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KEF LS50 Wireless II vs ELAC Navis ARB-51 Comparison

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KEF LS50 Wireless II

Powered Bookshelf | 45-28k Hz

KEF LS50 Wireless II
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ELAC Navis ARB-51

Powered Bookshelf | 44-28k Hz

ELAC Navis ARB-51
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KEF LS50 Wireless II KEF LS50 Wireless II
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ELAC Navis ARB-51 ELAC Navis ARB-51
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KEF LS50 Wireless II
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ELAC Navis ARB-51
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KEF LS50 Wireless II vs ELAC Navis ARB-51 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Wireless II and Navis ARB-51, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF and ELAC. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF LS50 Wireless II and ELAC Navis ARB-51 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF LS50 Wireless II Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 380-watt RMS( 760-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 45-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 32-bit Max Depth / 384 kHz Max Sample Rate
  • Built-in 4.2 Bluetooth
  • App Control Feature
  • Weight:10.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 277.8" x 7.875" x 12.6875"( 277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm )

ELAC Navis ARB-51 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 300-watt RMS( 600-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Midrange
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 4" Midrange
  • 44-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • Optional Bluetooth
  • Weight:8.10kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 350.8" x 7.5625" x 11.3125"( 350.8 x 192.1 x 287.3mm )

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LS50 Wireless II and ELAC Navis ARB-51 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

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that LS50 Wireless II is a 2-way design whereas the Navis ARB-51 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.

Driver KEF LS50 Wireless II ELAC Navis ARB-51
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 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the Navis ARB-51 features a 1" Fabric Soft-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .

Frequency Response

LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz whereas Navis ARB-51 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Navis ARB-51 can go slightly deeper then the LS50 Wireless II's min frequency of 45Hz.

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 Wireless II
Navis ARB-51
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF LS50 Wireless II
ELAC Navis ARB-51
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.

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both LS50 Wireless II and Navis ARB-51 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

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 Wireless II's and ELAC Navis ARB-51's external dimensions. KEF LS50 Wireless II has external dimensions of 277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm ( 10.9375 x 7.875 x 12.6875inch) whereas ELAC Navis ARB-51 has external dimensions of 350.8 x 192.1 x 287.3mm ( 13.8125 x 7.5625 x 11.3125inch) .

ELAC Navis ARB-51 is 7.9mm narrower and 35mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless II but it is also 73mm taller.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 Wireless II and ELAC Navis ARB-51 in scale.

KEF LS50 Wireless II vs ELAC Navis ARB-51 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KEF LS50 Wireless II and ELAC Navis ARB-51 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 Wireless II is approximately 644.6cm2 / 99.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Navis ARB-51 is approximately 551.9cm2 / 85.5inch2. The LS50 Wireless II requires 17% more surface area than the Navis ARB-51 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

KEF LS50 Wireless II vs ELAC Navis ARB-51 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of KEF LS50 Wireless II and ELAC Navis ARB-51 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 Wireless II weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the ELAC Navis ARB-51 weighs 8.10kg / 17.8lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 23% heavier than the Navis ARB-51.

Here is a comparison of how LS50 Wireless II and Navis ARB-51's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
KEF LS50 Wireless II
ELAC Navis ARB-51
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Wireless II?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of LS50 Wireless II:
  • 2 Wireless powered speakers
  • Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
  • 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
  • Remote control
  • 2 AAA batteries
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Important Safety Information
  • Warranty Information
  • What's in the Box of ELAC Navis ARB-51?

    Here are the items that come with the Navis ARB-51:
  • 2 Powered bookshelf loudspeakers
  • Two 8-feet AC power cords
  • Operating Instructions

  • Reasons to choose KEF LS50 Wireless II over ELAC Navis ARB-51
    Handheld Remote Yes vs No Control the speaker by the included RC
    App-Based Control Apple iOS, Android vs None Control the speaker via an app
    Height 277mm vs 350mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Ethernet Connection Yes vs No High quality streaming over Ethernet
    USB Port Service only vs No USB port adds flexibility
    3.5mm Connection Yes vs No Connection via 3.5mm AUX input
    Digital Input Optical, Coax vs No Connect digital inputs directly
    HDMI Input eARC vs No Connect HDMI sources directly
    Subwoofer Output Wired vs No Pair your speakers with external subwoofer

    Reasons to choose ELAC Navis ARB-51 over KEF LS50 Wireless II

    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Low Frequency Response 44 Hz vs 45 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Base Surface Area 551cm2 vs 644cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 1998USD vs 2499USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    RCA Connection Yes vs No Connection via RCA input
    XLR Connection Yes vs No Connection via XLR input
    KEF LS50 Wireless II vs ELAC Navis ARB-51 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF LS50 Wireless II ELAC Navis ARB-51
    Brand KEF ELAC
    Speaker Type Powered Stereo Speakers Powered Stereo Speakers
    Frequency Response 45-28k Hz 44-28k Hz
    Amplifier
    Watts RMS (Continuous) 380-watt RMS 300-watt RMS
    Watts Peak (Max) 760-watt RMS 600-watt RMS
    Max Bit Depth 32-bit n/a
    Max Sample Rate 384 kHz n/a
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5.25" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Aluminum Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber n/a
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Hard-Dome Soft-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No 4"
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 277.8mm (10.9") 350.8mm (13.8")
    Width 200.0mm (7.9") 192.1mm (7.6")
    Depth 322.3mm (12.7") 287.3mm (11.3")
    Weight 10.00kg (22lbs) 8.10kg (17.8lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Aux Inputs 3.5mm XLR, RCA
    USB Port Service only No
    Phone Input No No
    Subwoofer Output Wired No
    Digital Input Optical, Coax No
    HDMI Input eARC No
    Headphone Jack No No
    Ethernet Port Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 1 Year 3 Years
    Labor Warranty 1 Year 3 Years

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