In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by KEF. KEF LS50C Meta is a Center Channel speaker whereas the LS50 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS50C Meta and KEF LS50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LS50C Meta | KEF LS50 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Vented dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" aluminum | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 79-28k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-100 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs | 7.20kg / 15.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-13/16" x 7-7/8" x 11-1/16"
301.0 x 201.0 x 281.0mm | 11.8" x 7.8" x 10.9"
302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
LS50C Meta and LS50 are members of KEF's LS series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KEF LS50C Meta and KEF LS50 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 LS50C Meta |
KEF LS50 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both LS50C Meta and LS50 are 2-way speakers.
KEF LS50C MetaKEF LS50
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KEF LS50C Meta |
KEF LS50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
LS50C Meta features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2100Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
LS50C Meta and LS50 has exactly the same frequency range of 79-28k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
LS50C Meta and LS50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though LS50C Meta is rated 40-100 watts and LS50 25-100 watts.
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
LS50C Meta features Post type posts and LS50 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF LS50C Meta's Binding post terminals
KEF LS50's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LS50C Meta and LS50 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
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 LS50C Meta's and KEF LS50's external dimensions. 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) whereas KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm (11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch).
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 LS50C Meta is approximately 564.8cm2 / 87.5inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2. The LS50C Meta requires 2% more surface area than the LS50 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of KEF LS50C Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LS50C Meta:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Foam port plug
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
What's in the Box of KEF LS50?
Here are the items that come with the LS50:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card