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  1. Home
  2. Powered Stereo Speakers
  3. Sonos Five vs KEF LSX

Sonos Five vs KEF LSX Comparison

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Sonos Five

Powered Bookshelf |

Sonos Five
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KEF LSX

Powered Bookshelf | 59-28k Hz

KEF LSX
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Sonos Five Sonos Five
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KEF LSX KEF LSX
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Sonos Five
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KEF LSX
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Sonos Five vs KEF LSX Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Five and LSX, 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 LSX first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsSonos FiveKEF LSX
BrandSonos
United States · founded 2002
KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961
Design2-way2-way
Built-in amplifierYes200-watt RMS
Uni-Q driver—11th Generation Uni-Q
Tweeter3 x 0.8" Dome0.75" Hard-Dome
Woofer3 x 2.75" Cone4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy
Frequency response—59-28k Hz
Max depth / sample rate16-bit / 44.1kHz24-bit / 96 kHz
BluetoothNoBuilt-in 4.2
App controlYesYes
Weight6.40kg / 14.1lbs3.50kg / 7.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)7.9375" x 14.3125" x 6.875"
201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm
9.4375" x 6.125" x 7.1"
239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.


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


Drivers

Both Five and LSX are 2-way speakers.

Woofer - 2.75 inchWoofer - 2.75 inchWoofer - 2.75 inch
Sonos Five
Tweeter - 0.75 inchWoofer - 4.5 inch
KEF LSX

TweeterWoofer

Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.

Driver Sonos Five KEF LSX
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 3 x 0.8-inch 0.75-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 3 x 2.75-inch 1 x 4.5-inch

Five features a 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter and 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer. On the other hand, the LSX features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer.

Frequency Response

Five has a frequency range of whereas LSX has a frequency range of 59-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LSX's min frequency of 59Hz.

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

Five
LSX
Min
Average
Median

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Five has a front firing port whereas LSX 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 LSX with its rear-firing 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 Sonos Five's and KEF LSX'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 LSX has external dimensions of 239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm (9.4375 x 6.125 x 7.1inch).

Sonos Five is 38.1mm shorter and 5.4mm less deeper than KEF LSX but it is also 207.9mm 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 LSX is approximately 280.1cm2 / 43.4inch2. The Five requires 127% more surface area than the LSX which gives it a small disadvantage 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 LSX weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes the Five 83% heavier than the LSX.

Here is a comparison of how Five and LSX's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Sonos Five
KEF LSX
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Sonos Five?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Five:
  • Wireless audio speaker
  • 6.5-feet AC power cord
  • Quickstart Guide
  • Important Safety Information

What's in the Box of KEF LSX?

Here are the items that come with the LSX:
  • 2 Powered wireless audio speaker
  • Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
  • 10-feet Ethernet cable
  • Remote control (CR2032 3V battery pre-installed)
  • Maintenance Guide
  • Specifications
  • Warranty Information
  • Important Safety Information


Reasons to choose Sonos Five over KEF LSX

Number of Woofers 3 vs 1 More woofers
Low Frequency Response Hz vs 59 Hz Generates deeper bass
Port Position Front vs Rear Gives more flexibility placing close to walls
Height 201mm vs 239mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Price per pair* 1098USD vs 1250USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose KEF LSX over Sonos Five

Woofer Size 4.5 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
Base Surface Area 280cm2 vs 634cm2 Takes less floor space
Digital Input Optical vs No Connect digital inputs directly

Sonos Five vs KEF LSX Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications
General Sonos Five KEF LSX
Brand Sonos KEF
Speaker Type Powered Stereo Speakers Powered Stereo Speakers
Frequency Response 59-28k Hz
Amplifier
Watts RMS (Continuous) n/a 200-watt RMS
Max Bit Depth 16-bit 24-bit
Max Sample Rate 44.1kHz 96 kHz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 3 1
Woofer Size 2.75" 4.5"
Woofer Composition Cone Magnesium/Aluminium alloy
Woofer Surround Material n/a Rubber
Tweeter Size 3 x 0.8" 0.75"
Tweeter Type Dome Hard-Dome
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No No
Firing Direction front rear
Physical Specs
Height 201.6mm (7.9") 239.7mm (9.4")
Width 363.5mm (14.3") 155.6mm (6.1")
Depth 174.6mm (6.9") 180.0mm (7.1")
Weight 6.40kg (14.1lbs) 3.50kg (7.7lbs)
Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
Available Colors n/a Black, Olive Green, Gloss White
Mounting Bracket No No
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Aux Inputs 3.5mm 3.5mm
USB Port No Charge only
Phone Input No No
Subwoofer Output Optional Wireless Wired
Digital Input No Optical
HDMI Input No No
Headphone Jack No No
Ethernet Port Yes Yes
Other
Parts Warranty 1 Year 1 Year
Labor Warranty 1 Year 1 Year

Verdict

No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.

AreaBetterWhy
ConnectionsBKEF LSX adds Bluetooth and digital inputs.
SizedependsKEF LSX is easier to place; Sonos Five is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
ExpandabilitydependsSonos Five: a sub output; KEF LSX: a sub output.
PriceASonos Five is cheaper - $1,098 against $1,250, about 12% less.

A Sonos Five  B KEF LSX
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?

The usual trade-off: KEF LSX measures better, Sonos Five costs about about 14% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Sonos Five has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX is the easier speaker to get right.

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.


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