In this review, we will be comparing LS50 and L100 Classic, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS50 and JBL L100 Classic first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LS50 | JBL L100 Classic |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 11th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Vented dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy | 12" Pulp |
|---|
| Frequency response | 79-28k Hz | 40-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 25-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.20kg / 15.8lbs | 26.70kg / 58.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.8" x 7.8" x 10.9"
302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm | 25.0" x 15.3" x 14.6"
636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF LS50 and JBL L100 Classic 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:
| Listening Environment* |
KEF LS50 |
JBL L100 Classic |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that LS50 is a 2-way design whereas the L100 Classic is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
KEF LS50JBL L100 Classic
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
JBL L100 Classic |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 12-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 L100 Classic features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 3500Hz.
Frequency Response
LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz whereas L100 Classic has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the L100 Classic can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50'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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
LS50 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the L100 Classic which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 Classic can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. LS50 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the L100 Classic's is rated at 90 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL L100 Classic a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
L100 Classic can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas LS50 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the L100 Classic.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
LS50 features Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts and L100 Classic has a Five-way gold-plated binding posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF LS50's Post terminals
JBL L100 Classic's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
LS50 has a rear firing port whereas L100 Classic has a front firing ports. JBL L100 Classic's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 with its rear-firing 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's and JBL L100 Classic'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 JBL L100 Classic has external dimensions of 636.5 x 389.6 x 371.5mm (25.0 x 15.3 x 14.6inch).
JBL L100 Classic is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 189.6mm wider, 334.5mm taller and 93.5mm deeper than KEF LS50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS50 and JBL L100 Classic in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LS50 and JBL L100 Classic Size and External Dimensions
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 JBL L100 Classic is approximately 1447.4cm2 / 224.3inch2. The LS50 requires 62% less surface area than the L100 Classic which gives it a small advantage 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 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs and the JBL L100 Classic weighs 26.70kg / 58.7lbs. This makes the L100 Classic 271% heavier than the LS50.
Here is a comparison of how LS50 and L100 Classic'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 JBL L100 Classic?
Here are the items that come with the L100 Classic:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owner's Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
302mm
vs
636mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
556cm2
vs
1447cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
4400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
| General |
KEF LS50 |
JBL L100 Classic |
| Brand |
KEF |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
25-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
79-28k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
Pulp |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Vented dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
450Hz and 3500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
302.0mm (11.9") |
636.5mm (25.1") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
389.6mm (15.3") |
| Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
371.5mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
7.20kg (15.8lbs) |
26.70kg (58.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Polymer/Lacquer |
Genuine walnut veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White |
Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-28" |
18" |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - JBL L100 Classic costs roughly 3.4x what KEF LS50 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | JBL L100 Classic digs deeper - 40Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | JBL L100 Classic is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | KEF LS50 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | JBL L100 Classic takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF LS50 is easier to place; JBL L100 Classic is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF LS50 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | KEF LS50 is cheaper - $1,300 against $4,400, about 70% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF LS50 B JBL L100 Classic
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?
The usual trade-off: JBL L100 Classic measures better, KEF LS50 costs about about 3.4x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LS50 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate KEF LS50 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL L100 Classic for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.