In this review, we will be comparing LS60 Wireless and Navis ARF-51, two Powered Floor-standing speakers from KEF and ELAC. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF LS60 Wireless and ELAC Navis ARF-51 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LS60 Wireless | ELAC Navis ARF-51 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 1400-watt RMS | 300-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" aluminum dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 5.25" Uni-Core force-cancelling | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 31-24k Hz | 43-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 384 kHz | — |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Optional |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 31.20kg / 68.6lbs | 21.00kg / 46.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42.9" x 8.3" x 15.5"
1090.0 x 212.0 x 394.0mm | 42.125" x 9.6875" x 11.5625"
1070.0 x 247.0 x 294.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both LS60 Wireless and Navis ARF-51 are 3-way speakers.
KEF LS60 WirelessELAC Navis ARF-51
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 LS60 Wireless |
ELAC Navis ARF-51 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
LS60 Wireless features a 0.75" Aluminum aluminum dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 4 x 5.25" Uni-Core force-cancelling Woofer. On the other hand, the Navis ARF-51 features a 1" Fabric Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
LS60 Wireless has a frequency range of 31-24k Hz whereas Navis ARF-51 has a frequency range of 43-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 31Hz, the LS60 Wireless can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Navis ARF-51's min frequency of 43Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LS60 Wireless and Navis ARF-51 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
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 LS60 Wireless's and ELAC Navis ARF-51's external dimensions. KEF LS60 Wireless has external dimensions of 1090.0 x 212.0 x 394.0mm (42.9 x 8.3 x 15.5inch) whereas ELAC Navis ARF-51 has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 247.0 x 294.0mm (42.125 x 9.6875 x 11.5625inch).
ELAC Navis ARF-51 is 20mm shorter and 100mm less deeper than KEF LS60 Wireless but it is also 35mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LS60 Wireless and ELAC Navis ARF-51 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LS60 Wireless and ELAC Navis ARF-51 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 LS60 Wireless is approximately 835.3cm2 / 129.5inch2 and base area of the ELAC Navis ARF-51 is approximately 726.2cm2 / 112.6inch2. The LS60 Wireless requires 15% more surface area than the Navis ARF-51 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 LS60 Wireless weighs 31.20kg / 68.6lbs and the ELAC Navis ARF-51 weighs 21.00kg / 46.2lbs. This makes the LS60 Wireless 49% heavier than the Navis ARF-51.
Here is a comparison of how LS60 Wireless and Navis ARF-51's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF LS60 Wireless?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LS60 Wireless:
- 2 Wireless Speakers
- Power Cords
- Interspeaker Cable
- Remote Control
- Optional Floor Spikes
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty and Safety Documents
What's in the Box of ELAC Navis ARF-51?
Here are the items that come with the Navis ARF-51:
- Powered floorstanding loudspeaker
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Base plate
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Isolation pucks
- 4 Screws
- Operating Instructions
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
31 Hz
vs
43 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Service only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Digital Input |
TOSLINK Optical, Coax
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1070mm
vs
1090mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
726cm2
vs
835cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3798USD
vs
4999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
| General |
KEF LS60 Wireless |
ELAC Navis ARF-51 |
| Brand |
KEF |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
31-24k Hz |
43-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1400-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
n/a |
| Max Sample Rate |
384 kHz |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Uni-Core force-cancelling |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminum dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
4" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1090.0mm (42.9") |
1070.0mm (42.1") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Depth |
394.0mm (15.5") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
31.20kg (68.6lbs) |
21.00kg (46.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Mineral White, Titanium Grey, Royal Blue, British racing green, Carbon black |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
No |
XLR, RCA |
| USB Port |
Service only |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
No |
| Digital Input |
TOSLINK Optical, Coax |
No |
| HDMI Input |
eARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
3 Years |
A generation apart: KEF LS60 Wireless is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KEF LS60 Wireless digs deeper - 31Hz against 43Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | KEF LS60 Wireless has the bigger amplifier (1400W vs 300W RMS). |
| Connections | A | KEF LS60 Wireless adds Wi-Fi, streaming, HDMI and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | KEF LS60 Wireless: a sub output. KEF LS60 Wireless sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | ELAC Navis ARF-51 is cheaper - $3,798 against $4,999, about 24% less. |
A KEF LS60 Wireless B ELAC Navis ARF-51
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?
KEF LS60 Wireless leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. ELAC Navis ARF-51 is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 43Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ELAC Navis ARF-51 much easier to justify.
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.