Bruno Putzeys, the renowned engineer behind some of today’s most respected amplifier technologies, shares the thinking and innovation that define Kii Audio’s loudspeakers. Known for his work with UcD and Ncore amplifiers at Philips, Hypex, and now Purifi, Putzeys has brought that same level of precision to loudspeaker design, specifically active DSP-based speakers that perform consistently in any room.
From Amplifier Pioneer to Loudspeaker Innovator
While Putzeys gained industry-wide recognition for his amplifier circuits, it was his interaction with clients building active speakers that led him down a new path. He realized that simply refining amplifier designs couldn’t address the full picture of sound reproduction—the speaker-room interaction had to be part of the equation.
That’s where Kii Audio comes in.
Designing for Real Rooms
Kii speakers are built around one goal: predictable, accurate performance in a wide range of acoustic environments. Unlike many traditional loudspeakers that radiate sound in all directions, especially at low frequencies, Kii speakers control the way sound spreads.
This directivity control ensures that reflections and room acoustics don’t overwhelm the original signal, especially in the bass and low-mid range. The result? Clearer sound, more accurate bass, and a listening experience that works just as well in your living room as it does in a treated studio.
The Technology Behind the Sound
- Kii Seven: The most compact speaker in the lineup uses a midrange driver and side-mounted woofers to shape a cardioid pattern down to about 120 Hz. This minimizes rearward sound radiation, reducing room interference.
- Kii Three (with BXT extension): Builds on the same concept, with added rear woofers that extend directivity control down to 50 Hz. Below that, all woofers work together in phase, making the most of natural room reinforcement without creating muddiness.
In both models, digital signal processing (DSP) plays a key role. It aligns the timing of different drivers and manages dispersion to deliver phase-accurate sound, ensuring that music, especially rhythmically complex genres like jazz or Indian classical, feels more immediate and expressive.
Consistent Translation from Studio to Home
One of the most valued traits of Kii loudspeakers is their ability to “translate” mixes across different environments. Studio engineers who use the Kii Three often say they no longer need to check their mixes on multiple systems. If it sounds good on the Kii, it’ll sound good everywhere.
This consistency carries over to home listeners. With less variation caused by room acoustics, you get a truer connection to the artist’s intent, hearing details and dynamics exactly as they were meant to be experienced.
Simplifying High-End Sound
Putzeys is a strong advocate for integrated, all-in-one systems that fit into modern lifestyles. Unlike traditional hi-fi setups with stacks of gear and complicated wiring, Kii speakers offer high performance in a clean, user-friendly package. You can get studio-grade sound without a rack full of equipment or hours of tweaking.
And it’s not just about convenience, this integration enables better engineering. Built-in amplification and DSP allow for precise tuning that simply isn’t possible with passive speakers.
A Thoughtful Approach to Listening
While vinyl continues to have its charm, Putzeys notes that many of the reasons people prefer it are about the experience, not just the sound. Vinyl encourages focused listening, no skipping tracks or multitasking. But he also emphasizes that when a digital master is well done and paired with a system like the Kii Three or Seven, digital can outperform vinyl in clarity and detail.
Looking Ahead: Fewer Products, Bigger Impact
Kii Audio isn’t focused on flooding the market with endless models. Instead, they take their time to design products that stand alone in their category, whether that’s the flagship Kii Three, the more compact Kii Seven, or future designs that will serve clearly defined needs.
Putzeys believes that with the right tools, we no longer need to guess what a mix "should" sound like. With neutral, phase-corrected, and directivity-controlled loudspeakers, both engineers and home listeners can enjoy reliable, revealing sound that connects them more deeply to music.
See Audio Graffiti's video here.