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.
| Key Specs | Buchardt E50 | KEF LS50 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" waveguide | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" PURIFI Extended Stroke | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-30k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 60-200 watts | 40-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.60kg / 18.9lbs | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.5" x 7.5" x 11.1"
395 x 190 x 284 mm | 11-15/16" 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both E50 and LS50 Meta are 2-way speakers.
Buchardt E50KEF LS50 Meta
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| 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.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
E50 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas LS50 Meta has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the E50.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 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 loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Buchardt E50 costs roughly 2.5x what KEF LS50 Meta does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Buchardt E50 digs deeper - 36Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF LS50 Meta is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Buchardt E50 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF LS50 Meta sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KEF LS50 Meta is cheaper - $1,600 against $3,950, about 59% less; arguably a different class. |
A Buchardt E50 B KEF LS50 Meta
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Buchardt E50 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 147% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - KEF LS50 Meta looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Buchardt E50 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LS50 Meta much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Buchardt E50 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF LS50 Meta for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.