to minimize noise and electromagnetic interference. This means that because each driver has an amplifier delivering its own power, the tweeter won’t be negatively affected when the woofers are being driven hard, and won’t sound hard when the woofer is reaching its limit.

KEF has also stuck a rather impressive 24/96 DAC inside the enclosure. When connected to your laptop or desktop computer via USB cable, the DAC will playback HD resolution music files up to 24/96. The X300A also includes a 3.5mm analog input for either an iPod, another DAC via stereo-to-mini cable, or even a phono stage. Yes, you can play your turntable through these and control the volume via the speakers.

If wireless audio is important to you, KEF will send you a free dongle when you register the speakers after purchase (a $99 value). You can stream via AirPlay and it works very well.

The frequency response of the X300As is 58Hz – 28kHz, and, based on our experience with the LS50s, we’re going to give KEF the benefit of the doubt. Depending on the music and how hard you drive the speakers, the X300A placed on your desk (a few inches from the wall is a good idea) will deliver a lot of volume and bass.

The gunmetal finish is a bit industrial looking, but the sound quality is state-of-the-art. For $800, the quality of the entire package makes it the desktop loudspeaker to audition in 2013.

Ian White
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ian has been a full-time A/V journalist since 1999, covering the world of high-end audio, video, music, and film for Digital…
We’ve tried them all — these are the best Sonos speakers in 2024
Sonos Move 2 in white.

One of the best speaker brands is Sonos so it’s a smart move to kit your home out with some great Sonos speakers. The range is busy enough that it can be tricky to know where to start. To an extent, any Sonos speaker is sure to delight you with some of the best wireless speakers around coming from Sonos. There’s also the benefit of Sonos’s multi-room system so you can easily get all your speakers to work together across the house. However, certain speakers are better for certain scenarios so a little research is always wise.

Below, we’ve picked out all the best Bluetooth speakers from Sonos. That includes some more affordable options, speakers that can be taken out and about with you, and ones that give you sound that will fill the room with joy. Whatever you pick here, you’re going to love it. A great speaker really does make the ambience at home so much better and you’ll soon notice some details you wouldn’t hear through inferior speakers. Keen to learn more? Let’s get straight into the best Sonos speakers.
The best Sonos speakers in 2024

Read more
JBL sale: Bluetooth speakers, wireless earbuds, and more, from $30
JBL Authentics 300.

JBL is one of the most popular brands in the audio industry, so you shouldn't pass up any chance to enjoy savings when buying one of its devices. If you're on the hunt for Bluetooth speaker deals, wireless earbuds deals, or discounts for any other type of audio device, you should check out what's available in Best Buy's JBL sale. You can get something for as low as $30, but there are bargains for some of JBL's premium products as well. Take a look at our recommendations below or go through everything that's on sale -- either way, you need to hurry because there's no telling how long stocks will last.

What to buy in Best Buy's JBL sale
The JBL Flip 6 portable speaker. JBL / JBL

Read more
Samsung’s new Music Frame smart speaker is essentially $100 off
The front panel of the Samsung Music Frame snaps off so you can swap it out with other artwork.

For a wireless speaker that doubles as an art piece in your bedroom or living room, you should check out the Samsung Music Frame smart speaker. It's available from Best Buy for $400, and every purchase comes with a $100 gift card that you can use on a future Best Buy purchase. That essentially drops the price of the unique device to a more affordable $300, but you better act fast because we're not sure how long this offer will remain available. If you can buy the wireless speaker now, you should probably do so.

Why you should buy the Samsung Music Frame smart speaker
The Samsung Music Frame is a wireless speaker that doubles as an old-fashioned picture frame, so you'll be able to listen to your favorite music while gazing at your photograph or artwork of choice. You have the option of swapping the bezels and the picture whenever you want. Behind the picture are two each of woofers, tweeters, and midrange drivers, which use Samsung's SpaceFit calibration technology to tune themselves according to the acoustics of the room where the Samsung Music Frame is placed. With its compatibility for Dolby Atmos, you'll enjoy rich surround sound.

Read more