In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Wireless II and YU4, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Kanto. 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 Kanto YU4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LS50 Wireless II and Kanto YU4 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 Wireless II and YU4 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
Kanto YU4 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
LS50 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer . On the other hand, the YU4 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz whereas YU4 has a frequency range of 60-20k 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 YU4's min frequency of 60Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LS50 Wireless II and YU4 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 Kanto YU4'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 Kanto YU4 has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ( 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) .
KEF LS50 Wireless II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 57.8mm taller and 132.3mm deeper than Kanto YU4.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 Wireless II and Kanto YU4 in scale.
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 Kanto YU4 is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2. The LS50 Wireless II requires 142% more surface area than the YU4 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:
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 Kanto YU4 weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 300% heavier than the YU4.
Here is a comparison of how LS50 Wireless II and YU4'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 speakersTwo 6.5-feet AC power cords10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cableRemote control2 AAA batteries Quick Start Guide Important Safety Information Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Kanto YU4?
Here are the items that come with the YU4:
Remote with Batteries Power Cord Speaker Wire (16′) 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′) 8 x Rubber Feet Manual
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
60 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
USB Port |
Service only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
Height |
220mm
vs
277mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
266cm2 (140x190mm)
vs
644cm2 (200x322mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
450USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
General |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
Kanto YU4 |
Brand |
KEF |
Kanto |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
45-28k Hz |
60-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
380-watt RMS |
70-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
760-watt RMS |
140-watt RMS |
Max Bit Depth |
32-bit |
24-bit |
Max Sample Rate |
384 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
277.8mm (10.9") |
220.0mm (8.7") |
Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
140.0mm (5.5") |
Depth |
322.3mm (12.7") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
2.50kg (5.5lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
USB Port |
Service only |
Charge only |
Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
Digital Input |
Optical, Coax |
Optical (2) |
HDMI Input |
eARC |
No |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |