In this review, we will be comparing Prime Wireless Pro and LS50 Wireless II, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from SVS 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro and KEF LS50 Wireless II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | SVS Prime Wireless Pro | KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|---|
| Brand | SVS
United States · founded 1998 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 380-watt RMS (760-watt peak) |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polypropylen cone | 5.25" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-25k Hz | 45-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | Yes / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 5.30kg / 11.7lbs | 20.10kg / 44.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.61" x 7.09" x 8.96"
295 x 180 x 228mm | 10.9375" x 7.875" x 12.6875"
277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Prime Wireless Pro and LS50 Wireless II are 2-way speakers.
SVS Prime Wireless ProKEF LS50 Wireless II
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
SVS Prime Wireless Pro |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Prime Wireless Pro features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylen cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the LS50 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Woofer.
Frequency Response
Prime Wireless Pro has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz whereas LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Prime Wireless Pro can go slightly deeper then the LS50 Wireless II's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 Prime Wireless Pro and LS50 Wireless II 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro's and KEF LS50 Wireless II's external dimensions. SVS Prime Wireless Pro has external dimensions of 295 x 180 x 228mm (11.61 x 7.09 x 8.96 inch) whereas KEF LS50 Wireless II has external dimensions of 277.8 x 200.0 x 322.3mm (10.9375 x 7.875 x 12.6875inch).
SVS Prime Wireless Pro is 20mm narrower and 94.3mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless II but it is also 17.2mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF LS50 Wireless II needs about 57% more floor or shelf area. KEF LS50 Wireless II is 94mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. SVS Prime Wireless Pro is 17mm 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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro is approximately 410.4cm2 / 63.6inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Wireless II is approximately 644.6cm2 / 99.9inch2. The Prime Wireless Pro requires 36% less surface area than the LS50 Wireless II which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 SVS Prime Wireless Pro weighs 5.30kg / 11.7lbs and the KEF LS50 Wireless II weighs 20.10kg / 44.2lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 279% heavier than the Prime Wireless Pro.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Wireless Pro and LS50 Wireless II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Prime Wireless Pro?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Wireless Pro:
- Active wireless speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive feet
- Active-Passive Speaker Interconnect Cable: 3m / 10ft
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty/Registration Card
- SVS brochure
- Remote
What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Wireless II?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless II:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- Two 6.5' AC power cords
- 10' Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 \"AAA\" batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
410cm2
vs
644cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
2999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
277mm
vs
295mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
SVS Prime Wireless Pro |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
| Brand |
SVS |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
42-25k Hz |
45-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
380-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
760-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
Yes |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylen cone |
|
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
295.0mm (11.6") |
277.8mm (10.9") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
228.0mm (9") |
322.3mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
5.30kg (11.7lbs) |
20.10kg (44.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
Service and Powering only |
Service only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
1 |
| HDMI Input |
ARC,eARC |
eARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Year w/ registration |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
3 Year w/ registration |
These sit in different price classes - KEF LS50 Wireless II costs roughly 3.3x what SVS Prime Wireless Pro 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 | A | SVS Prime Wireless Pro digs deeper - 42Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LS50 Wireless II has the bigger amplifier (380W vs 200W RMS). |
| Connections | evenly matched | The same set of inputs and streaming options. |
| Size | depends | SVS Prime Wireless Pro is easier to place; KEF LS50 Wireless II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | SVS Prime Wireless Pro: a sub output; KEF LS50 Wireless II: a sub output. |
| Price | A | SVS Prime Wireless Pro is cheaper - $899 against $2,999, about 70% less; arguably a different class. |
A SVS Prime Wireless Pro B KEF LS50 Wireless II
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, KEF LS50 Wireless II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, SVS Prime Wireless Pro is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $2,100 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.