In this review, we will be comparing Carina BS243.4 and LS50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from ELAC and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and KEF LS50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
ELAC Carina BS243.4 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 46-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:6.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 8-1/16" x 9-11/16"( 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm )
KEF LS50 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Vented dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:7.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 302.0" x 7.8" x 10.9"( 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm )
What size room are the ELAC Carina BS243.4 and KEF LS50 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* |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
KEF LS50 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 and KEF LS50 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Carina BS243.4 and LS50 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
KEF LS50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the LS50 features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz whereas LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50'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
Carina BS243.4 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the LS50 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
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.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Carina BS243.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. LS50 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
ELAC Carina BS243.4's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF LS50's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing port whereas LS50 has a rear firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 with its rear-firing port.
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 ELAC Carina BS243.4's and KEF LS50's external dimensions. ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) whereas KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch) .
KEF LS50 is 5mm narrower and 19mm shorter than ELAC Carina BS243.4 but it is also 31mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and KEF LS50 in scale.
Comparison image of ELAC Carina BS243.4 and KEF LS50 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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2. The Carina BS243.4 requires 9% less surface area than the LS50 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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 and KEF LS50 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 ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs and the KEF LS50 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs. This makes the LS50 7% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how Carina BS243.4 and LS50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
What's in the Box of KEF LS50?
Here are the items that come with the LS50:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Foam port plugs 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Warranty Registration Card
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
506cm2
vs
556cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
302mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
KEF LS50 |
| Brand |
ELAC |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-100 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-30k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
7.20kg (15.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
Polymer/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
18-28" |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
5 Years |