In this review, we will be comparing Sonos Five and LS50 Wireless II, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Sonos 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 Sonos Five and KEF LS50 Wireless II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonos Five and KEF LS50 Wireless II 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 Sonos Five and LS50 Wireless II are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sonos Five |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
3 x 0.8-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 2.75-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Sonos Five features a 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter and 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer . On the other hand, the LS50 Wireless II features a 1" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Sonos Five has a frequency range of whereas LS50 Wireless II has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the Sonos Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LS50 Wireless II's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonos Five has a front firing port whereas LS50 Wireless II has a rear firing ports. Sonos Five's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF LS50 Wireless II with its rear-firing 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 Sonos Five's and KEF LS50 Wireless II's external dimensions. Sonos Five has external dimensions of 201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm ( 7.9375 x 14.3125 x 6.875inch) 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) .
Sonos Five is 76.2mm shorter and 147.7mm less deeper than KEF LS50 Wireless II but it is also 163.5mm wider.
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 Sonos Five is approximately 634.7cm2 / 98.4inch2 and base area of the KEF LS50 Wireless II is approximately 644.6cm2 / 99.9inch2. The Sonos Five requires 2% 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 Sonos Five weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs and the KEF LS50 Wireless II weighs 10.00kg / 22lbs. This makes the LS50 Wireless II 56% heavier than the Sonos Five.
Here is a comparison of how Sonos Five 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 Sonos Five?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonos Five:
Wireless audio speaker 6.5-feet AC power cord Quickstart Guide Important Safety Information
What's in the Box of KEF LS50 Wireless II?
Here are the items that come with the LS50 Wireless II:
2 Wireless powered speakersTwo 6.5-feet AC power cords10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cableRemote control2 AAA batteries Quick Start Guide Important Safety Information Warranty Information
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
201mm
vs
277mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
634cm2 (363x174mm)
vs
644cm2 (200x322mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1098USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Digital Input |
Optical, Coax
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
eARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
Sonos Five |
KEF LS50 Wireless II |
| Brand |
Sonos |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
|
45-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
380-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
760-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
16-bit |
32-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
44.1kHz |
384 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
2.75" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
3 x 0.8" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
201.6mm (7.9") |
277.8mm (10.9") |
| Width |
363.5mm (14.3") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Depth |
174.6mm (6.9") |
322.3mm (12.7") |
| Weight |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
10.00kg (22lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
No |
Service only |
| Phone Input |
No |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
Optional Wireless |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical, Coax |
| HDMI Input |
No |
eARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |