In this review, we will be comparing LS50 Wireless and R-51M, two Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Klipsch. The main difference between these two speakers is that the KEF LS50 Wireless is a Powered speaker which means that it has a built-in amplifier inside the speaker body so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp whereas the Klipsch R-51M is a Passive speaker so has to be matched with an amplifier to get any sound from it.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS50 Wireless and Klipsch R-51M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF LS50 Wireless Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 230-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:10.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 301.6" x 7.875" x 13.25"( 301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm )
Klipsch R-51M Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 62-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:Up to 85watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 338.0" x 7.0" x 8.4"( 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LS50 Wireless and Klipsch R-51M 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 R-51M are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
Klipsch R-51M |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
LS50 Wireless features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer . On the other hand, the R-51M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1660Hz.
Frequency Response
LS50 Wireless has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas R-51M has a frequency range of 62-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 62Hz, the R-51M can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Wireless's min frequency of 79Hz.
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 R-51M 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 Klipsch R-51M'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 Klipsch R-51M has external dimensions of 338.0 x 178.0 x 215.0mm ( 13.3 x 7.0 x 8.4inch) .
Klipsch R-51M is 22mm narrower and 121.5mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless but it is also 36.4mm 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 Klipsch R-51M is approximately 382.7cm2 / 59.3inch2. The LS50 Wireless requires 76% more surface area than the R-51M which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Klipsch R-51M?
Here are the items that come with the R-51M:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles (installed) 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Quick Setup Guide Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information