Warehouse DealKEF XIO Slate Black

The KEF XIO is a Dolby Atmos soundbar built to give a television the sound of a full home cinema and a serious music system from a single slim enclosure. It is KEF's dedicated soundbar, and it brings the Music Integrity Engine, spatial audio decoding and full wireless streaming together in a bar that can sit on a cabinet or hang on the wall beneath the screen.

Acoustic Architecture

The XIO uses a bespoke driver array purpose-built for its slim, wide-format enclosure. Six 50 mm Uni-Q MX drivers, a miniaturised version of KEF's coincident Uni-Q array, work alongside two 50 mm full-range drivers to cover the five main channels and the two height channels. Low-frequency duties are handled by four P185 drivers, each measuring 50 mm by 180 mm, supported by KEF's patent-pending Velocity Control Technology (VECO), a motion-sensing feedback system that reduces distortion for cleaner, deeper bass. Twelve Class D amplifier channels, eight for high and mid frequencies and four for bass, deliver a total instantaneous power output of 820 W, enough for a maximum SPL of 102 dB at 1 metre.

Spatial Audio and Dialogue

The XIO supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Sony 360 Reality Audio and MPEG-H, giving it the full suite of object-based audio codecs used in modern streaming services and physical media. The Music Integrity Engine processes all audio through KEF's proprietary algorithms to maintain hyper-realistic sound with crystal-clear dialogue, and a dedicated Dialogue Mode in the KEF Connect app or on the remote further enhances vocal frequencies while reducing background noise. The XIO delivers up to 5.1.2 multichannel output.

Intelligent Placement Technology

Intelligent Placement Technology (IPT) is a built-in calibration that adapts the XIO's output to the objects around it, including nearby surfaces such as walls or furniture, to preserve the intended sound signature. The result is consistent performance whether the bar is placed on furniture or wall-mounted directly below a television.

Connectivity

The XIO connects to a television via a single HDMI 2.1 eARC cable, supporting audio resolution up to 192 kHz/24-bit. A TOSLINK optical input provides a fallback connection at up to 96 kHz/24-bit. Network audio at up to 384 kHz/24-bit is available via the RJ45 Ethernet port or the built-in Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax). A USB Type-C port is provided for service use. Subwoofer connectivity is covered by both a wired RCA output and a wireless subwoofer output compatible with the optional KEF KW2 RX receiver for KEF subwoofers.

Streaming

The XIO supports AirPlay, Google Cast and UPnP alongside the KEF Connect app, giving it comprehensive multi-room streaming capability. Bluetooth 5.3 is included for direct device playback. Native integrations include Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Amazon Music, Qobuz, Deezer, HIGHRESAUDIO and internet radio. Supported formats span FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, AAC, WMA, MP3, M4A, LPCM and Ogg Vorbis, as well as Dolby Atmos Music and Sony 360 Reality Audio from streaming sources.

Design

The XIO measures 1,210 mm wide, 70 mm high and 165 mm deep, and weighs 10.5 kg. The Slate Black finish pairs an aluminium top plate with a matching dark splash-proof acoustic fabric, giving a bold, contemporary look suited to modern living rooms. A remote control with AAA batteries, HDMI cable, power cable, wall mounting kit, wall mounting template and product guide are included in the box.