In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Meta and L82 Classic, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS50 Meta and JBL L82 Classic first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF LS50 Meta Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-100watts
- Weight:7.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 303.0" x 7.875" x 11-1/16"( 303.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm )
JBL L82 Classic Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 8" Pulp Woofer
- 44-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-125watts
- Weight:12.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 472.8" x 11.0" x 12.4"( 472.8 x 281.0 x 315.5mm )
What size room are the KEF LS50 Meta and JBL L82 Classic 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 |
JBL L82 Classic |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LS50 Meta and JBL L82 Classic compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both LS50 Meta and L82 Classic are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF LS50 Meta |
JBL L82 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-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 L82 Classic features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700Hz.
Frequency Response
LS50 Meta has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas L82 Classic has a frequency range of 44-40k 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 Meta's min frequency of 79Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
LS50 Meta and L82 Classic have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. LS50 Meta sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the L82 Classic's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL L82 Classic a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50 Meta, 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. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
LS50 Meta can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas LS50 Meta has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 25 watts less than the L82 Classic.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
LS50 Meta features Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts and L82 Classic has a Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF LS50 Meta's Post terminals
JBL L82 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
LS50 Meta has a rear firing port whereas L82 Classic has a front firing ports. JBL L82 Classic's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 Meta with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 JBL L82 Classic'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 JBL L82 Classic has external dimensions of 472.8 x 281.0 x 315.5mm ( 18.6 x 11.0 x 12.4inch) .
JBL L82 Classic is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 80mm wider, 169.8mm taller and 34.5mm deeper than KEF LS50 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 Meta and JBL L82 Classic in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LS50 Meta and JBL L82 Classic 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 JBL L82 Classic is approximately 886.6cm2 / 137.4inch2. The LS50 Meta requires 36% less surface area than the L82 Classic which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.