In this review, we will be comparing L52 Classic and LS50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L52 Classic and KEF LS50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L52 Classic | KEF LS50 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Pulp | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 47-24k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-75 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 7.20kg / 15.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-1/16" x 7-13/16" x 8-11/16"
332.0 x 199.0 x 221.0mm | 11.8" x 7.8" x 10.9"
302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL L52 Classic 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* |
JBL L52 Classic |
KEF LS50 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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 L52 Classic and LS50 are 2-way speakers.
JBL L52 ClassicKEF LS50
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 L52 Classic |
KEF LS50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
L52 Classic features a 0.75" Titanium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. 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
L52 Classic has a frequency range of 47-24k Hz whereas LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 47Hz, the L52 Classic can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50'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
L52 Classic is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the LS50 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 L52 Classic 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.
LS50 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas L52 Classic has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the LS50.
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
L52 Classic features Post type posts and LS50 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL L52 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
KEF LS50's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
L52 Classic has a front firing port whereas LS50 has a rear firing ports. JBL L52 Classic's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 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 L52 Classic's and KEF LS50's external dimensions. JBL L52 Classic has external dimensions of 332.0 x 199.0 x 221.0mm (13-1/16 x 7-13/16 x 8-11/16inch) whereas KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm (11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch).
JBL L52 Classic is 1mm narrower and 57mm less deeper than KEF LS50 but it is also 30mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L52 Classic and KEF LS50 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L52 Classic 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 JBL L52 Classic is approximately 439.8cm2 / 68.2inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2. The L52 Classic requires 21% less surface area than the LS50 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 L52 Classic 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 JBL L52 Classic weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the KEF LS50 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs. This makes the LS50 44% heavier than the L52 Classic.
Here is a comparison of how L52 Classic 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 JBL L52 Classic?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L52 Classic:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
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 |
47 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
439cm2
vs
556cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
1300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
302mm
vs
332mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
JBL L52 Classic |
KEF LS50 |
| Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-75 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
47-24k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
332.0mm (13.1") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
199.0mm (7.8") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
221.0mm (8.7") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
7.20kg (15.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Polymer/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
18-28" |
| 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 |
A generation apart: JBL L52 Classic is the newer design, against a 2012 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | JBL L52 Classic digs deeper - 47Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF LS50 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | KEF LS50 takes more power (100W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF LS50 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | JBL L52 Classic is cheaper - $1,000 against $1,300, about 23% less. |
A JBL L52 Classic B KEF LS50
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 measures better, JBL L52 Classic costs about about 30% 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, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate JBL L52 Classic the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.