Latest news with #Kef
Telegraph
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Kef XIO soundbar review: A great British TV speaker
Score: 9/10 We like: Immersive movie sound The most musical sounding soundbar Well-organised app We don't like: No display to indicate modes or volume levels Expensive What is the Kef XIO? While many specialist loudspeaker manufacturers have dabbled in the soundbar market over the years, British audio maker Kef has kept its distance. That changes as of now, with the debut of the new Kef XIO soundbar. This is a premium-priced 5.1.2-channel sound system with upwards-firing speakers that aims to raise the stakes when it comes to high-end, one-box soundbars. Kef says that it offers a gateway to 'transcendent, high-fidelity spatial audio' and has been designed to offer 'sound quality and performance that rival Kef's renowned Hi-Fi systems', albeit for a more general audience. The XIO comes without a subwoofer, but Kef says that the bass response should be plenty enough for most users. A dedicated wireless surround speaker system, designed to be paired with the XIO to create a more expansive 7.1.2 setup, is planned for launch later in 2025, with details and pricing to follow. JUMP TO: How we test soundbars I always test soundbars at home for a minimum of two weeks. For video, I mainly use content from live TV, streaming services including Netflix, Disney, and Amazon Prime, as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS content from my resident Sony UBP-X800M2 4K UHD Blu-ray player. Music listening is mostly from Spotify Connect, with more content accessed from my Plex server. I have a mixture of LG OLED screens at home, as well as a 70-inch Philips 4K LED model. For big-screen viewing, I'm also currently using two 4K projectors: the Valerion VisionMaster Plus2 and the XGIMI Horizon S Max. As well as assessing soundbars for outright sound quality, with a varied diet of live TV, movies and music, I also put soundbars through their paces to see how they stack up for relative ease of use, design, features and connectivity. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our tech experts continuously conduct in-depth, independent, real-world tests, scoring devices against pre-set testing metrics and industry benchmarks, so we can deliver definitive and comprehensive buying advice. Telegraph Recommended reviews are never shared with product manufacturers before publication, we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Design, setup and usability Score: 9/10 This elegant-looking soundbar is available in grey or black. Placed in a living room, it's best partnered with 65-inch TVs or larger, as it looks a little absurd with smaller screens. The XIO can be turned through 90 degrees for wall-mounting. You have to rotate it so that the cables enter and exit from the bottom, which results in a messy arrangement. Built-in sensors automatically detect the orientation, adjusting the audio to accommodate. On the top left of the XIO, there is a basic set of illuminated manual touch-sensitive controls, augmented by a simple backlit remote control. The Kef Connect app is available if you want to do anything more involved than just switching and volume changing. This acts as a control hub for music streaming services, radio and podcasts, and allows you to customise your control options. There isn't a physical display on the soundbar itself, so unless you have the smartphone app open, there's no way of knowing which mode or volume level is selected. Sound quality Score: 10/10 There are six EQ presets (settings to adjust the audio balance) in the app, but that's your lot when it comes to fine-tuning options. I stuck with the default mode for general listening, movie when watching Dolby Atmos films, and music for two-channel audio. Having listened to most of the standalone soundbars currently on the market, I was floored by the XIO's sound quality. There are three things that it does spectacularly well. The first is that it creates a remarkably palpable, full-bodied soundstage that's distinctly tangible. By that, I mean there's easily perceivable depth, as well as width and height. Cheaper soundbars rarely manage to excel at all three of those aspects. I can't recall hearing a soundbar so far that recreates human speech as accurately. Turn up the volume in a large room and you can hear just the faintest hint of raspiness creeping in. However, at normal levels, speech sounds natural and convincing Tight, extended and well-defined, the XIO's low-frequency performance completely avoids the one-note bass trait that renders so many soundbars unlistenable. Rarely, adding an external sub doesn't improve a soundbar's performance, but here it's not a 'must have'. Lastly, you won't be surprised to hear that the XIO does a brilliant job with music. Aside from a slight softness in the upper bass, it's tuneful and engaging in a way that few soundbars can manage. Connectivity Score: 9/10 The W2 wireless platform used by the XIO works so sweetly, delivering a fuss-free way of enjoying all the major cloud-based music streaming services, including Spotify, Qobuz and Amazon Music, with AirPlay 2 provided for Apple Music fans. At the rear of the unit, you'll find a physical power on/off switch plus a pairing control for your smartphone (using Bluetooth 5.3), a digital optical input, and a solitary eARC-enabled HDMI 2.1 socket. Which, I have to say, is a disappointment. Given the lofty price point, I would have expected a second passthrough HDMI to be provided, allowing the XIO to be used as a central hub for all sources, as opposed to a TV. If you crave even more bass than already on offer (and there's a lot), there's also an analogue RCA subwoofer output provided. You also have the somewhat pricey, previously mentioned, option of purchasing the XIO with a Kef KW2 wireless sender/KC62 subwoofer combo. Technical specifications While there is a smaller selection of contenders in the XIO's premium soundbar category than, say, at below £1,000, there's still plenty of competition. Granted, it's not a standalone soundbar, but I daresay the Samsung HW-Q990F, which is a great sounding system comprising a soundbar, subwoofer and satellites, would also be high on the shortlist for anybody considering buying an XIO. Should you buy the Kef XIO? There's no getting away from it, the Kef XIO is an expensive proposition, especially for a standalone soundbar. Having said that, it's also one of the select few that's genuinely as skilled at reproducing stereo music, as it is at conveying multi-channel film soundtracks. If a soundbar that excels at both of those tasks is your number one priority, then consider your search over: the XIO will deliver what you're after. Yes, if: You want a standalone, high-end soundbar with class-leading performance Listening to music is as important to you as watching TV You're going to partner it with a 65-inch TV or larger No, if: Kef XIO soundbar FAQs Can a £2,000 soundbar possibly be classed as good value? The XIO certainly isn't cheap. However, having now spent a couple of weeks with it, I'd have to say it genuinely sets a high standard for both music and movie sound. Few soundbars handle both tasks with as much sonic panache. What if I decide I want to go beyond 5.1.2-channel performance? Kef will be launching wireless surround sound speakers to accompany the XIO later in 2025, so building a 7.1.2-channel system around it (by adding two additional back speakers) will be possible. How futureproofed is the Kef XIO soundbar? According to Kef's Dr Jack Oclee-Brown, the XIO soundbar has enough memory and processing firepower to accommodate any foreseeable upcoming surround sound formats. It's been designed from the outset to deal with demanding MPEG-H 3D Audio-based ecosystems, Sony's 360 Reality Audio being the current, most high-profile example.
Zawya
11-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tunisia: Over 1.1mln quintals of grains collected
Kef – The quantity of grains collected so far in the Kef governorate has exceeded 1.1 million quintals. Among the harvested amounts are 700,000 quintals of barley, 300,000 quintals of durum wheat, and over 100,000 quintals divided between triticale and soft wheat, Representative of the Regional Union of Agriculture Abdelkarim Hidri told TAP. President of the Regional Union of Agriculture, Mounir Laabidi, called on local farmers to speed up the transportation of grains to collection centers before July 12 in order to benefit from the subsidy granted by the Ministry of Agriculture. © Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Digital Trends
13-05-2025
- Business
- Digital Trends
Nothing and Kef are making premium audio products together
Technology brand Nothing has announced a partnership with audio experts Kef, and said it's already hard at work on co-developed products together. Nothing is best known for its smartphones these days, but its first ever product was the Nothing Ear 1 earbuds, and it has continued to build and diversify the line ever since. However, Nothing has greater ambitions in audio and it's with Kef it intends to make plans for an expansion into new audio categories a reality. Kef has been building audio products for more than 60 years. Andrew Freshwater, Nothing's head of smart products said: Recommended Videos 'By combining Kef's decades of expertise with our design-led approach to technology, we're laying the groundwork for a new standard in everyday listening. Our products launching later this year mark the beginning of an exciting new chapter of our collaboration and the future of Nothing Audio.' If that wasn't interesting enough, Kef's Grace Lo, head of global marketing, added: 'This partnership allows us to bring our acoustic heritage into a fresh context, working with a brand that shares our dedication to innovation, quality, and design. Together, we're setting out to redefine what premium audio can look and feel like for the next generation.' There's no hard information about the products Nothing and Kef are designing together, aside from the press release stating 'several acoustically co-developed products' are already in progress, with further details expected to be shared in the coming months. Nothing's last audio product releases were the Nothing Ear (a) in April 2024, along with a series of new earbuds in its CMF by Nothing range in April 2025. It's also reasonable to think Nothing and Kef may work together on future smartphone releases, tuning the speakers and the audio for higher quality sound. Asus and Dirac have proved great sound can come from a smartphone with the ROG Phone 9 Pro, but few others have exploited mobile audio in the same way, leaving an opportunity for Nothing and Kef beyond the new audio products it has planned.
Euronews
10-03-2025
- Health
- Euronews
Switzerland told it must do more to comply with landmark climate ruling by Council of Europe
A Dutch charity faces huge challenges in the occupied territories, as it fundraises to care for dogs, cats and donkeys. ADVERTISEMENT The first emergency clinic for injured animals is due to open in the Palestinian city of Jenin later this month. Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank city have left hundreds of homes destroyed, leaving countless animals without food, shelter or medical care. Netherlands-based charity Animal Heroes is facing many literal roadblocks and obstructions to launching a clinic in the conflict zone. But since 7 October 2023, the small team has proven its determination to alleviate animal suffering in Gaza and the West Bank, and support local people looking after animals. These 'heroes' include 36-year-old Maryam Hassan Barq, nicknamed 'the cat lady of Gaza' for her steadfast support of 65 cats. And 25-year-old A'aed Mahmoud Abu Nejem, a veterinary doctor running the charity's pop-up clinic in Gaza, who was injured in an airstrike hours before the ceasefire took effect 19 January. Despite his injuries, he resumed his work last week. We spoke to Animal Heroes founder Esther Kef, who returned from a visit to the West Bank in February, to hear about the challenges of providing animal aid in the Palestinian territories. Violence against animals is increasing in the West Bank The fate of people and animals in the West Bank is inextricably linked. 'The situation for animals is horrible because since 7 October, many people are without jobs because they live off tourism and construction,' explains Kef. Financial desperation is stoking tension in communities, she says, which triggers increased violence against animals. 'What we're seeing is like 10, 20 animals being completely kicked into pieces by people just for no reason, just to express violence,' she says. Animal Heroes supports Bethlehem Shelter, the only registered animal charity in the West Bank, founded by another passionate animal lover, Diana Babish. But over the course of three visits since November 2023, Kef has seen conditions deteriorate. Esther Kef, founder of Animal Heroes, says thousands of animals are in a dire situation in the West Bank. Animal Heroes Designed for 100 animals, the basic shelter is now holding around 200 dogs. Outdoor fences had to be shut after Babish realised that people were coming at night to hurt and poison them. 'People have seen a lot of violence,' Kef speculates. 'And when the tension increases, if violence is all you know, it's not too hard to think that then also the violence increases.' The number of animals being hit on roads has also tripled, according to vets funded by Animal Heroes. 'On a positive note, [the vet] says that for the first time [...] younger people now are starting to bring in the animals left on the street that have been hit,' Kef says. Her charity has also partnered with Bethlehem University and the Ministry of Education to start an awareness programme for children to teach them about animal welfare. They spoke at two schools during their recent visit, working up from the importance of bees to the mistreatment of dogs. How will the emergency clinic in Jenin help animals? There are an estimated 2,000 stray dogs in Jenin, but no single organisation dedicated to their care. ADVERTISEMENT A revered animal protector in the community, Babish gets calls every day from people in Jenin saying they have found an injured cat or dog. She tends to send a taxi to take the animal to a facility in Nablus, typically an hour's drive away. But with increased roadblocks in the West Bank due to Israel's so-called military expansion, the journey can now take half a day. To save more lives where they are being jeopardised, the animal protectors have acquired - for free - space in an old house four kilometres from the centre of Jenin. Two young vets have volunteered to run the clinic, under the supervision of acclaimed British vet Jenny McKay. It cost €5,000 for the equipment to set up the practice. With their ambitions to treat around 150 animals a month from across the West Bank, medical care is expected to add €3,500 a month to the charity's bills. ADVERTISEMENT Animal Heroes is appealing for donations to help cover the supply of antibiotics and other first aid, and secure more advanced equipment including an X-ray machine. What happens once the animals have been treated? It's a troubling question in a conflict zone. Previously, Babish was skilled at sending her dogs across the world, says Kef. 'Diana is the type of person you don't say no to.' But with fewer and costlier flights from Tel Aviv, and no flight volunteers to accompany the animals out, adoptions ground to a halt. The Bethlehem Shelter is prioritising puppies and vulnerable dogs that need to recover after treatments. Babish continues to use her network to get animals fostered in Israel, via Israeli animal aid organisations. ADVERTISEMENT 'The problem is,' Kef adds, 'what happens if the IDF turns Jenin into a second Gaza, where no one goes in and nobody gets to go out? If that's the case, then obviously the roads are completely blocked, and the animals will need to be just left freely back on the street again.' Animal Heroes is looking into renting a shelter, in preparation for this worst case scenario. Animal heroes in Gaza continue life-saving work A'aed, Animal Heroes' lead vet in Gaza, was hit by an airstrike in a crowded marketplace hours before the ceasefire, suffering injuries to both legs, his eye and his hand. Animal Heroes When we speak on 28 February, Kef is eagerly anticipating the arrival of a truckload of aid into Gaza, as part of the Animals in Gaza Alliance with the UK's Safe Haven for Donkeys and Finland's Animal Aid without Borders. But on 2 March, Israel again blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into the heavily-bombed territory, meaning that trucks containing medicine and food are still stuck at the Egyptian border. ADVERTISEMENT 'The impact is profound, because there is hardly any medicine in Gaza for animals, and yet so many animals are in desperate need of them,' Kef writes. 'Every day this shipment is delayed, the suffering of donkeys and horses is prolonged.' As well as operating a pop-up clinic, Animal Heroes funds people taking care of animals. Among the most remarkable of these is Maryam Hassan Barq, who refused to abandon 65 rescue cats when the IDF order came to evacuate her home in northern Gaza. 'I consider them like my children,' Maryam said during an interview with Animal Heroes in November, at a time when she was suffering from starvation and dehydration. 'I am fully aware that I might die at any moment for staying in the north, but from the beginning of the war, I took the decision that we either live together or we die together.' 'There is no other place for them and I cannot transfer them anywhere else in these dangerous conditions due to their number, and there's no safe place to go to anyway,' she explained. 'Our life feels like a nightmare, to say the least, but we live on. I know it sounds crazy.' ADVERTISEMENT A dozen cats died before the ceasefire emerged in January. Afterwards, Maryam was able to buy vegetables for herself for the first time in months, and chicken for the cats - which need protein. With the crossing closed again, she is again concerned for their lives. How can you support Animal Heroes? 'People like Diana, like Maryam, they're very humble people,' says Kef. 'They just care about helping animals and they even risk their own lives to do so. So that's what inspires me to do this every day.' Esther was inspired to found Animal Heroes in 2023 after meeting similarly dedicated people in need of animal aid assistance in Ukraine. The lean organisation has since grown from three to 25 volunteers. Animal Heroes is fundraising to support its medical response team in Gaza here. Its new fundraiser, to help injured animals in the West Bank - including through the new emergency clinic - has recently launched here.
Euronews
09-03-2025
- Health
- Euronews
From ‘the cat lady of Gaza' to West Bank vets: What frontline animal aid looks like in Palestine
A Dutch charity faces huge challenges in the occupied territories, as it fundraises to care for dogs, cats and donkeys. ADVERTISEMENT The first emergency clinic for injured animals is due to open in the Palestinian city of Jenin later this month. Israeli attacks on the occupied West Bank city have left hundreds of homes destroyed, leaving countless animals without food, shelter or medical care. Netherlands-based charity Animal Heroes is facing many literal roadblocks and obstructions to launching a clinic in the conflict zone. But since 7 October 2023, the small team has proven its determination to alleviate animal suffering in Gaza and the West Bank, and support local people looking after animals. These 'heroes' include 36-year-old Maryam Hassan Barq, nicknamed 'the cat lady of Gaza' for her steadfast support of 65 cats. And 25-year-old A'aed Mahmoud Abu Nejem, a veterinary doctor running the charity's pop-up clinic in Gaza, who was injured in an airstrike hours before the ceasefire took effect 19 January. Despite his injuries, he resumed his work last week. We spoke to Animal Heroes founder Esther Kef, who returned from a visit to the West Bank in February, to hear about the challenges of providing animal aid in the Palestinian territories. Violence against animals is increasing in the West Bank The fate of people and animals in the West Bank is inextricably linked. 'The situation for animals is horrible because since 7 October, many people are without jobs because they live off tourism and construction,' explains Kef. Financial desperation is stoking tension in communities, she says, which triggers increased violence against animals. 'What we're seeing is like 10, 20 animals being completely kicked into pieces by people just for no reason, just to express violence,' she says. Animal Heroes supports Bethlehem Shelter, the only registered animal charity in the West Bank, founded by another passionate animal lover, Diana Babish. But over the course of three visits since November 2023, Kef has seen conditions deteriorate. Esther Kef, founder of Animal Heroes, says thousands of animals are in a dire situation in the West Bank. Animal Heroes Designed for 100 animals, the basic shelter is now holding around 200 dogs. Outdoor fences had to be shut after Babish realised that people were coming at night to hurt and poison them. 'People know only violence,' Kef speculates. 'And when the tension increases, if violence is all you know, it's not too hard to think that then also the violence increases.' The number of animals being hit on roads has also tripled, according to vets funded by Animal Heroes. 'On a positive note, [the vet] says that for the first time [...] younger people now are starting to bring in the animals left on the street that have been hit,' Kef says. Her charity has also partnered with Bethlehem University and the Ministry of Education to start an awareness programme for children to teach them about animal welfare. They spoke at two schools during their recent visit, working up from the importance of bees to the mistreatment of dogs. How will the emergency clinic in Jenin help animals? There are an estimated 2,000 stray dogs in Jenin, but no single organisation dedicated to their care. ADVERTISEMENT A revered animal protector in the community, Babish gets calls every day from people in Jenin saying they have found an injured cat or dog. She tends to send a taxi to take the animal to a facility in Nablus, typically an hour's drive away. But with increased roadblocks in the West Bank due to Israel's so-called military expansion, the journey can now take half a day. To save more lives where they are being jeopardised, the animal protectors have acquired - for free - space in an old house four kilometres from the centre of Jenin. Two young vets have volunteered to run the clinic, under the supervision of acclaimed British vet Jenny McKay. It cost €5,000 for the equipment to set up the practice. With their ambitions to treat around 150 animals a month from across the West Bank, medical care is expected to add €3,500 a month to the charity's bills. ADVERTISEMENT Animal Heroes is appealing for donations to help cover the supply of antibiotics and other first aid, and secure more advanced equipment including an X-ray machine. What happens once the animals have been treated? It's a troubling question in a conflict zone. Previously, Babish was skilled at sending her dogs across the world, says Kef. 'Diana is the type of person you don't say no to.' But with fewer and costlier flights from Tel Aviv, and no flight volunteers to accompany the animals out, adoptions ground to a halt. The Bethlehem Shelter is prioritising puppies and vulnerable dogs that need to recover after treatments. Babish continues to use her network to get animals fostered in Israel, via Israeli animal aid organisations. ADVERTISEMENT 'The problem is,' Kef adds, 'what happens if the IDF turns Jenin into a second Gaza, where no one goes in and nobody gets to go out? If that's the case, then obviously the roads are completely blocked, and the animals will need to be just left freely back on the street again.' Animal Heroes is looking into renting a shelter, in preparation for this worst case scenario. Animal heroes in Gaza continue life-saving work A'aed, Animal Heroes' lead vet in Gaza, was hit by an airstrike in a crowded marketplace hours before the ceasefire, suffering injuries to both legs, his eye and his hand. Animal Heroes When we speak on 28 February, Kef is eagerly anticipating the arrival of a truckload of aid into Gaza, as part of the Animals in Gaza Alliance with the UK's Safe Haven for Donkeys and Finland's Animal Aid without Borders. But on 2 March, Israel again blocked the entry of all humanitarian aid into the heavily-bombed territory, meaning that trucks containing medicine and food are still stuck at the Egyptian border. ADVERTISEMENT 'The impact is profound, because there is hardly any medicine in Gaza for animals, and yet so many animals are in desperate need of them,' Kef writes. 'Every day this shipment is delayed, the suffering of donkeys and horses is prolonged.' As well as operating a pop-up clinic, Animal Heroes funds people taking care of animals. Among the most remarkable of these is Maryam Hassan Barq, who refused to abandon 65 rescue cats when the IDF order came to evacuate her home in northern Gaza. 'I consider them like my children,' Maryam said during an interview with Animal Heroes in November, at a time when she was suffering from starvation and dehydration. 'I am fully aware that I might die at any moment for staying in the north, but from the beginning of the war, I took the decision that we either live together or we die together.' 'There is no other place for them and I cannot transfer them anywhere else in these dangerous conditions due to their number, and there's no safe place to go to anyway,' she explained. 'Our life feels like a nightmare, to say the least, but we live on. I know it sounds crazy.' ADVERTISEMENT A dozen cats died before the ceasefire emerged in January. Afterwards, Maryam was able to buy vegetables for herself for the first time in months, and chicken for the cats - which need protein. With the crossing closed again, she is again concerned for their lives. How can you support Animal Heroes? 'People like Diana, like Maryam, they're very humble people,' says Kef. 'They just care about helping animals and they even risk their own lives to do so. So that's what inspires me to do this every day.' Esther was inspired to found Animal Heroes in 2023 after meeting similarly dedicated people in need of animal aid assistance in Ukraine. The lean organisation has since grown from three to 25 volunteers. Animal Heroes is fundraising to support its medical response team in Gaza here. Its new fundraiser, to help injured animals in the West Bank - including through the new emergency clinic - has recently launched here.
