In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Wireless and YU2, 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 and Kanto YU2 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 and Kanto YU2 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 and YU2 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
Kanto YU2 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 3-inch
|
LS50 Wireless features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer . On the other hand, the YU2 features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 3" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
LS50 Wireless has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas YU2 has a frequency range of 80-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 79Hz, the LS50 Wireless can go slightly deeper then the YU2's min frequency of 80Hz.
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 and YU2 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's and Kanto YU2'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 Kanto YU2 has external dimensions of 150.0 x 100.0 x 135.0mm ( 5.90 x 3.9 x 5.3inch) .
KEF LS50 Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 100mm wider, 151.6mm taller and 201.5mm deeper than Kanto YU2.
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 Kanto YU2 is approximately 135.0cm2 / 20.9inch2. The LS50 Wireless requires 399% more surface area than the YU2 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 Kanto YU2 weighs 1.30kg / 2.9lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless 669% heavier than the YU2.
Here is a comparison of how LS50 Wireless and YU2'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 cords10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable6.5-feet USB-B to USB-A cable42
What's in the Box of Kanto YU2?
Here are the items that come with the YU2:
Power Cord Speaker Wire (10-feet) USB DAC Cable 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5-feet) 8 x Rubber Feet Manual
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
79 Hz
vs
80 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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 |
Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
Height |
150mm
vs
301mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
135cm2 (100x135mm)
vs
673cm2 (200x336mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
General |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
Kanto YU2 |
Brand |
KEF |
Kanto |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
79-28k Hz |
80-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
230-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
100-watt RMS |
Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
3" |
Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
301.6mm (11.9") |
150.0mm (5.9") |
Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
100.0mm (3.9") |
Depth |
336.5mm (13.2") |
135.0mm (5.3") |
Weight |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
1.30kg (2.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
RCA |
RCA |
USB Port |
USB-B |
No |
Phone Input |
No |
No |
Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
No |
Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
HDMI Input |
No |
No |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |