In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Meta and Uni-Fi UB5, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS50 Meta and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LS50 Meta | ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminum | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 79-28k Hz | 46-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-100 watts | 40-140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs | 7.48kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-15/16" x 7.875" x 11-1/16"
303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm | 12.7" x 7.8" x 10.7"
324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF LS50 Meta and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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* |
KEF LS50 Meta |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that LS50 Meta is a 2-way design whereas the Uni-Fi UB5 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
KEF LS50 MetaELAC Uni-Fi UB5
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KEF LS50 Meta |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
LS50 Meta features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz. On the other hand, the Uni-Fi UB5 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 270Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
LS50 Meta has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas Uni-Fi UB5 has a frequency range of 46-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Uni-Fi UB5 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
LS50 Meta is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Uni-Fi UB5 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Uni-Fi UB5 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.
Uni-Fi UB5 can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas LS50 Meta has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Uni-Fi UB5.
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
LS50 Meta features Post type posts and Uni-Fi UB5 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF LS50 Meta's Post terminals
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LS50 Meta and Uni-Fi UB5 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 KEF LS50 Meta's and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5's external dimensions. 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) whereas ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 has external dimensions of 324.0 x 200.0 x 273.0mm (12.7 x 7.8 x 10.7inch).
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is 1mm narrower and 8mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Meta but it is also 21mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 Meta and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LS50 Meta and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 KEF LS50 Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2 and base area of the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 is approximately 546.0cm2 / 84.6inch2. The LS50 Meta requires 3% more surface area than the Uni-Fi UB5 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 KEF LS50 Meta and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 KEF LS50 Meta weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs and the ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 weighs 7.48kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the LS50 Meta 5% heavier than the Uni-Fi UB5.
Here is a comparison of how LS50 Meta and Uni-Fi UB5's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LS50 Meta:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
What's in the Box of ELAC Uni-Fi UB5?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi UB5:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Operating Instructions
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
303mm
vs
324mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
546cm2
vs
564cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KEF LS50 Meta |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 |
| Brand |
KEF |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
40-100 watts |
40-140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
79-28k Hz |
46-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2100Hz |
270Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
303.0mm (11.9") |
324.0mm (12.8") |
| Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
281.0mm (11.1") |
273.0mm (10.7") |
| Weight |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
7.48kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Polymer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Carbon Black,Titanium Grey,Royal Blue,Mineral White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
25-30" |
24-31" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 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 |
B |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 digs deeper - 46Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
A |
KEF LS50 Meta is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom |
B |
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 takes more power (140W vs 100W) - 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 Meta sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
A KEF LS50 Meta
B ELAC Uni-Fi UB5
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?
ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 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 KEF LS50 Meta the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 for a mid-size room and a large 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.