Kii Audio Owners and Discussion Thread

[gibbo9000 121]

There seem to be a couple of others here, so might as well have an area to share thoughts.

 

Here is my starter.  If anyone else feels like the Kii Controller could do with something to sit on that gives it a little more angle, the stands for Audio Engine 2+ speakers are just the right size.

 

Gibbo

 

Edited November 15, 2019 by gibbo9000

[gibbo9000 121]

Some basic measurements 'in room', no treatments and some real world obstacles.  Listening room is quite large (10m x 5m).  Have found speakers best with just a little toe in, but wide of pointing to centre at listening position.  Both speakers are positioned with side drivers just in front of the wooden cabinet.  With all controls left neutral (so no Boundary adjustments and Contour flat) and using REW with Umik-1 below is what I get as On Axis response, and then in Listen position facing forward.  You can see what each is from the Label in the top left of the Legend at the bottom.  Left has slightly exacerbated bottom end from its 'corner' position, but that is very simply fixed with -4 on left speaker Boundary setting.

Gibbo

 

Edited November 15, 2019 by gibbo9000

[PleasantSounds 387]

A few days ago Kii Audio has finally released the firmware update tool. 

The link has been up and down, but some owners have successfully used it.

Functionally the main differences are the addition of BlueTooth input to the Control and higher volume levels on the speakers. Full list of changes has not been published.

 

For those interested: please keep checking the Support menu on the Kii Audio page - hopefully the link will be available again soon.

 

 

[Ray H 462]

Here are mine.

 

Very happy with them so far. Currently using a CD Transport and a Sony HAP-Z1ES streamer/server. I am pondering whether I need to upgrade the server, it sounds pretty good though, so I am in no rush.

I have not changed much in the settings yet, mainly as I have the BXT’s coming soon and will play with the settings when the system is complete.

 

I have probably listened to mine for around 50 hrs, and they have perhaps become a little smoother, I have been told they do a fairly long soak in (run in) period in the factory, so not sure if they will run in much more.

 

 

[frednork 646]

@gibbo9000 Thanks for the plots! can you please tell us what smoothing is applied and just also confirm if it is a sweep or rta. Also if possible could you show the waterfall plot at listening position.

[gibbo9000 121]

5 hours ago, frednork said:

@gibbo9000 Thanks for the plots! can you please tell us what smoothing is applied and just also confirm if it is a sweep or rta. Also if possible could you show the waterfall plot at listening position.

RTA plots using pink noise.  RTA settings: 1/48 Octave and FFT Length 65536.  Measurements over about 40 averages with Mic moved around listening area at ear height.

Didn't look at waterfall.  Have just lent my Mic to a fellow SNA'r to calibrate his home theatre set up, so will take a look when it comes back again.

[wikeeboy 499]

9 hours ago, PleasantSounds said:

A few days ago Kii Audio has finally released the firmware update tool. 

The link has been up and down, but some owners have successfully used it.

Functionally the main differences are the addition of BlueTooth input to the Control and higher volume levels on the speakers. Full list of changes has not been published.

 

For those interested: please keep checking the Support menu on the Kii Audio page - hopefully the link will be available again soon.

 

 

 

Where did you find the detail on what the V2 firmware actually changes? I found the support page, but apart from showing how to do the upgrade is there a doc anywhere explaining changes?

 

Re bluetooth, sorry if its simply self explanatory, but will that mean we can for example bluetooth a tune via bluetooth from your phone? Or lets say i'm looking at something on my laptop and want to pipe the audio through to the kii's i'll be able to do it that way?

 

Thanks for the info!

[PleasantSounds 387]

19 minutes ago, wikeeboy said:

 

Where did you find the detail on what the V2 firmware actually changes? I found the support page, but apart from showing how to do the upgrade is there a doc anywhere explaining changes?

 

Re bluetooth, sorry if its simply self explanatory, but will that mean we can for example bluetooth a tune via bluetooth from your phone? Or lets say i'm looking at something on my laptop and want to pipe the audio through to the kii's i'll be able to do it that way?

 

Thanks for the info!

I was lucky enough to check the page when it was up, so I got the update. 

 

Connecting bluetooth is fairly easy: just turn on scanning for new devices and Kii comes up. Pairing does not require any pin numbers. After that, you can redirect the output from your phone to the Kii control and it will play.

 

If your laptop has bluetooth it should work as well. I have tried foobar2000 and it works fine.

 

[gibbo9000 121]

Looks like it includes a few new filter profiles as well.

Edited December 23, 2019 by gibbo9000

[frednork 646]

On 22/12/2019 at 6:48 PM, gibbo9000 said:

RTA plots using pink noise.  RTA settings: 1/48 Octave and FFT Length 65536.  Measurements over about 40 averages with Mic moved around listening area at ear height.

Didn't look at waterfall.  Have just lent my Mic to a fellow SNA'r to calibrate his home theatre set up, so will take a look when it comes back again.

Ok thanks, Dont think RTA's will give you a waterfall. You will need to do a sweep for that.

[cafe67 3,088]

Nice thread, of all the similar style powered dsp speakers, the Kii would my pick having heard them in store. 

[gibbo9000 121]

Just noticed the long awaited Firmware Update is now available at http://kiiaudio.helpdocsonline.com/update-tool

 

Looks pretty straightforward - need to create some time this evening to make it happen.

 

Also looks like they have updated this page with some instructions on the new firmware functionality:  http://kiiaudio.helpdocsonline.com/untitled-4-2

 

Happy upgrading!  Really feels weird upgrading firmware on speakers.

 

Gibbo

 

[cazzesman 1,465]

😀 well they did say January 2020 and they just made it.

 

Happy days.

 

Thanks for the headsup.

 

Regards Cazzesman

[Prince Arnold 41]

Thanks for the heads-up Gibbo. I would never have seen it myself. Fingers crossed it will work!

[Prince Arnold 41]

Boy, I wish I hadn't rushed to update the firmware  - it didn't work and now I can 't use my speakers.  The update process failed and the controller no longer functions properly (although it does ask my to update the system. Very helpful). The updater sends an error log to Kii Audio so hopefully they can help me out.

 

[gibbo9000 121]

17 minutes ago, Prince Arnold said:

The update process failed and the controller no longer functions properly (although it does ask my to update the system. Very helpful)

Ouch - the worst possible outcome.  Sorry to hear that.

 

Have you tried starting the process over again?  That seems to be the recommendation on the install notes.  At what stage did it stop? 

 

I was about to write some notes on my experience.  From memory the Controller seems to show that message after it has been updated (happens first) and before it has been rebooted (install program asks you to remove all wiring to remove power).  After that it set about updating the speakers (at least for mine anyway). 

Hope you get it sorted, or they are responsive if you can't.

[Prince Arnold 41]

Update: They're back!

 

I had to cycle the power for the controller and the speakers and then rerun the update software about 5 time. Eventually it all worked.

[gibbo9000 121]

Putting aside Prince Arnold's unfortunate experience, my update succeeded.  A few notes on how it went.

• I am on Win 10, and the update app loaded quickly and is very simple interface.  USB connection from PC to Controller is all that is needed.
• When you ask update to start it updates the Controller first and, when completed, asks you to reboot it.  For the Controller that involves removing any wiring it can get power from (USB, Network cables to Speakers etc.) so it shuts down, and then plugging back in.
• Then it updates the speakers one at a time, and on each speaker updates the PIC (up to 3.8) and DSP software (up to 4.8) along with restarting them a couple of times (it does this without any user help).
• Whole process took about 10 minutes.

It took about 10 minutes and I would have said pretty slick until Prince Arnold experience (glad to see now sorted).  It did remove the config settings I had in place.  Still sounds great!

A few top line changes:

• Contour is now called Tone Control
• Advanced Settings are now moved under a new Pro Settings menu that has all the advanced functionality described in the documentation
• I haven't tried Bluetooth (and doubt I will)

Hope it goes well for others.

Gibbo

Edited January 28 by gibbo9000

[wikeeboy 499]

I've been checking every now and then for the firmware update to go live, so thanks to all for the heads up!

 

• Besides the main changes (Bluetooth & Filters), is there any capacity to adjust the volume via bluetooth/iPhone? I find it a little antiquated to use an infrared remote when i've been used to an iPhone app for years with my Devialet. Not meaning to sound snooty but it would be great to have the ability to adjust the volume from anywhere in the house...

[wikeeboy 499]

Has anyone had an issue with their Kii Control where the narrow rubber/grip around the volume dial comes away? I turned the remote gently last night to fire up the speakers and the slim rubber surround simply came away from the dial...

 

[cazzesman 1,465]

Thats not good.   How old was it?

 

Regards Cazzesman

[wikeeboy 499]

I think it's around 18 months old. Very little use and overall in as new condition.

 

It's only minor but i find it majorly annoying as i like all of my gear to be perfect!

 

I emailed Kii several days ago and still no reply.

[Prince Arnold 41]

Update on the new firmware:

 

Kii Audio called me about 2 hours after I sent the error log to them. They were very interested in understanding what led to my difficulties and wanted to use the information to improve their knowledge base. 

 

I also briefly spoke to them regarding the Kii controller - why I don't like it and how much I would like it to be a roon end-point. The man from Kii Audio hinted that they were working on a new controller. Fingers crossed.

 

I was very impressed by the quick response and the time they allocated to me.

 

BTW, has anyone noticed a change in sound after the firmware upgrade (and after reseting all preferences)? 

[wikeeboy 499]

9 hours ago, wikeeboy said:

I think it's around 18 months old. Very little use and overall in as new condition.

 

It's only minor but i find it majorly annoying as i like all of my gear to be perfect!

 

I emailed Kii several days ago and still no reply.

Quick update to the above. received a reply (came through last night) regarding the Kii Control.

 

It seems there were a particular batch of the rubber rings that were faulty, its a known issue. Easily fixed by replacing with a new rubber ring provided by PMG/Kii. Phew, we're all good

 

[PleasantSounds 387]

On 28/01/2020 at 6:39 PM, wikeeboy said:

Has anyone had an issue with their Kii Control where the narrow rubber/grip around the volume dial comes away? I turned the remote gently last night to fire up the speakers and the slim rubber surround simply came away from the dial...

 

 

 

 

Mine has disintegrated in a similar way about 6 months ago. The issue is aparently confined to the early build units (bad supplier chioice) and has been rectified since. PMG used to have some replacement rubber bands, maybe they still do.