For more than sixty years, KEF has been focused on one thing: bringing the purity of true high-fidelity sound to more people. When the original Coda speakers launched decades ago, they became a breakthrough for listeners who wanted real KEF performance without the high-end price tag. They were the speakers that helped many people fall in love with hi-fi in the first place.

Now the new Coda W carries that legacy into a new era. It takes everything KEF has learned about clear, natural sound and builds it into a beautifully simple, all-in-one system for modern living. It’s designed for the way people actually listen today, whether that means upgrading your TV with real stereo sound, adding a stylish music system to your living space, or connecting a turntable for easy vinyl playback. Coda W brings KEF’s acoustic expertise to everyday use in a way that feels effortless, elegant, and enjoyable.

Design & Build Quality

Coda W has a clean, modern look that feels purposeful rather than decorative. The front baffle sits slightly forward from the cabinet, giving the speakers more dimension and a subtle, sculpted appearance. A ribbed vertical texture frames the Uni-Q driver and adds just enough visual detail to make the design interesting without feeling flashy. It’s the kind of speaker that looks right at home on a console, bookshelf, or desk and feels intentionally designed to fit into real spaces.

They’re available in five finishes that make it easy to match with different spaces. Vintage Burgundy brings a warm, classic tone that adds depth without being bold. Nickel Grey and Dark Titanium lean more modern and architectural, while Moss Green and Midnight Blue add just a touch of color for those who want something distinctive.

The cabinet measures about 11.2 inches tall, 6.6 inches wide, and 10.6 inches deep, making it compact enough for media furniture yet large enough to fill a typical living room or office with good sound. Weighing in at 24.9 pounds for the pair, they have a substantial feel that speaks to KEF’s build quality. Everything about them feels solid and well built, the kind of craftsmanship meant to deliver great sound for decades rather than just a few years.

The included interspeaker cable connects the two via USB-C and gives you 10 feet of length, which will work for most setups. If you need more space between them for a wider media console or desk, KEF offers a longer 26-foot C-Link cable that makes placement more flexible.

The top panel of the main speaker includes physical controls for power, source selection, volume, and Bluetooth pairing. It’s a simple addition that makes the system easier to live with day to day. Since powered speakers often sit on furniture or desks within reach, being able to adjust volume or switch inputs directly on the cabinet is genuinely convenient.

Connectivity & Ease of Use

When it comes to connections, Coda W is built to handle just about anything you want to plug in. Let’s go over each one and what they work with.

HDMI ARC provides a direct connection to your TV and lets you control volume with the TV remote you already use. This is an awesome feature because if you’re using your TV speakers or even a mid-tier soundbar, the Coda W will deliver a wider, more realistic stereo image with more intelligible dialogue and bigger dynamics. Sure, you won’t get the virtual height effects of an Atmos soundbar, but what you gain in clarity and separation makes movies and shows feel more natural and engaging. That’s why these are a great choice for anyone stepping up from a soundbar or looking to build a simple, high-quality TV sound system.

The USB-C input supports up to 24-bit, 192 kHz audio from a computer and is the best way to get the highest quality sound from streaming services since there is no Wi-Fi connection built in. It makes the Coda W an excellent choice for a desktop setup, giving you lossless playback and easy control right from your computer without any extra gear.

We do wish KEF had included Wi-Fi, as it would have made the Coda W even more versatile. However, that is also one of the key differences between this model and the LSX II, which adds full network streaming and app integration for those who want a more connected experience. If you want to add streaming to the Coda W, a compact device like the WiiM Pro is an easy solution. At around $149, it connects through the optical input and gives you full access to platforms like Spotify, TIDAL, and Apple Music without changing the simplicity of the system.

Another input we’re glad to see is the dedicated RCA phono connection with a built-in moving magnet preamp, which means most turntables can plug straight in. This is not just a convenience feature either. The phono stage was fully designed and engineered by KEF, not outsourced. The gain stage uses an in-house analog amplifier, while the RIAA equalization is handled in the Music Integrity Engine with precision digital filters written by KEF’s R&D team. The result is an extremely transparent and musical EQ curve that keeps the warmth of vinyl intact while maintaining detail and balance. KEF also added a proper ground post and a ground lift switch to help eliminate hum in tricky power setups. It is a thoughtful addition that fits perfectly with today’s vinyl resurgence, letting you add a turntable without needing an external preamp. It can also save you some money if you are choosing between a model with one built in or not. The Pro-Ject Debut Evo 2 in satin red or satin blue actually matches up nicely with the Coda W color options, but there are plenty of great pairings to choose from, and our experts can help you find the best fit for your setup and style.

Another key feature is the subwoofer output, which works just like KEF’s LS series products. When you connect a subwoofer and enable it in the KEF Connect app, you can set the crossover frequency and level to match your room and sub. The app applies an internal high-pass filter to the main speakers and sends only the low frequencies to the sub. This gives you tighter, more balanced bass and lets the Coda W play cleaner and louder since it no longer has to handle the deepest notes.

For rooms where running a cable isn’t ideal, KEF’s KW1 wireless subwoofer adapter makes the connection simple. It sends a lossless signal from the speakers to a compatible KEF sub without needing to run a physical cable across the room. The kit includes a small transmitter that plugs into the Coda W and a receiver that connects to your subwoofer’s input, keeping the setup clean while still maintaining tight, accurate bass.

There’s also an optical input that supports up to 24-bit, 96 kHz and works great for a game console or an older TV that doesn’t have HDMI ARC. Alongside that, a stereo RCA line-level input covers a CD player or any other analog source. Between HDMI, USB-C, optical, and both phono and line-level inputs, the Coda W covers just about everything most people would want to connect.

Bluetooth is great for how easy it is to pair and play, but if you want to get the most out of the Coda W, you will probably use the HDMI ARC or phono inputs, or connect directly to a computer over USB-C. Those connections take better advantage of what the speakers can do and make more sense for a setup built around a TV, turntable, or desktop system rather than relying on Bluetooth alone. The Coda W does work with the KEF Connect app for basic settings and firmware updates, but not for streaming music. If you want full in-app streaming support, KEF has other models that include Wi-Fi for that purpose.

Features & Technology

One of the most defining parts of KEF’s sound is the Uni-Q driver array. First introduced in the late 1980s, Uni-Q places the tweeter at the exact acoustic center of the midrange and bass cone so both act as a single point source. Instead of sound radiating from two separate locations, every frequency reaches your ears at the same time. That means instruments and voices stay locked in place, imaging feels more natural, and the sound remains consistent no matter where you sit.

The 12th-generation Uni-Q driver used in the Coda W carries forward more than three decades of refinement. By positioning the 25 mm aluminum dome tweeter at the center of the 130 mm magnesium-aluminum alloy midbass cone, KEF achieves smooth, even dispersion throughout the room. It helps the Coda W sound open and balanced, whether you are directly in front of it or off to the side, so everyone hears the same detailed presentation.

Each driver in the Coda W has its own dedicated amplifier, with 70 watts powering the woofer and 30 watts for the tweeter. Because the system is fully active, KEF can use digital signal processing to shape the crossover, time alignment, and driver behavior to match the exact cabinet design. This tuning is part of KEF’s Music Integrity Engine, which keeps the sound balanced and controlled even as the volume rises. It also helps the Coda W deliver smoother bass and a more coherent presentation than you would typically expect from compact powered speakers. The result is a system that feels confident and composed in everyday listening, with plenty of power for a living room or office.

Performance

What stands out most about the Coda W is how natural it sounds once you start listening. The presentation feels open and balanced, with vocals that sit comfortably in the room rather than pushed forward or buried under effects. It’s the kind of clarity that makes movie dialogue sound effortless and music feel engaging without needing to crank the volume.

In our listening tests, voices in The Irishman had a fullness and weight that made every scene feel more grounded, while subtle sounds like footsteps and room tone came through with better separation than we typically hear from soundbars. On its own, the Coda W delivers impressive bass for its size. It reaches low enough to give drums and soundtracks a solid foundation, though it naturally cannot dig as deep as a larger speaker or full subwoofer system. Adding a KEF Kube subwoofer rounds out that last octave beautifully, giving the system a cinematic scale that easily fills a smaller or medium-sized room.

For music, the same sense of composure carries over. The midrange has a smooth, unforced tone, and the aluminum dome tweeter keeps the top end detailed but never harsh. Whether you’re playing a record, listening from your computer, or even using Bluetooth, everything sounds clean and cohesive in a way that’s easy to enjoy for long stretches.

The Coda W’s real strength is how seamlessly it fits into daily life. It’s compact enough to live on a media console or desk, powerful enough to handle both movies and music, and simple enough that anyone in the house can use it.

Setup Tips & Placement

Of course, these speakers will only perform as well as you let them, so proper placement is key. Because the Coda W uses a rear port, you’ll want to leave a few inches of space between the back of the cabinet and the wall so the bass can breathe. Sliding them closer to the wall will give you a little more low-end weight, while pulling them forward can help tighten things up if the sound feels a bit thick.

Start by spacing the speakers about as far apart as they are from your main seat and angle them slightly toward the listening position. If you are placing them on furniture, keep the front of the baffle close to the front edge to reduce reflections. For the best performance and stability, use KEF’s matching floor stands, which are designed specifically for the Coda W and place the drivers at the ideal listening height.

If you are setting them up on a desk or media console, a pair of IsoAcoustics isolation stands is a great alternative. They help decouple the speakers from the surface, reduce vibrations, and tilt the drivers toward your ears for better clarity and imaging.

Once you have them positioned, open the KEF Connect app to fine-tune the sound. The app lets you make EQ adjustments and apply placement presets that can clean up low-end boom or add a touch of warmth depending on your room. It also handles firmware updates, so your speakers stay current and perform their best over time.

If you plan to add a subwoofer, check out our Subwoofer Placement Guide and Subwoofer Calibration Video for help getting a smooth, seamless blend. Also, take a few minutes with our Two-Channel Setup Guide to dial in spacing, toe-in, and seat height. Small changes in placement and tuning can make a big difference in clarity and imaging, helping you unlock the full potential of the KEF Coda W.

Overall Thoughts

The Coda W is built for people who want better sound without the complexity of a full system. It takes the clarity and imaging KEF is known for and puts it into something simple enough for everyday use. It is ideal for anyone upgrading from a soundbar or looking to build a clean, great-sounding setup around a TV, turntable, or computer.

What makes it stand out is how easy it is to live with. It just works, delivering detailed and natural sound that makes both music and movies feel more lifelike, all in a design that fits anywhere.

We’re Here to Help!

If you have further questions, contact our experts via chat, phone, or email. Or simply visit one of our world-class showrooms to experience speakers, projectors, TVs, and everything in between for yourself before you make a purchase!

If you’re planning your home theater or media room, check out our Home Theater Design page, where we have everything Home Theater related, including our FREE Home Theater Design Tool.

When you buy from Audio Advice, you’re buying from a trusted seller since 1978. We offer Free Shipping, Lifetime Expert Support, and our Price Guarantee. We look forward to serving you!