In this review, we will be comparing LSX II and A5+, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Audioengine. 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 LSX II and Audioengine A5+ first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LSX II and Audioengine A5+ 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 LSX II and A5+ are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
KEF LSX II |
Audioengine A5+ |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
LSX II features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer . On the other hand, the A5+ features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz whereas A5+ has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the A5+ can go slightly deeper then the LSX II's min frequency of 54Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LSX II and A5+ 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
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 LSX II's and Audioengine A5+'s external dimensions. KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm ( 9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch) whereas Audioengine A5+ has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm ( 10.875 x 7.1888 x 9.75inch) .
Audioengine A5+ is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27.6mm wider, 36.2mm taller and 67.6mm deeper than KEF LSX II.
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 LSX II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The LSX II requires 38% less surface area than the A5+ 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 LSX II weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs and the Audioengine A5+ weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the A5+ 22% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how LSX II and A5+'s weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF LSX II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LSX II:
2 Wireless powered speakersTwo 6.5-feet AC power cords10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cableRemote control2 AAA batteries Quick Start Guide Important Safety Information Warranty Information Maintenance Guide
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+?
Here are the items that come with the A5+:
Powered left speakerPassive right speaker6-feet AC power cordRemote control (with installed CR2025 battery)12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire6.5-feet Stereo mini-jack cable (3.5mm mini-jack on both ends)6-feet Stereo RCA cableCloth drawstring cable bag2 Cloth drawstring speaker bagsSetup guideAudioengine product brochure
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
Height |
240mm
vs
276mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
279cm2 (155x180mm)
vs
452cm2 (182x247mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer)
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Price per pair* |
399USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
General |
KEF LSX II |
Audioengine A5+ |
Brand |
KEF |
Audioengine |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
54-28k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
75-watt RMS |
Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
n/a |
Max Sample Rate |
384 kHz |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
Kevlar |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
240.0mm (9.4") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
Depth |
180.0mm (7.1") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
Weight |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
Black, Bamboo, White |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
Charge only |
Phone Input |
No |
No |
Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |