In this review, we will be comparing Sonos 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.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonos Five and KEF LSX 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 LSX are 2-way speakers.
| 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
|
Sonos 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
Sonos Five has a frequency range of whereas LSX has a frequency range of 59-28k 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 LSX's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 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
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 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 365.7cm2 / 56.7inch2. The Sonos Five requires 74% 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 Sonos Five 83% heavier than the LSX.
Here is a comparison of how Sonos Five and LSX'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 LSX?
Here are the items that come with the LSX:
2 Powered wireless audio speakerTwo 6.5-feet AC power cords10-feet Ethernet cableRemote control (CR2032 3V battery pre-installed)Maintenance GuideSpecificationsWarranty InformationImportant Safety Information
 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) |
| 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 |
365cm2 (155x180mm)
vs
634cm2 (363x174mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
| 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 |