KEF Mu7: New high-end ANC headphones unveiled

The British hi-fi brand KEF is known in this country mainly for high-end speakers such as the KEF LSX II presented in June 2022. But with the new KEF Mu7, they now also offer a high-quality over-ear headphone with active noise cancellation (ANC). We have summarized all the info.

KEF Mu7 in detail

The noise-canceling True Wireless in-ear headphones Mu3 are now followed by a corresponding over-ear model from the British hi-fi professionals. The new KEF Mu7 aims to take on the who’s who in the ANC headphone segment and score points with a clear, high-resolution sound.

“The acoustics have been adjusted by our engineers for consistent voice reproduction on the go, so you can experience every note, word and detail in superb resolution,” promises the manufacturer.

Among other things, this is supposed to be made possible by newly developed full-range drivers with a diameter of 40 millimeters. As a Bluetooth audio codec (Bluetooth 5.1), aptX HD from Qualcomm is used, which realizes a resolution of 24 bit/48 kHz. Alternatively, the headphones can also be connected to the audio source using a 3.5 mm jack cable to realize the best possible sound.

Strong ANC, minimalist design

The KEF Mu7 also wants to score points with a strong and intelligent active noise cancellation (ANC), which can adapt to the environment. In addition, there is of course also an ambient mode, in which the sounds and voices are additionally amplified.

Whether the KEF headphones can keep up with top models like the Sony WH-1000XM5 or the Sennheiser Momentum 4 Wireless in terms of ANC performance, however, is something the Mu7 has yet to prove.

The battery life is also more than impressive, at least according to the manufacturer’s specifications. KEF promises up to 40 hours of battery life, including ANC. Thanks to a quick-charge function, 15 minutes of charging time is also enough for a usage time of 8 hours.

In terms of design, the Mu7 presents itself as minimalist and chic. Once again, designer Ross Lovegrove is responsible for the look, creating a pure and simple look. Offered in Silver Grey and Charcoal Grey, the headphones present themselves quite plainly.

Operating the Mu7: buttons and touchpad

The bulges on the outside of the ear cups, which are responsible for the operation, are striking. In the case of the KEF Mu7, this is done via a capacitive touchpad on the right ear cup. Here you can tap to control the music or accept or end calls.

Double-tapping calls up the respective voice assistant, swiping to the right or left lets you switch to the next or previous track, and up and down increases or decreases the volume.

In addition, there are dedicated buttons on the bottom, which are responsible for Bluetooth pairing, switching on and off and switching between ANC and ambient mode, for example.

Price and Availability

The KEF Mu7 over-ear ANC headphones are scheduled to be available for purchase directly from the manufacturer’s website in November 2022. The recommended retail price is 399 euros.