KEF Muo: an original in the land of portable speakers

Ergonomics

Under its clean airs and its rounded design, the KEF Muo is an enclosure which remains massive in spite of its relatively compact format. It is largely covered and protected by an aluminum part, completed by two plastic parts. The whole is harmonious, exudes solidity and there is no manufacturer's defect. During our trial period, the enclosure did not show any real sign of weakness. A fall of about one meter on one of its corners only damaged it very slightly, without compromising its proper functioning.

Because of its size, its weight and its design, the enclosure is not, however, designed for all-terrain outings: care should therefore be taken to keep it away from water points or sand, for example. In addition, no cover or case is provided to transport it more easily and protect it.

The KEF Muo has two small rubber pads which allow it to be placed and oriented slightly in a horizontal position, but also to reduce vibrations a little. It is also possible to place it vertically so that the buttons are always accessible. In both orientations, the enclosure holds fairly well in place (beware, however, of shocks in the vertical position).

This speaker offers a good user experience. The list of controls is far from exhaustive - a multifunction button for managing playback and navigation between tracks would have been welcome -, but we appreciate the presence of numerous audible indications and a few light indications on the d button. '' ignition (state of the enclosure, pairing and four battery levels). Pairing is done fairly quickly and can be accelerated with the integrated NFC chip. If you decide to acquire two, the manipulation to pair them together is simple once you know the procedure to follow: a passage to the manual or even via the mobile application will still save you time. Once the manipulation is done, it is possible to use two speakers in dual mono or stereo wirelessly, whether the source is wired or wireless. A small sound will sound when the speakers tilt to indicate that you have switched to one mode or another.

In terms of connectivity, the KEF Muo is simple: Bluetooth for wireless (aptX), a 3.5 mm mini-jack input and a micro-USB port for charging. Given the size of the beast, a USB port for charging would not have been too much, or even a microphone for the hands-free kit. However, the USB cable for charging provided is accompanied by an AC adapter and two different tips. For its part, the KEF Muo application does not provide much in terms of additional functionality. Apart from the basic audio player, there is above all a summary of the percentage of remaining battery.

The KEF Muo promises us 12 hours of autonomy, which is not a lot considering its size, its weight and compared to what the competition offers. Unfortunately, it is difficult to reach this threshold in reality. At a reasonable volume, we are approaching 9 to 10 hours of use. At extremely sustained volume, the duration of use drops to 6 h. To save the battery, you can still count on the automatic power-off function which activates after 10 minutes of no signal. Another small point to know, it is possible to use the speaker while it is recharging (approximately 3 hours of recharging on mains).

---

---

Audio

The KEF Muo is equipped with two miniature 50mm Uni-Q speakers and a radiator to flatter the bass. To maintain a certain sound quality, KEF immediately announces the color: the Muo only broadcasts in mono, even in a horizontal position. It is a particularly confusing choice that we have decided not to sanction too harshly, because it is clearly specified and assumed by the manufacturer. In addition, this speaker signs a tour de force by offering a very beautiful sound rendering.

The remark we made on KEF's LS50 Wireless also applies here: the Muo combines Hi-Fi coloring with the precision of the monitoring world. All things considered, this portable speaker is obviously not at the same level as its big sisters, but for its size, you really have to praise the performance. The first striking element is the way in which the speaker reproduces spatial depth, especially when you know that the rendering is monophonic. Each stratum of the mix is present, without artifice and it is possible to identify them quite easily. The most discreet room effects and instruments are not forgotten. Everything remains legible whether it is at a low or sustained listening level, even on thick and rich songs on a frequency level.

In terms of sound rendering precisely, the Muo is not the type to do in the escalation, but keeps its small character in the low / low-mid and treble. On the one hand, we have a bass present enough to provide a minimum of seat and sound heat while remaining punchy, even if we would have liked the speaker to hit lower. On the other, we feel a very slight accentuation of the shine and the presence, but the Muo behaves well so as not to awaken the sibilance or to be aggressive, even on very sensitive pieces on this point. In between, there is a very well balanced and defined medium. The different sources express themselves naturally and stand out well from each other. The voice also stands out very well and it is reproduced in a clear and perfectly intelligible way. In addition, the speaker radiates well and the directivity of the speakers is not too pronounced towards the front (about 45 ° on each side when you are directly in front).

It is by using two stereo speakers that the Muo expresses its full potential. The sound rendering is simply stunning for speakers of this size, as much by the detail and the precision of the reproduction of the sound scene as by the frequency balance. We regain a little more depth in the bass and the little brilliant trend is still relevant. The stereophonic depth and width are simply excellent, even in relatively narrow configurations. If this is not at all its first use, this duo can clearly compete with the best PC 2.0 kits on the market.

The Muo offers an excellent size / power ratio, while mastering. The distortion is contained at an extremely low level. 70% of its maximum power is more than enough to add sound to a room of good size (around 20 m²). You can always push it even further if you want, but this will accentuate the shiny and sharp side in the optimal listening axis.

Let us conclude with the latency of communication in Bluetooth. This is approximately 150ms, which allows you to follow a video without suffering too much from a lag between image and sound. If you have the possibility, do not hesitate to compensate him again to be completely at ease.

---

---

Conclusion

You might as well warn straight away: if you are already frustrated with the idea of enjoying only monophonic sound with a portable speaker of this type, think twice before letting yourself be seduced. If this is not an obstacle for you, you will benefit from the very good sound performance of the Muo, especially given its format. Even if some choices may seem strange, this model remains completely consistent in its approach and it shows a mastery rarely seen on a portable speaker, while remaining very easy to use. If for you nomad must rhyme with versatility above all, look rather on the side of the Zipp Mini. And for even more compactness, the Bose SoundLink Mini II is the perfect choice.

---

---