In this review, we will be comparing LSX II and Sonos Five, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Sonos. 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 Sonos Five 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 Sonos Five 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 Sonos Five are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF LSX II |
Sonos Five |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
3 x 0.8-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
3 x 2.75-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 Sonos Five features a 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter and 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz whereas Sonos Five has a frequency range of . With a minimum frequency of Hz, the Sonos Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
LSX II has a rear firing port whereas Sonos Five has a front firing ports. Sonos Five's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LSX II with its rear-firing port.
KEF LSX II 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 LSX II's and Sonos Five's external dimensions. KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm ( 9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch) whereas Sonos Five has external dimensions of 201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm ( 7.9375 x 14.3125 x 6.875inch) .
Sonos Five is 38.4mm shorter and 5.4mm less deeper than KEF LSX II but it is also 208.5mm wider.
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 Sonos Five is approximately 634.7cm2 / 98.4inch2. The LSX II requires 56% less surface area than the Sonos Five 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 Sonos Five weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs. This makes the Sonos Five 78% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how LSX II and Sonos Five'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 Sonos Five?
Here are the items that come with the Sonos Five:
Wireless audio speaker 6.5-feet AC power cord Quickstart Guide Important Safety Information
 Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Base Surface Area |
279cm2 (155x180mm)
vs
634cm2 (363x174mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
201mm
vs
240mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1098USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF LSX II |
Sonos Five |
| Brand |
KEF |
Sonos |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
54-28k Hz |
|
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
16-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
384 kHz |
44.1kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
2.75" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
3 x 0.8" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
240.0mm (9.4") |
201.6mm (7.9") |
| Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
363.5mm (14.3") |
| Depth |
180.0mm (7.1") |
174.6mm (6.9") |
| Weight |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Optional Wireless |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |