In this review, we will be comparing 4329P and LS50 Wireless, 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 4329P and KEF LS50 Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL 4329P | KEF LS50 Wireless |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 600-watt RMS | 230-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" cast-frame paper-cone | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-25 kHz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192kHz | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.3 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 14.70kg / 32.3lbs | 10.00kg / 22lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 20.3125" x 12.625" x 12.75"
515.5mm x 320mm x 322.4mm | 11.875" x 7.875" x 13.25"
301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 4329P and LS50 Wireless are 2-way speakers.
JBL 4329PKEF LS50 Wireless
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 4329P |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
4329P features a 1" Teonex Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" cast-frame paper-cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1675 Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 Wireless features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer.
Frequency Response
4329P has a frequency range of 28-25 kHz whereas LS50 Wireless has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the 4329P can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Wireless'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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
4329P has a front firing port whereas LS50 Wireless has a rear firing ports. JBL 4329P's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 Wireless 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 4329P's and KEF LS50 Wireless's external dimensions. JBL 4329P has external dimensions of 515.5mm x 320mm x 322.4mm (20.3125inch x 12.625inch x 12.75inch) whereas KEF LS50 Wireless has external dimensions of 301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm (11.875 x 7.875 x 13.25inch).
KEF LS50 Wireless is 120mm narrower and 213.4mm shorter than JBL 4329P but it is also 14.5mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
JBL 4329P needs about 53% more floor or shelf area. JBL 4329P is 213mm taller.
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 4329P is approximately 1030.4cm2 / 159.7inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Wireless is approximately 673.0cm2 / 104.3inch2. The 4329P requires 53% more surface area than the LS50 Wireless which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 4329P weighs 14.70kg / 32.3lbs and the KEF LS50 Wireless weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the 4329P 47% heavier than the LS50 Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how 4329P and LS50 Wireless'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 4329P?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 4329P:
- 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?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless:
- Wireless powered speaker (Right)
- Wireless powered speaker (Left)
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- 6.5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable
- 42
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
301mm
vs
515mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
673cm2
vs
1030cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
JBL 4329P |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
| Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
28-25 kHz |
79-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
600-watt RMS |
230-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
cast-frame paper-cone |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1675 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
515.0mm (20.3") |
301.6mm (11.9") |
| Width |
320.0mm (12.6") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
322.0mm (12.7") |
336.5mm (13.2") |
| Weight |
14.70kg (32.3lbs) |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
| 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 |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
5yr drivers/2 yr amp |
1 Year |
These sit in different price classes - JBL 4329P costs roughly 2x what KEF LS50 Wireless 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 | JBL 4329P digs deeper - 28Hz against 79Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | JBL 4329P has the bigger amplifier (600W vs 230W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | KEF LS50 Wireless is easier to place; JBL 4329P is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL 4329P: a sub output; KEF LS50 Wireless: a sub output. |
| Price | B | KEF LS50 Wireless is cheaper - $2,200 against $4,500, about 51% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL 4329P B KEF LS50 Wireless
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: JBL 4329P measures better, KEF LS50 Wireless costs about about 105% 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. 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 Wireless much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, JBL 4329P has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LS50 Wireless is the easier speaker to get right.
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.