Kii Audio Kii Seven
The compact alternative that still delivers Kii performance for smaller spaces.
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Kii Seven System, (2 x Kii Seven - 1 x Kii Control – inc cables), colours – Fine Touch White - Fine Touch Dark Grey £7,785.00.
Kii Seven single speaker, colours – Fine Touch White - Fine Touch Dark Grey £3,495.00.
About The Kii Seven
The Kii Seven is the latest and smallest addition to the Kii product range. It's fundamental proposition is that of a multi-purpose all-in-one speaker system that can be used in a range of tasks from studio monitoring, as lifestyle single speakers dotted throughout the home, or as a very capable stereo pair set up as a genuine audiophile solution.
It's studio and mixing credentials are impressive, but here at Winters Audio we are promoting the Kii Seven as a serious contender for proper listening in the home, as both a distributed system or as a stereo pair – or both. The Kii Seven is a digital machine, mostly, with all the networking and streaming connectivity you would expect for you to play from every network and streaming services you might wish to use. But it does have analogue inputs too, so you can use these speakers as a hybrid with other line level sources – even a vinyl/phono stage combo.
Driver quality and configuration is a major feature of the product too. This is a three way design in acoustic terms with the front baffle hosting a horn loaded tweeter for high sensitivity and a 5 inch midrange diver that is at home reproducing the vocal range. But to bring some real punch to the proceedings there are two x 6,5 inch woofers – mounted in an opposed arrangement on either side of the front baffle. This configuration gives a much larger bass radiating area than is usually achieved on a speaker of this size, and the opposed mounting means there is natural cancellation of the motor forces within the cabinet.
But there is another significant sound quality feature with the Kii Seven, and that is its Cardoid Distribution Pattern. In essence this means that there is a lot less bass reinforcement from back walls, that normally stimulates unwanted room nodes. Instead, the Ki Three throws a lot more of it's energy forward, minus all the rear wall reflections, delivering great clarity and dynamics as well as giving a lot more flexibility in room positioning.
Tech Insight
A cardioid polar pattern is a characteristic directional sensitivity pattern exhibited by some microphones and loudspeakers. It derives its name from the heart-like shape it resembles. In the case of a microphone this means its primary sensitivity is directly in front of the microphone and minimal sensitivity to the rear. Similarly, with a cardioid speaker, it means the majority of the radiated energy is to the front of the speaker, with minimal energy to the rear.
The Kii Seven achieves this cardioid radiation pattern using a combination of a specially tailored active crossover and the position of the drivers on the cabinet.
Specifications
Woofer: 2 x 6.5”
Midrange: 1 x 5”
Tweeter: 1 x 1” with custom wave-guide
Amplification: 600 watt
Active Wave Focusing Crossover: For cardioid dispersion to eliminate problematic room acoustics
Frequency Response: -3dB: 40Hz, 100Hz-10kHz: +/- 0.5dB, 10kHz-20kHz: +/- 1dB
Integrated Tone Control: Adjustable bass and treble levels
Phase Response: Minimum phase or minimum latency
Driver Protection Limiters: To keep drivers within optimal operating range and damage-free
Inputs: XLR and TRS, AES/EBU, KiiLink/KiiCONTROL, WiFi, Bluetooth, DANTE
Colors: Fine Touch White, Fine Touch Dark Grey
Size and Weight: 20x31x31cm, 8”x12,2”x12,2” (WxHxD), 14kg (30lbs)
Matching & Setup
In a way you can throw out the standard setup rulebook with the Kii Sevens. Instead we have here a speaker system that has quite different characteristics when it comes to room interaction. First, if you want to use them as a lifestyle product you can place single speakers in each room and that placement can be close to a wall or on a shelf. And whereas you would then expect to have over-reenforcement, the cardiod radiation pattern throws the sound out into the room, keeping remarkable clarity and tonal accuracy.
As a stereo pair the same principle applies. You can use them on shelves in your main listening room with very little sonic compromise. However, use them on their dedicated stands and whilst they can still be relatively close to the rear wall, set them up with accuracy of position, alignment and toe-in and they throw a spectacular soundstage out into the room, with almost no wayward room node problems to spoil proceedings. Oh, and one thing, don't make the mistake of thinking that the lack of wall reenforcement makes them bass light. Not one bit.