KEF R3 vs KEF LS50 Comparison

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KEF R3

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

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KEF LS50

Passive Bookshelf | 79-28k Hz

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KEF R3

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KEF LS50

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KEF R3

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KEF LS50

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KEF R3 vs KEF LS50 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R3 and LS50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by KEF

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R3 and KEF LS50 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R3 Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Dome Tweeter

5" Midrange

6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer

52-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:15-180watts

Weight:13.55kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 423.0" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"( 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm )

KEF LS50 Key Specs

2-way Design

11th Generation Uni-Q Driver

1" Vented dome Tweeter

5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer

79-28k Hz Frequency Response

85 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:25-100watts

Weight:7.20kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 302.0" x 7.8" x 10.9"( 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm )

What size room are the KEF R3 and KEF LS50 speakers good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:

Listening Environment*	KEF R3	KEF LS50
Near-field	Poor	Average
Small Room	Average	Good
Mid-size Room	Good	Average
Large Room	Average	Poor
Very Large Room	Poor	Bad

(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m², Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m², Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m², Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m². Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R3 and KEF LS50 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that R3 is a 3-way design whereas the LS50 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.

Driver	KEF R3	KEF LS50
Driver Setup	3-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 5-inch	-
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 5.25-inch

R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 features a 1" Aluminum Vented dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.

Frequency Response

R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the R3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50's min frequency of 79Hz.

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

LS50

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF R3

KEF LS50

Min

Average

Max

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.

Impedance and Sensitivity

R3 and LS50 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R3 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the LS50's is at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF R3 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

LS50

Min

Average

Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

R3 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas LS50 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R3.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

R3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. LS50 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF LS50's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both R3 and LS50 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 R3 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 R3's and KEF LS50's external dimensions. KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm ( 16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch) whereas KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch) .

KEF LS50 is 121mm shorter and 59mm less deeper than KEF R3 but it is also 1mm wider.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R3 and KEF LS50 in scale.

Comparison image of KEF R3 and KEF LS50 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 R3 is approximately 670.6cm² / 103.9inch² and base area of the KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm² / 86.2inch². The R3 requires 21% more surface area than the LS50 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an 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 R3 and KEF LS50 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 R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs and the KEF LS50 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs. This makes the R3 88% heavier than the LS50.

Here is a comparison of how R3 and LS50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

KEF R3

KEF LS50

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of KEF R3?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R3:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

2 Foam port plugs

8 Self-adhesive rubber feet

User Manual

Warranty Information

What's in the Box of KEF LS50?

Here are the items that come with the LS50:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Foam port plugs

8 Self-adhesive rubber feet

Owner's Manual

Warranty Registration Card

Reasons to choose KEF R3 over KEF LS50

Max Input Power	180 watts vs 100 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Driver Setup	3-way vs 2-way	Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Sensitivity	87 dB vs 85 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	52 Hz vs 79 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring	Yes vs No	Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

Reasons to choose KEF LS50 over KEF R3

Height	302mm vs 423mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	556cm² vs 670cm²	Takes less floor space

KEF R3 vs KEF LS50 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	KEF R3	KEF LS50
Brand	KEF	KEF
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	15-180 watts	25-100 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	85 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.2 ohms	3.2 ohms
Frequency Response	52-28k Hz	79-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	5.25"
Woofer Composition	Hybrid aluminum	Magnesium/aluminum alloy
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Dome	Vented dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	5"	No
Crossover Frequency	400Hz and 2900Hz	2200Hz
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	423.0mm (16.7")	302.0mm (11.9")
Width	199.0mm (7.8")	200.0mm (7.9")
Depth	337.0mm (13.3")	278.0mm (10.9")
Weight	13.55kg (29.8lbs)	7.20kg (15.8lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF/Lacquer	Polymer/Lacquer
Available Colors	Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut	Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	n/a	18-28"
Grille	Yes	n/a
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	Yes	No
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years