In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Wireless and LSX II, 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 and KEF LSX II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LS50 Wireless | KEF LSX II |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 230-watt RMS | 200-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 11th Generation Uni-Q | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 0.75" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 79-28k Hz | 54-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.0 | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 10.00kg / 22lbs | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.875" x 7.875" x 13.25"
301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm | 9.5" x 6.1" x 7.1"
240 × 155 × 180 mm |
|---|
LS50 Wireless and LSX II 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 and LSX II are 2-way speakers.
KEF LS50 WirelessKEF LSX II
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 |
KEF LSX II |
|
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 features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer. On the other hand, the LSX II features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer.
Frequency Response
LS50 Wireless has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 54Hz, the LSX II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Wireless's min frequency of 79Hz.
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 and LSX II 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 LSX II Port
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's and KEF LSX II's external dimensions. KEF LS50 Wireless has external dimensions of 301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm (11.875 x 7.875 x 13.25inch) whereas KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm (9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch).
KEF LS50 Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 45mm wider, 61.6mm taller and 156.5mm deeper than KEF LSX II.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF LS50 Wireless needs about 141% more floor or shelf area. KEF LS50 Wireless is 157mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF LS50 Wireless is 62mm taller.
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 is approximately 673.0cm2 / 104.3inch2 and base area of the KEF LSX II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2. The LS50 Wireless requires 141% more surface area than the LSX II which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs and the KEF LSX II weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless 178% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how LS50 Wireless and LSX II'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LS50 Wireless:
- Wireless powered speaker (Right)
- Wireless powered speaker (Left)
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- 6.5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable
- 42
What's in the Box of KEF LSX II?
Here are the items that come with the LSX 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
- Maintenance Guide
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
|
Low Frequency Response |
54 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
240mm
vs
301mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
279cm2
vs
673cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
KEF LSX II |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
79-28k Hz |
54-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
230-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
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 |
301.6mm (11.9") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
155.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
336.5mm (13.2") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
No |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
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 | B | KEF LSX II digs deeper - 54Hz against 79Hz. |
| Built-in power | evenly matched | Similar onboard amplification (230W vs 200W RMS). |
| Connections | B | KEF LSX II adds HDMI. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX II is easier to place; KEF LS50 Wireless is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF LS50 Wireless: a sub output; KEF LSX II: a sub output. |
| Price | B | KEF LSX II is cheaper - $1,299 against $2,200, about 41% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF LS50 Wireless B KEF LSX II
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?
KEF LSX II is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take KEF LS50 Wireless if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, KEF LS50 Wireless has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX II 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.