In this review, we will be comparing BRX and LS50 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from GoldenEar and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar BRX and KEF LS50 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | GoldenEar BRX | KEF LS50 Meta |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | Folded Ribbon | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" Polypropylene | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-35k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-250 watts | 40-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.45kg / 12lbs | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-1/8" x 8-1/8" x 12-5/16"
308.0 x 207.0 x 313.0mm | 11-15/16" x 7.875" x 11-1/16"
303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the GoldenEar BRX 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* |
GoldenEar BRX |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both BRX and LS50 Meta are 2-way speakers.
GoldenEar BRXKEF 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 |
GoldenEar BRX |
KEF LS50 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
BRX features a " Folded Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 6" Polypropylene Woofer. 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
BRX has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz whereas LS50 Meta has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the BRX 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
BRX and LS50 Meta have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. BRX sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the LS50 Meta's is at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the GoldenEar BRX a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
BRX can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas LS50 Meta has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the BRX.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
BRX features Post type posts and LS50 Meta has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
GoldenEar BRX's 5-way post terminals
KEF LS50 Meta's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both BRX and LS50 Meta have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 GoldenEar BRX's and KEF LS50 Meta's external dimensions. GoldenEar BRX has external dimensions of 308.0 x 207.0 x 313.0mm (12-1/8 x 8-1/8 x 12-5/16inch) 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).
GoldenEar BRX is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 5mm taller and 32mm deeper than KEF LS50 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of GoldenEar BRX and KEF LS50 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of GoldenEar BRX 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 GoldenEar BRX is approximately 647.9cm2 / 100.4inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2. The BRX requires 15% more surface area than the LS50 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage 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 GoldenEar BRX 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 GoldenEar BRX weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs and the KEF LS50 Meta weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the LS50 Meta 43% heavier than the BRX.
Here is a comparison of how BRX 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 GoldenEar BRX?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of BRX:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
Owner's Manual
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 |
250 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two rectangular side-mounted
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Price per pair* |
1598USD
vs
1600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
303mm
vs
308mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
564cm2
vs
647cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
GoldenEar BRX |
KEF LS50 Meta |
| Brand |
GoldenEar |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-250 watts |
40-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.5 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-35k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Folded Ribbon |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
308.0mm (12.1") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
207.0mm (8.1") |
201.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Polymer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Carbon Black,Titanium Grey,Royal Blue,Mineral White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
25-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
GoldenEar BRX digs deeper - 40Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
GoldenEar BRX is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
A |
GoldenEar BRX takes more power (250W 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. |
| Price |
evenly matched |
Much the same money ($1,598 vs $1,600 a pair). |
A GoldenEar BRX
B KEF LS50 Meta
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
GoldenEar BRX has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate GoldenEar BRX the better fit for a mid-size room, a large room and a very 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.