KEF’s attempt at premium wireless headphones falls short
Headphones | £349 | whf.cm/KEFMu7
KEF is one of a handful of traditional loudspeaker manufacturers who have tried to make inroads in the headphones market in recent years.
It’s a tough assignment, and, to be honest, you would forgive the company for concentrating more on its excellent, modern, all-in-one hi-fi solutions such as the five-star LSX II and LS60 Wireless and giving premium wireless headphones like the KEF Mu7 a swerve.
It makes perfect sense though, as KEF already has the Mu3 true wireless earbuds so an over-ear pair completes the family. However, there is serious competition from the likes of Bose, Sennheiser and Sony, all of which boast useful tech, impressive noise-cancelling and sound quality straight out of the top drawer.
So here they are, the KEF Mu7. Their job? To make some noise, cancel some out, and make an impact in an ultra-competitive market. Do they manage it, or do they struggle to be heard?
The KEF Mu7 are premium wireless headphones and they are priced to match at £350. This puts them right in the midst of some of the best noise-cancelling headphones we have tested, including the Sony WH-1000XM5 (£349) and the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless (£299).
It can be tough to make your headphones stand out from the crowd, so to give the Mu7 greater shelf appeal, KEF has once again collaborated with designer Ross Lovegrove. His fingerprints can be seen on past KEF products such as its Muon floorstanding speakers, Muo wireless speakers and Mu3 wireless earbuds – and you can immediately see his influence on the Mu7.
And the result is a distinctive-looking pair of over-ears. The headphones have a liquid-metal vibe and feel about them. The teardrop shape of the earcups looks refined and sophisticated, while the smooth surfaces are nice to the touch.
The headphones boast a fold-flat design, similar to that of the Sony WH-1000XM5; so perhaps not the most portable but still relatively simple enough to slide into a rucksack. They come with a carry case which isn’t exactly small, but that is the price you pay for this kind of design.
The KEF Mu7 are solidly built, though. The aluminium casework feels robust and premium, which is just what you want from headphones at this price point. The arms that attach the headband to the earcups don’t feel flimsy and they also allow for a good amount of movement, so you can get the 40mm full-range drivers angled properly and they fit over the whole of your ear without any gaps where sound can leak out and n
