In this review, we will be comparing 4305P and LS50 Wireless II, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from JBL and KEF. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL 4305P and KEF LS50 Wireless II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL 4305P | KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 300-watt RMS | 380-watt RMS (760-watt peak) |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Pulp | 5.25" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25k Hz | 45-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192kHz | Yes / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.1 | Built-in |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 6.60kg / 14.5lbs | 20.10kg / 44.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.3125" x 8.3125" x 8-3/4"
336 x 210 x 223 mm | 10.9375" x 7.875" x 12.6875"
277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 4305P and LS50 Wireless II are 2-way speakers.
JBL 4305PKEF LS50 Wireless II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL 4305P |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
4305P features a 1" Teonex Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1750 Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer.
Frequency Response
4305P has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz whereas LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
4305P has a front firing port whereas LS50 Wireless II has a rear firing ports. JBL 4305P's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 Wireless II with its rear-firing port.
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 JBL 4305P's and KEF LS50 Wireless II's external dimensions. JBL 4305P has external dimensions of 336 x 210 x 223 mm (13.3125 x 8.3125 x 8-3/4 inch) whereas KEF LS50 Wireless II has external dimensions of 277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm (10.9375 x 7.875 x 12.6875inch).
KEF LS50 Wireless II is 10mm narrower and 58.2mm shorter than JBL 4305P but it is also 99.3mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL 4305P and KEF LS50 Wireless II in scale.
Comparison image of JBL 4305P and KEF LS50 Wireless II 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 JBL 4305P is approximately 468.3cm2 / 72.6inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Wireless II is approximately 644.6cm2 / 99.9inch2. The 4305P requires 27% less surface area than the LS50 Wireless II 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 JBL 4305P and KEF LS50 Wireless II 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 JBL 4305P weighs 6.60kg / 14.5lbs and the KEF LS50 Wireless II weighs 20.10kg / 44.2lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 205% heavier than the 4305P.
Here is a comparison of how 4305P and LS50 Wireless II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL 4305P?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 4305P:
- 2 Powered speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 69-inch AC power cords
- 10-feet CAT5e cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- Owner-feets Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Wireless II?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless II:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- Two 6.5' AC power cords
- 10' Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 \"AAA\" batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
468cm2
vs
644cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
277mm
vs
336mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
JBL 4305P |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
| Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
45-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
380-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
760-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
Yes |
| Max Sample Rate |
192kHz |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
|
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1750 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
336.0mm (13.2") |
277.8mm (10.9") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
223.0mm (8.8") |
322.3mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
6.60kg (14.5lbs) |
20.10kg (44.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
3/4-inch MDF with real wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Satin Walnut, Black Walnut |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
Service only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
1 |
| HDMI Input |
No |
eARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
3 Year w/ registration |
| Labor Warranty |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
3 Year w/ registration |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (45Hz vs 45Hz). |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II has the bigger amplifier (380W vs 300W RMS). |
| Connections | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II adds HDMI. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL 4305P: a sub output; KEF LS50 Wireless II: a sub output. |
| Price | A | JBL 4305P is cheaper - $2,200 against $2,999, about 27% less. |
A JBL 4305P B KEF LS50 Wireless II
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?
The usual trade-off: KEF LS50 Wireless II measures better, JBL 4305P costs about about 36% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $799 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.