In this review, we will be comparing LSX and YU6, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Kanto. 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 Kanto YU6 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF LSX | Kanto YU6 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 |
|---|
| 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 | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy | 5.25" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 59-28k Hz | 50-20k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 96 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.2 | Built-in 4.0 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.4375" x 6.125" x 7.1"
239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm | 10.7" x 6.9" x 8.1"
272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm |
|---|
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 YU6 are 2-way speakers.
KEF LSXKanto YU6
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 |
Kanto YU6 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
LSX features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer. On the other hand, the YU6 features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
LSX has a frequency range of 59-28k Hz whereas YU6 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the YU6 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 YU6 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 Kanto YU6'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 Kanto YU6 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm (10.7 x 6.9 x 8.1inch).
Kanto YU6 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19.4mm wider, 32.3mm taller and 25mm deeper than KEF LSX.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LSX and Kanto YU6 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LSX and Kanto YU6 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 Kanto YU6 is approximately 358.8cm2 / 55.6inch2. The LSX requires 22% less surface area than the YU6 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 Kanto YU6 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 Kanto YU6 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs. This makes the YU6 14% heavier than the LSX.
Here is a comparison of how LSX and YU6'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 Kanto YU6?
Here are the items that come with the YU6:
- Remote with Batteries
- Power Cord
- Speaker Wire (16′)
- 3.5mm Auxiliary Cable (6.5′)
- 8 x Rubber Feet
- Manual
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
239mm
vs
272mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
280cm2
vs
358cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
540USD
vs
1250USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
| General |
KEF LSX |
Kanto YU6 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Kanto |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
59-28k Hz |
50-20k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
100-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
96 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| 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") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
155.6mm (6.1") |
175.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
180.0mm (7.1") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Weight |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
bass reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, Olive Green, Gloss White |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
Charge only |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical (2) |
| HDMI Input |
No |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KEF LSX costs roughly 2.3x what Kanto YU6 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 | Kanto YU6 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 and streaming; Kanto YU6 adds phono. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX is easier to place; Kanto YU6 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF LSX: a sub output; Kanto YU6: a sub output. KEF LSX sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Kanto YU6 is cheaper - $540 against $1,250, about 57% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF LSX B Kanto YU6
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 131% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Kanto YU6 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, Kanto YU6 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.