In this review, we will be comparing R-51PM and LS50 Wireless, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and KEF. 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 Klipsch R-51PM and KEF LS50 Wireless first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch R-51PM Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 120-watt RMS( 240-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1.0" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 68-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 3.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 330.2" x 7.0625" x 10.25"( 330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm )
KEF LS50 Wireless Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 230-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer
- 79-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:10.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 301.6" x 7.875" x 13.25"( 301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch R-51PM and KEF LS50 Wireless 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 R-51PM and LS50 Wireless are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch R-51PM |
KEF LS50 Wireless |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.0-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
R-51PM features a 1.0" Aluminum LTS Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1663Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 Wireless features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy Woofer .
Frequency Response
R-51PM has a frequency range of 68-21k Hz whereas LS50 Wireless has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 68Hz, the R-51PM can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Wireless'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
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R-51PM and LS50 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
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 Klipsch R-51PM's and KEF LS50 Wireless's external dimensions. Klipsch R-51PM has external dimensions of 330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm ( 13 x 7.0625 x 10.25inch) whereas KEF LS50 Wireless has external dimensions of 301.6 x 200.0 x 336.5mm ( 11.875 x 7.875 x 13.25inch) .
Klipsch R-51PM is 20.6mm narrower and 76.2mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless but it is also 28.6mm taller.
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 Klipsch R-51PM is approximately 467.0cm2 / 72.4inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Wireless is approximately 673.0cm2 / 104.3inch2. The R-51PM requires 31% less surface area than the LS50 Wireless which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.