In this review, we will be comparing L82 Classic and LS50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L82 Classic and KEF LS50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L82 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 | 1" Dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Pulp | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-40k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-125 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.80kg / 28.2lbs | 7.20kg / 15.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18.6" x 11.0" x 12.4"
472.8 x 281.0 x 315.5mm | 11.8" x 7.8" x 10.9"
302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL L82 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 L82 Classic |
KEF LS50 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 L82 Classic and LS50 are 2-way speakers.
JBL L82 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 L82 Classic |
KEF LS50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
L82 Classic features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700Hz. 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
L82 Classic has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the L82 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
L82 Classic and LS50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L82 Classic sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the LS50's is at 85 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL L82 Classic a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50, 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.
L82 Classic can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas LS50 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the L82 Classic.
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
L82 Classic features Post type posts and LS50 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL L82 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
KEF LS50's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
L82 Classic has a front firing port whereas LS50 has a rear firing ports. JBL L82 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 L82 Classic's and KEF LS50's external dimensions. JBL L82 Classic has external dimensions of 472.8 x 281.0 x 315.5mm (18.6 x 11.0 x 12.4inch) whereas KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm (11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch).
JBL L82 Classic is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 81mm wider, 170.8mm taller and 37.5mm deeper than KEF LS50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L82 Classic and KEF LS50 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L82 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 L82 Classic is approximately 886.6cm2 / 137.4inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2. The L82 Classic requires 59% more surface area than the LS50 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 L82 Classic weighs 12.80kg / 28.2lbs and the KEF LS50 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs. This makes the L82 Classic 78% heavier than the LS50.
Here is a comparison of how L82 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 L82 Classic?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L82 Classic:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owner's 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
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
302mm
vs
472mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
556cm2
vs
886cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
2750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL L82 Classic |
KEF LS50 |
| Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-125 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-40k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700Hz |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
472.8mm (18.6") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
281.0mm (11.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
315.5mm (12.4") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
12.80kg (28.2lbs) |
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 |
15.5" |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - JBL L82 Classic costs roughly 2.1x what KEF LS50 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 L82 Classic digs deeper - 44Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | JBL L82 Classic is more sensitive (88dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | JBL L82 Classic takes more power (125W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF LS50 is easier to place; JBL L82 Classic is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| 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 | B | KEF LS50 is cheaper - $1,300 against $2,750, about 53% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL L82 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: JBL L82 Classic measures better, KEF LS50 costs about about 112% 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 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate JBL L82 Classic the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF LS50 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.