In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Wireless II and LSX, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by KEF. 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 KEF LSX first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LS50 Wireless II | KEF LSX |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 380-watt RMS (760-watt peak) | 200-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 0.75" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-28k Hz | 59-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | Yes / 384 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 20.10kg / 44.2lbs | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.9375" x 7.875" x 12.6875"
277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm | 9.4375" x 6.125" x 7.1"
239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm |
|---|
LS50 Wireless II and LSX are members of KEF's LS series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both LS50 Wireless II and LSX are 2-way speakers.
KEF LS50 Wireless IIKEF LSX
TweeterWoofer
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 Wireless II |
KEF LSX |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
LS50 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer. On the other hand, the LSX features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer.
Frequency Response
LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz whereas LSX has a frequency range of 59-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the LS50 Wireless II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LSX's min frequency of 59Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LS50 Wireless II and LSX 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 Wireless II's and KEF LSX'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 KEF LSX has external dimensions of 239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm (9.4375 x 6.125 x 7.1inch).
KEF LS50 Wireless II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 44.4mm wider, 38.1mm taller and 142.3mm deeper than KEF LSX.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 Wireless II and KEF LSX in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LS50 Wireless II and KEF LSX 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 KEF LSX is approximately 280.1cm2 / 43.4inch2. The LS50 Wireless II requires 130% more surface area than the LSX 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 Wireless II and KEF LSX 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 20.10kg / 44.2lbs and the KEF LSX weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 474% heavier than the LSX.
Here is a comparison of how LS50 Wireless II and LSX's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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' AC power cords
- 10' Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 \"AAA\" batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF LSX?
Here are the items that come with the LSX:
- 2 Powered wireless audio speaker
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Ethernet cable
- Remote control (CR2032 3V battery pre-installed)
- Maintenance Guide
- Specifications
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Information
 Uni-Q Driver |
12th Generation
vs
11th Generation
|
Newer generation Driver |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Height |
239mm
vs
277mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
280cm2
vs
644cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1250USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
KEF LSX |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
45-28k Hz |
59-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
380-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
760-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
Yes |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
384 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
277.8mm (10.9") |
239.7mm (9.4") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
155.6mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
322.3mm (12.7") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
20.10kg (44.2lbs) |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Olive Green, Gloss White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
Service only |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
1 |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
eARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Year w/ registration |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Year w/ registration |
1 Year |
Siblings in KEF's LS series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KEF LS50 Wireless II digs deeper - 45Hz against 59Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | KEF LS50 Wireless II has the bigger amplifier (380W vs 200W RMS). |
| Connections | A | KEF LS50 Wireless II adds HDMI. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX is easier to place; KEF LS50 Wireless II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF LS50 Wireless II: a sub output; KEF LSX: a sub output. |
| Price | B | KEF LSX is cheaper - $1,250 against $2,999, about 58% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF LS50 Wireless II B KEF LSX
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: KEF LS50 Wireless II measures better, KEF LSX costs about about 140% 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 59Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LSX much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, KEF LS50 Wireless II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX is the easier speaker to get right.
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.