However you choose to get it there, once the audio information is on board your Mu7 it’s delivered to your ears by a pair of 40mm full-range dynamic drivers. A frequency response such as KEF is claiming, of 20Hz – 20kHz, is both ample and eminently achievable. So in relative terms the KEF push rather than punch, and don’t create quite the sense of momentum or rhythmic positivity that other, more assertive, designs can achieve. And when you realise the Mu7 aren’t the most dynamic headphones around when it comes to putting appreciable distance between ‘quite quiet’ and ‘extremely loud’ is concerned, it becomes apparent the KEF can sound slightly undemonstrative and matter-of-fact when compared to their most capable price-appropriate rivals. And in our opinion, 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.

However, a couple of the features we’ve come to expect from premium wireless headphones like the KEFs are missing.

Price comparison

Of course, this sort of sonic attitude will be absolutely fine for those listeners who aren’t interested in this sort of shouty, pimply nonsense in the first place. But there are enough price-comparable rivals around to make the KEF sound slightly one-paced and less than adaptable. So far, it’s a feature-set that’s entirely appropriate for a product of this type and cost – but there are a couple of blanks on the KEF’s spec-sheet. Unlike almost every price-comparable rival (and quite a few that are fair bit more affordable, too), there’s no control app accompanying the Mu7. This means no adjustable EQs, no sliding scale of ANC, no firmware upgrades or any of the other stuff I’ve come to expect where wireless headphones of all types are concerned. The way any piece of audio equipment sounds is ultimately a judgement call. Someone (or some group of people) has decided on the ‘voice’ a pair of headphones (for instance) is going to have, and then fingers are crossed as to whether or not it finds favour. In the case of the KEF Mu7, it’s not difficult to picture the wish-list: five minutes inside these headphones and words like ‘judicious’, ‘precise’ and ‘mature’ all start to muscle their way to the front of the mind… KEF’s pedigree as a loudspeaker manufacturer is unquestionable, but has this helped them produce a pair of wireless headphones capable of going toe-to-toe with the very best? Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 2nd November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.)

They are also heavier than the Sonys (309g vs around 250g), and they feel it. You’re a bit more aware of their presence on your head but they’re not an uncomfortable fit by any stretch.turbohobbit said:I agree. I've have the KEFs for about 6 weeks now and they're grand. Sure they aren't the bassiest headphones out there but they are top notch for proper unadulterated sound replication - exactly what you'd expect from a speaker maker. To be fair, I do run them through an iFI Go Blu DAC for a little extra volume and filtering but that's my choice - you certainly don't have to.

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 fit over the whole of your ear without any gaps where sound can leak out and noise can leak in. Now in its seventh decade, KEF has an enviable reputation for speaker design. From BBC studios to high-end home systems, KEF are considered one of the world’s leading speaker companies. When it comes to KEF Mu7 headphones, KEF have applied similar care and rigour to their speaker design, ensuring that these headphones are amongst the very best sounding at their price.There’s no transparent mode which allows you to have a conversation while wearing them and there’s no automatic pausing when you either lift an earcup or remove them from your head. They don’t sound like major problems, but when you’re used to experiencing them on rival products it’s surprising how much they can elevate the user experience when executed correctly. Each earcup has a couple of cutaways near the top that act as mic openings. The right earcup also has a smaller mic opening towards the bottom, and there’s also a little LED down here too - it lets you know what’s what regarding charging, pairing, power status and so on. I get the strong impression reviewers and consumer alike have become so used to the bass-heavy (or at least bass-front) and feature laden offerings that seem to have saturated the market that we have come to expect a very specific basket of things from headphones and have actually forgotten how to look - and listen - a little deeper. Obviously, too, appreciation is in the ear of the beholder. Do I like my KEFs? Yes. Might someone else? No. That's up to them. But for what it's worth, in my opinion, they are better than this review suggests. For the design of the Mu7, KEF has enlisted the services of long-time collaborator Ross Lovegrove. Anyone familiar with this work for the company, from the huge Muon loudspeakers to the grabbable Muo wireless speaker, will know what to expect here (beyond a model name that starts ‘Mu’) - the Mu7 are an organically flowing combination of bumps and recesses. Or, at least, they are as far as the earcups are concerned - that’s about the only area of a pair of over-ear headphones that doesn’t have its form utterly dictated by its function.

Of course, there’s a bit more to these KEF than a high-sheen, smooth and rather self-consciously mature presentation. Five minutes in the company of a TIDAL-derived stream of Cornflake Girl by Tori Amos allows the Mu7 to explain a lot of what they’re all about – and a lot is a lot of what they’ve got. Just as with their reference speakers, KEF have tuned the Mu7 headphones to deliver a pure, consistent sound. The 40mm drivers are voiced to produce realism and tonal accuracy, rather than an overwrought bass response. Suitable for use with all types of music media, but especially impressive with Hi-Res music files, the MU7’s deliver music with polished precision. Renowned for his sculptural, flowing forms, Ross Lovegrove is a visionary designer. The Mu7’s have a purity of design that reflects their sound quality. The smooth, seamless design is available in a choice of Silver Grey or Charcoal Grey finishes. I get the strong impression reviewers and consumer alike have become so used to the bass-heavy (or at least bass-front) and feature laden offerings that seem to have saturated the market that we have come to expect a very specific basket of things from headphones and have actually forgotten how to look - and listen - a little deeper. Obviously, too, appreciation is in the ear of the beholder. Do I like my KEFs? Yes. Might someone else? No. That's up to them. But for what it's worth, in my opinion, they are better than this review suggests.Could I ask.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. They’re rather more adept at identifying the harmonic dynamics present in a solo instrument or an unaccompanied voice, though, and do good work in making them apparent without getting all prissy about it. The Mu7 are quite convincing where tonality is concerned, too - even though their low-end reproduction in particular is trying hard not to give offence, it’s tonally natural and neutral.