In this review, we will be comparing LSX II and Xeo 20, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Dynaudio. 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 Dynaudio Xeo 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LSX II | Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 260-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 11th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy | 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 54-28k Hz | 40-21k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 384 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Built-in 4.1 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs | 6.21kg / 13.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.5" x 6.1" x 7.1"
240 × 155 × 180 mm | 12.625" x 7.125" x 10.125"
320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both LSX II and Xeo 20 are 2-way speakers.
KEF LSX IIDynaudio Xeo 20
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 LSX II |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-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 Xeo 20 features a 1.1" Coated Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer.
Frequency Response
LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz whereas Xeo 20 has a frequency range of 40-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Xeo 20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LSX II's min frequency of 54Hz.
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LSX II and Xeo 20 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 LSX II 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 LSX II's and Dynaudio Xeo 20's external dimensions. KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm (9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch) whereas Dynaudio Xeo 20 has external dimensions of 320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm (12.625 x 7.125 x 10.125inch).
Dynaudio Xeo 20 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 26mm wider, 80.7mm taller and 77.2mm deeper than KEF LSX II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LSX II and Dynaudio Xeo 20 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LSX II and Dynaudio Xeo 20 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 LSX II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Xeo 20 is approximately 465.5cm2 / 72.2inch2. The LSX II requires 40% less surface area than the Xeo 20 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of KEF LSX II and Dynaudio Xeo 20 on a Media Console
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 Dynaudio Xeo 20 weighs 6.21kg / 13.7lbs. This makes the Xeo 20 73% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how LSX II and Xeo 20'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 speakers
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
- Maintenance Guide
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Xeo 20?
Here are the items that come with the Xeo 20:
- 2 Powered bookshelf speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 8-feet AC power cords
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Setup Manual
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
240mm
vs
320mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
279cm2
vs
465cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1299USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer)
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Subwoofer Output |
Wired
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
KEF LSX II |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
54-28k Hz |
40-21k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
260-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
384 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1.1" |
| 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") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
180.0mm (7.1") |
257.2mm (10.1") |
| Weight |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
6.21kg (13.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
Service |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
No |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Xeo 20 costs roughly 1.9x what KEF LSX II 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 | Dynaudio Xeo 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 54Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | Dynaudio Xeo 20 has the bigger amplifier (260W vs 200W RMS). |
| Connections | A | KEF LSX II adds Wi-Fi, streaming and HDMI. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX II is easier to place; Dynaudio Xeo 20 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | KEF LSX II: a sub output. KEF LSX II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | KEF LSX II is cheaper - $1,299 against $2,500, about 48% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF LSX II B Dynaudio Xeo 20
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 54Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF LSX II much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Dynaudio Xeo 20 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX II is the easier speaker to get right.
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.