In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KEF. KEF LS50 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the LS50C Meta is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS50 and KEF LS50C Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF LS50 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Vented dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-100watts
- Weight:7.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 302.0" x 7.8" x 10.9"( 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm )
KEF LS50C Meta Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Vented dome Tweeter
- 5.25" aluminum Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-100watts
- Weight:7.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 301.0" x 7-7/8" x 11-1/16"( 301.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm )
LS50 and LS50C Meta are members of KEF's LS series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KEF LS50 and KEF LS50C Meta 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 |
KEF LS50C Meta |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LS50 and KEF LS50C Meta 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 LS50C Meta are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF LS50 |
KEF LS50C Meta |
|
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 LS50C Meta features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
LS50 and LS50C Meta has exactly the same frequency range of 79-28k Hz.
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 and LS50C Meta have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.
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
LS50 features Binding post type posts and LS50C Meta has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF LS50's Post terminals
KEF LS50C Meta's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LS50 and LS50C Meta 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 LS50C Meta off-set flexible 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 KEF LS50C Meta'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 KEF LS50C Meta has external dimensions of 301.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm ( 11-13/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-1/16inch) .
KEF LS50 is 1mm narrower and 3mm less deeper than KEF LS50C Meta but it is also 1mm 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 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50C Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2. The LS50 requires 2% less surface area than the LS50C Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 KEF LS50C Meta?
Here are the items that come with the LS50C Meta:
Center-channel loudspeakerFoam port plug4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Registration Card
Base Surface Area 
Uni-Q Driver 
Minimum Impedance 
Height