When describing subwoofers, words like “big” and “bold” are almost a requirement. And yet, somehow, the new $1,500 KEF K62 subwoofer inspires an entirely new set of words, like “compact,” “clean,” or even “cute.” One look at the photos and you’ll understand why: At just 10-inches per side and weighing 31 pounds, the KC62, which launches today, is freaking adorable.
Available in your choice of black or white, the KC62 looks like the robot child that WALL-E and EVA might have one day produced if robots, you know, actually had kids. But don’t let its size and smooth exterior lull you into thinking this subwoofer isn’t the real deal. Within its tiny frame lives 1,000 watts of low-end power.
What makes the KC62 unlike any other subwoofer on the planet can’t be seen by looking at it. Inside of its ultra-compact aluminum shell sit two of KEF’s new 6.5-inch Uni-Core force-canceling drivers. Ordinarily, to fit two such drivers into a speaker enclosure, you’d need a lot more room than a 10-inch cube can provide, but Uni-Core drivers are arranged in a horizontally-opposed layout and, critically, they share a single magnet system. To save even more space, the two voice coils are concentric — one actually fits within the diameter of its mate.
This, according to KEF, allows the cabinet size to be reduced by over a third while equaling or exceeding the driver excursion of a much larger subwoofer.
The KC62 is also home to two other new KEF technologies. Its P-Flex Surround anchors the driver diaphragm to the wall of the enclosure using a pleated design that KEF says was inspired by origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. This surround design resists the internal air pressure created by the drivers without adding excessive mass, something that the company claims allows the KC62 to deliver greater precision and detail.
The other advance is KEF’s Smart Distortion Control technology which automatically monitors the current in the voice coil, looking for and correcting any non-linear
distortions. KEF’s engineers say this system can reduce total harmonic distortion (THD) by up to 75%.
If the majority of the KC62 is all clean-lined cuteness, the subwoofer’s back panel should make it clear that this is no toy. Connection options abound, including LFE and stereo RCA plugs for both inputs and outputs. Even though the KC62 isn’t wireless per se, it’s compatible with KEF’s $200 KW1 wireless subwoofer adapter, which makes room placement effortless as long as you have access to power.
Speaking of room placement, among the adjustments you can make to the KC62 are location-based tweaks. The back panel has an EQ selector that lets you choose from five presets: Free space, next to the wall, in a corner, within a cabinet, or a dedicated apartment mode.
Whether you take advantage of the KC62’s tiny size and hide it away, or put it out in the open where everyone can admire its adorable shape, at $1,500, hopefully, it will be the last subwoofer you ever need to buy.
