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KEF is one of a few traditional speaker companies that have tried to break into the headphone market in recent years. It’s a tough job, and to be honest, you could understand if the company focused more on its excellent, modern, all-in-one hi-fi systems like the five-star LSX II and LS60 Wireless and less on high-end wireless headphones like the KEF Mu7.
But it makes sense, since KEF already has the true wireless Mu3 earbuds and an over-ear pair would make the whole family complete. But they have to compete with brands like Bose, Sennheiser, and Sony, which all have useful features, great noise-cancelling, and sound quality that’s right out of the top drawer.
KEF Mu7 specifications
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Driver | 40mm full-range driver |
| Frequency Range | 20Hz-20kHz |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Battery Life | Up to 12 hours playback time |
| Charging Time | 1.5 hours for a full charge |
| Weight | 275g |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, USB-C charging port |
| Voice Assistant | Supports Google Assistant and Siri |
| Active Noise Cancelling | Yes, with three levels of noise cancellation |
KEF Mu7 review: Design
It can be hard for headphones to stand out, so KEF once again worked with designer Ross Lovegrove on the Mu7 to make it look better on the shelf. You can see his influence on past KEF products like the Muon floor-standing speakers, the Muo wireless speakers, and the Mu3 wireless earbuds. You can also see it right away in the Mu7.
And we think the result is a pair of over-ears with a unique look. The headphones look and feel like they are made of liquid metal. The shape of the earcups, which look like teardrops, is elegant and classy, and the smooth surfaces are nice to touch. The headphones fold flat, just like the Sony WH-1000XM5, so they might not be the most portable, but they are still easy enough to put in a backpack. You can buy this headphone from its official website
KEF Mu7 review: Features
The KEF Mu7 can stream at a 24-bit/48kHz standard, which is a real high-resolution standard. If you choose to hard-wire them to a source of music, you can play back music in even higher resolution. Unlike some competitors, the Mu7 can be used with wires without having to be turned on. However, if you want to use active noise cancellation at the same time, you will need to turn them on.
No matter how you get the music into your Mu7, a pair of 40mm full-range dynamic drivers will play it for you once it’s there. A frequency response of 20Hz–20kHz, which is what KEF says it can do, is both plenty and very doable.
KEF Mu7 review: Performance
In the end, you have to decide how any piece of audio equipment sounds. Someone (or a group of people) has decided on the “voice” that a pair of headphones, for example, will have, and then everyone keeps their fingers crossed that it will be liked. In the case of the KEF Mu7, it’s easy to imagine the wish list: after five minutes of listening to these headphones.
Words like “judicious,” “precise,” and “mature” start to come to mind. Given the right kind of content with the right size of resolution, there is a lot to like and even admire about the sound the Mu7 make. First of all, they have scale on their side. Even small, simple recordings sound widescreen and quite big.
KEF Mu7 review: Battery Life
Even with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) turned on and a wireless connection established, a single charge of the 1100mAh lithium-ion battery provides a battery life that is entirely enough at a solid 40 hours. The Mu7 can continue to play for another eight hours after just requiring a charge for a total of fifteen minutes through USB-C. In addition, in contrast to the data provided by quite a few of KEF’s competitors, all of KEF’s are entirely credible.
KEF Mu7 review: Price and Availability
The KEF Mu7 are high-quality wireless headphones, and their price of £350, $400, or AU$535 reflects that. This puts them right in the middle of some of the best noise-cancelling headphones we’ve tried, like the Sony WH-1000XM5 (£380, $399, AU$550) and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (£300, $350, AU$550).
Final Words
It looks like the KEF Mu7’s attitude will appeal to a wide range of listeners. In the end, they’re a full, detailed, and very interesting listen. But when they’re out of their comfort zone, they can sound a little off, and they’re not perfect at blocking out noise. When you consider that the Mu7 doesn’t have a lot of control options, it’s clear that you’d have to really like those “designer” earcups to put it near the top of your list.
KEF Mu7 review: THE GOOD ANF THE BAD
The Good
Solid build
Comfortable
The Bad
- ANC makes its presence felt
FAQS
What is the battery life of KEF Mu7?
The KEF Mu7 also has a battery that can be charged and can last for up to 40 hours. With a 15-minute fast charge through their USB-C port, you can play music for 8 hours.
What is the frequency response of KEF Mu7?
No matter how you get the music into your Mu7, a pair of 40mm full-range dynamic drivers will play it for you once it’s there. A frequency response of 20Hz–20kHz, which is what KEF says it can do, is both plenty and very doable.
Is KEF better than Sonos?
There’s no question that the LSX speakers are much more versatile. They have more connections, more designs, and more ways to stream. KEF is a bit more forgiving of people who want to try out more ways to listen to music than just streaming.