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KEF LS50 Meta vs KEF LS50C Meta Comparison

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KEF LS50 Meta

Passive Bookshelf | 79-28k Hz

KEF LS50 Meta
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KEF LS50C Meta

Passive Center Channel | 79-28k Hz

KEF LS50C Meta
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KEF LS50 Meta KEF LS50 Meta
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KEF LS50C Meta KEF LS50C Meta
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KEF LS50 Meta
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KEF LS50C Meta
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KEF LS50 Meta vs KEF LS50C Meta Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KEF. KEF LS50 Meta is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the LS50C Meta is a Center Channel speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF LS50 Meta and KEF LS50C Meta 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 )

KEF LS50C Meta Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Vented 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): 301.0" x 7-7/8" x 11-1/16"( 301.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm )

LS50 Meta and LS50C Meta are members of KEF's LS series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

KEF LS Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
KEF LS50 Meta
Bookshelf 79-28k Hz 85 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
KEF LS50
  
Bookshelf 79-28k Hz 85 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"
KEF LS50C Meta
Center Channel 79-28k Hz 85 dB8Ω 1 x 5.25"

What size room are the KEF LS50 Meta and KEF LS50C Meta 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 KEF LS50C Meta
Near-field Average Average
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room Bad 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LS50 Meta and KEF LS50C Meta compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both LS50 Meta and LS50C Meta are 2-way speakers.

Driver KEF LS50 Meta KEF LS50C Meta
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
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 LS50C Meta features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.

Frequency Response

LS50 Meta and LS50C Meta has exactly the same frequency range of 79-28k Hz.

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

LS50 Meta
LS50C Meta
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF LS50 Meta
KEF LS50C Meta
Min
Average
Max

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 LS50C Meta have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

LS50 Meta
LS50C Meta
Min
Average
Max

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 and LS50C Meta has the same power range of 40-100 watts.

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 Binding post type posts and LS50C Meta has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF LS50 Meta Terminals
KEF LS50 Meta's Post terminals

KEF LS50C Meta Terminals
KEF LS50C Meta's Binding post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both LS50 Meta and LS50C Meta 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.

KEF LS50C Meta  Port
KEF LS50C Meta off-set flexible 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 KEF LS50C Meta'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 KEF LS50C Meta has external dimensions of 301.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm ( 11-13/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-1/16inch) .

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 KEF LS50C Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2.

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 KEF LS50C Meta?

    Here are the items that come with the LS50C Meta:
  • Center-channel loudspeaker
  • Foam port plug
  • 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Owners Manual
  • Warranty Registration Card

  • Reasons to choose KEF LS50 Meta over KEF LS50C Meta

    Reasons to choose KEF LS50C Meta over KEF LS50 Meta

    Height 301mm vs 303mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 900USD vs 1600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    KEF LS50 Meta vs KEF LS50C Meta Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF LS50 Meta KEF LS50C Meta
    Brand KEF KEF
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Center channel speaker
    Power Range 40-100 watts 40-100 watts
    Sensitivity 85 dB 85 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.5 ohms 3.5 ohms
    Frequency Response 79-28k Hz 79-28k 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 Vented dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency 2100Hz 2100Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 303.0mm (11.9") 301.0mm (11.9")
    Width 201.0mm (7.9") 201.0mm (7.9")
    Depth 281.0mm (11.1") 281.0mm (11.1")
    Weight 7.82kg (17.2lbs) 7.82kg (17.2lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Polymer n/a
    Available Colors Carbon Black,Titanium Grey,Royal Blue,Mineral White Grey
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 25-30" n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No n/a
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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