John Darko
Soon to come from Germany’s Kii Audio is a new active loudspeaker called Seven. Kii is calling the Seven a “wireless music system” because it’s a complete hi-fi system, nothing more to add: amplification, 24bit/192kHz-capable DACs and a network streamer have all been fitted inside the loudspeaker cabinets. Goodbye separates, hello Future-Fi!
Each Seven loudspeaker weighs 14kg because it holds twin 6.5″ bass drivers, a 5″ midrange driver and a custom 1″ wave-guided tweeter which are collectively juiced by 600 Watts of amplification. Quoting directly from the press materials, Kii rates the Seven as “-3dB: 40Hz”.
However, as per the larger Kii Three, the Seven’s internal DSP not only splits music’s frequency range between the drivers but ensures cardioid dispersion down to the lower midrange / upper bass. Cardioid dispersion limits the amount of sound fired toward the front and side walls and thus reduces the possibility of wall-reflection-induced room reverb. That same DSP also time aligns the output signal and permits additional tone control adjustments by the end user. The supplied photos show (I think) a touch control panel on the rear of each loudspeaker.
From the press release: “Instead of just splitting the spectrum into bands, as is done with traditional crossover filters, Kii Audio’s Active Wave Focusing filters force the specially positioned drive units in the Kii SEVEN to create a completely coherent wave front, that is only emitted towards the listener. By utilising Kii Audio’s unique Active Wave Focusing Technology, the Kii SEVEN ensures perfect time alignment over the full frequency spectrum.”
Inputs include XLR, TRS, AES/EBU, a KiiLink/KiiControl connector but also wifi, Bluetooth and Dante — the latter’s inclusion speaks to Kii’s intent to satisfy both home and studio listeners with the Seven. And their Wi-Fi support gives us access to Apple AirPlay 2 and Roon Ready network streaming. A Kii Home app will also be forthcoming.
Don’t fire up your credit card just yet. The Kii Seven won’t start shipping until ‘early 2024’ when they will go on sale for €7590, £6990 and US$7790 per pair. Your choice of white or dark grey. Are the stands included? The press release doesn’t say.
Further information: Kii Seven
