In this review, we will be comparing LSX and A5+ Wireless, 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 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LSX | Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Audioengine
United States · founded 2005 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 100-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 11th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 0.75" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy | 5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 59-28k Hz | 50-22k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 44.1 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs | 4.40kg / 9.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.4375" x 6.125" x 7.1"
239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm | 10.875" x 7.1875" x 9.75"
276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both LSX and A5+ Wireless are 2-way speakers.
KEF LSXAudioengine A5+ Wireless
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 |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
|
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 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer. On the other hand, the A5+ Wireless features a 0.75" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
LSX has a frequency range of 59-28k Hz whereas A5+ Wireless has a frequency range of 50-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the A5+ Wireless can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LSX's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 and A5+ Wireless 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 LSX's and Audioengine A5+ Wireless's external dimensions. KEF LSX has external dimensions of 239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm (9.4375 x 6.125 x 7.1inch) whereas Audioengine A5+ Wireless has external dimensions of 276.2 x 182.6 x 247.6mm (10.875 x 7.1875 x 9.75inch).
Audioengine A5+ Wireless is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 27mm wider, 36.5mm taller and 67.6mm deeper than KEF LSX.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LSX and Audioengine A5+ Wireless in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LSX and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 is approximately 280.1cm2 / 43.4inch2 and base area of the Audioengine A5+ Wireless is approximately 452.1cm2 / 70.1inch2. The LSX requires 38% less surface area than the A5+ Wireless 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 and Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs and the Audioengine A5+ Wireless weighs 4.40kg / 9.7lbs. This makes the A5+ Wireless 26% heavier than the LSX.
Here is a comparison of how LSX and A5+ Wireless'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LSX:
- 2 Powered wireless audio speaker
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Ethernet cable
- Remote control (CR2032 3V battery pre-installed)
- Maintenance Guide
- Specifications
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Information
What's in the Box of Audioengine A5+ Wireless?
Here are the items that come with the A5+ Wireless:
- Powered left speaker
- Passive right speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control (with installed CR2025 battery)
- Antenna
- 12.5-feet Length of 16 gauge speaker wire
- 6.5-feet Stereo minijack cable
- 6-feet Stereo RCA cable
- Cloth drawstring cable bag
- 2 Cloth drawstring speaker bags
- Setup guide
- Audioengine 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 |
239mm
vs
276mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
280cm2
vs
452cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1250USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
KEF LSX |
Audioengine A5+ Wireless |
| Brand |
KEF |
Audioengine |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
59-28k Hz |
50-22k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
44.1 kHz |
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 |
239.7mm (9.4") |
276.2mm (10.9") |
| Width |
155.6mm (6.1") |
182.6mm (7.2") |
| Depth |
180.0mm (7.1") |
247.6mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
4.40kg (9.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, Olive Green, Gloss White |
Black, Bamboo, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
Charge only |
No |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
No |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KEF LSX costs roughly 2.5x what Audioengine A5+ Wireless 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 | Audioengine A5+ Wireless digs deeper - 50Hz against 59Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | A | KEF LSX has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | A | KEF LSX adds Wi-Fi, streaming and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX is easier to place; Audioengine A5+ Wireless is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF LSX: a sub output; Audioengine A5+ Wireless: a sub output. KEF LSX sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Audioengine A5+ Wireless is cheaper - $499 against $1,250, about 60% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF LSX B Audioengine A5+ Wireless
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 LSX is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 2.5x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Audioengine A5+ Wireless looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KEF LSX appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 59Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Audioengine A5+ Wireless has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX 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.