In this review, we will be comparing LS50 and Carina BS243.4, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS50 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF LS50 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LS50 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 and Carina BS243.4 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
KEF LS50 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
LS50 features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the Carina BS243.4 features a 1" JET AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas Carina BS243.4 has a frequency range of 46-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Carina BS243.4 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50'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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
LS50 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Carina BS243.4 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 85 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Carina BS243.4 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. LS50 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
LS50 has a rear firing port whereas Carina BS243.4 has a bottom firing ports. ELAC Carina BS243.4's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 with its rear-firing port.
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's and ELAC Carina BS243.4's external dimensions. KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch) whereas ELAC Carina BS243.4 has external dimensions of 321.0 x 205.0 x 247.0mm ( 12-5/8 x 8-1/16 x 9-11/16inch) .
KEF LS50 is 5mm narrower and 19mm shorter than ELAC Carina BS243.4 but it is also 31mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 and ELAC Carina BS243.4 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 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2 and base area of the ELAC Carina BS243.4 is approximately 506.4cm2 / 78.5inch2. The LS50 requires 10% more surface area than the Carina BS243.4 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 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs and the ELAC Carina BS243.4 weighs 6.70kg / 14.7lbs. This makes the LS50 7% heavier than the Carina BS243.4.
Here is a comparison of how LS50 and Carina BS243.4's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF LS50?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LS50:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Foam port plugs 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owner's Manual Warranty Registration Card
What's in the Box of ELAC Carina BS243.4?
Here are the items that come with the Carina BS243.4:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 4 Jumper straps (pre-intalled) Operating Instructions
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Height |
302mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Base Surface Area |
506cm2 (205x247mm)
vs
556cm2 (200x278mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
KEF LS50 |
ELAC Carina BS243.4 |
Brand |
KEF |
ELAC |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
25-100 watts |
30-100 watts |
Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
79-28k Hz |
46-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Vented dome |
JET AMT (Ribbon) |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
302.0mm (11.9") |
321.0mm (12.6") |
Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
Weight |
7.20kg (15.8lbs) |
6.70kg (14.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Polymer/Lacquer |
MDF/Polymer |
Available Colors |
Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White |
Satin Black,Satin White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
18-28" |
24-28" |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |