In this review, we will be comparing E50 and LS50 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt E50 and KEF LS50 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Buchardt E50 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" waveguide Tweeter
- 6.5" PURIFI Extended Stroke Woofer
- 36-30k HZ Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:60-200watts
- Weight:8.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 395.0" x 7.5" x 11.1"( 395 x 190 x 284 mm )
KEF LS50 Meta Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-100watts
- Weight:7.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 303.0" x 7.875" x 11-1/16"( 303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm )
What size room are the Buchardt E50 and KEF LS50 Meta speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Buchardt E50 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Buchardt E50 and KEF LS50 Meta compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both E50 and LS50 Meta are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Buchardt E50 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
E50 features a 1" Custom Scanspeak textile dome waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" PURIFI Extended Stroke Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 Meta features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
E50 has a frequency range of 36-30k HZ whereas LS50 Meta has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the E50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Meta's min frequency of 79Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
E50 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the LS50 Meta which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the E50 can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 85 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
E50 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas LS50 Meta has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the E50.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Buchardt E50's and KEF LS50 Meta's external dimensions. Buchardt E50 has external dimensions of 395 x 190 x 284 mm ( 15.5 x 7.5 x 11.1 inch) whereas KEF LS50 Meta has external dimensions of 303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm ( 11-15/16 x 7.875 x 11-1/16inch) .
KEF LS50 Meta is 92mm shorter and 3mm less deeper than Buchardt E50 but it is also 11mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Buchardt E50 and KEF LS50 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of Buchardt E50 and KEF LS50 Meta Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Buchardt E50 is approximately 539.6cm2 / 83.6inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2. The E50 requires 4% less surface area than the LS50 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Buchardt E50 and KEF LS50 Meta on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Buchardt E50 weighs 8.60kg / 18.9lbs and the KEF LS50 Meta weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the E50 10% heavier than the LS50 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how E50 and LS50 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Meta:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
36 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Base Surface Area |
539cm2
vs
564cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
303mm
vs
395mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1600USD
vs
3950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Buchardt E50 |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
60-200 watts |
40-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-30k HZ |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
PURIFI Extended Stroke |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
waveguide |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
395.0mm (15.6") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
190.0mm (7.5") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
284.0mm (11.2") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
8.60kg (18.9lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
19 & 28mm (front baffle) solid european wood |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Stained Black, Rounded Natural Oak, Smoked Natural Oak, Rounded Charcoal, Smoked Oak, Natural Oak |
Carbon Black,Titanium Grey,Royal Blue,Mineral White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
25-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years |
5 Years |