- New KEF Muo Bluetooth speaker announced for $249 (about £180 / AU$375)
- Bluetooth 5.4 with Auracast and aptX Adaptive
- 40W amplification, 24-hour battery life
KEF has unveiled a new generation of its portable Bluetooth speaker, the Muo, with Bluetooth 5.4, aptX Adaptive and a 24-hour battery.
The Muo retains its striking styling, created by renowned industrial designer Ross Lovegrove – the same person who designed KEF's iconic Muon speakers – back in 2016. This version is claimed to make extensive use of recycled plastic to reduce its environmental footprint.
The heart of the Muo is its specially developed racetrack driver (meaning that it's more like an oval shape than a circle) that promises powerful low end without excessive distortion or power consumption.
The new Muo also incorporates KEF's P-Flex technology, formerly seen in its KC62 and KC92 subwoofers, which resists driver deformation caused by high internal air pressure. KEF says the result is "clean" bass delivery. And there's a new 19mm dome tweeter to improve the highs too.
Big sound from a small speaker
There are two Class D amps inside: a 10W for the high frequencies and a 30W for the lows. Frequency response is an impressive 43Hz to 20kHz.
The hardware is enhanced with KEF's Music Integrity Engine, a collection of proprietary algorithms designed to optimize sound quality and enhance detail, and there's the option of true stereo pairing or multiple speakers via Auracast. You can also connect a laptop via USB-C, and the Muo works with both Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair. The Muo contains a built-in microphone for voice calls.
The new Muo is IP67 rated for water and dust protection, with an operating temperature range of -20ºC to +45ºC. The battery delivers up to 24 hours of playback plus up to three hours listening from a 15-minute fast charge.
The Muo weighs 740g (1.6lbs) and there are seven color options with matching carrying straps: Silver Dusk, Amber Haze, Orange Moon, Blue Aura, Moss Green, Cocoa Brown and Midnight Black.
The triangular shape of the Muo and its speaker arrangement are very similar to the Sonos Roam 2nd Gen, but KEF's speaker has a recommended retail price of $249.99. That's roughly £185 / AU$378 before tax, and is a lot higher than the $179 of the Sonos Roam 2 – we'll see if the extra money and KEF's audio expertise have made it worth the extra price when we review it.
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