In this review, we will be comparing L100 and LS50, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk L100 and KEF LS50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk L100 | KEF LS50 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Ring Radiator | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polypropylene | 5.25" Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-38k Hz | 79-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85.5 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-160 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.68kg / 16.9lbs | 7.20kg / 15.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-11/16" x 7-7/8" x 11-5/16"
348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm | 11.8" x 7.8" x 10.9"
302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk L100 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* |
Polk L100 |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both L100 and LS50 are 2-way speakers.
Polk L100KEF LS50
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk L100 |
KEF LS50 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
L100 features a 1" Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 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
L100 has a frequency range of 57-38k Hz whereas LS50 has a frequency range of 79-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the L100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50's min frequency of 79Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
L100 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the LS50 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L100 sensitivity is rated at 85.5 dB and the LS50's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk L100 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF LS50, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
L100 can handle a max power of 160 watts RMS, whereas LS50 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the L100.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
L100 features Post type posts and LS50 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk L100's Post terminals
KEF LS50's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both L100 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.
Polk L100 Enhanced Power Port Port
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 Polk L100's and KEF LS50's external dimensions. Polk L100 has external dimensions of 348.0 x 201.0 x 288.0mm (13-11/16 x 7-7/8 x 11-5/16inch) whereas KEF LS50 has external dimensions of 302.0 x 200.0 x 278.0mm (11.8 x 7.8 x 10.9inch).
Polk L100 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 46mm taller and 10mm deeper than KEF LS50.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L100 and KEF LS50 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk L100 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 Polk L100 is approximately 578.9cm2 / 89.7inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 is approximately 556.0cm2 / 86.2inch2. The L100 requires 4% more surface area than the LS50 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Polk L100 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 Polk L100 weighs 7.68kg / 16.9lbs and the KEF LS50 weighs 7.20kg / 15.8lbs. This makes the L100 7% heavier than the LS50.
Here is a comparison of how L100 and LS50's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk L100?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Cleaning cloth
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
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
 Max Input Power |
160 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
79 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
1300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.2 ohms
vs
3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
302mm
vs
348mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
556cm2
vs
578cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Legend L100 |
KEF LS50 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-160 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85.5 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-38k Hz |
79-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Magnesium/aluminum alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Ring Radiator |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2900Hz |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
348.0mm (13.7") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
201.0mm (7.9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
288.0mm (11.3") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
7.68kg (16.9lbs) |
7.20kg (15.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Polymer/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
Black, High Gloss Piano Black, High Gloss Piano White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
18-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk L100 is the newer design, against a 2012 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk L100 digs deeper - 57Hz against 79Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF LS50 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Polk L100 takes more power (160W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF LS50 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Polk L100 is cheaper - $999 against $1,300, about 23% less. |
A Polk L100 B KEF LS50
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?
Polk L100 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 79Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Polk L100 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF LS50 for near-field listening and a small room.
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.