Experts prefer Kef LS50 over Kanto YU3 Power
On 7 Mar 2024 (21 days ago) we went through 80 Speakers expert endorsements .
Currently, Kef LS50 received 5 endorsements from ZD Net (13 Feb 2023), T3 (29 Feb 2024) Gear Patrol (5 Jan 2024) and 2 others. Meanwhile, Kanto YU3 Power did not receive any endorsements this month.
Rank | Change | Price | Speakers | SoundGuys | ZD Net | Pitchfork | Wirecutter | T3 | Gear Patrol | Rolling Stone | The Master Switch | What Hi-Fi | hifioasis.com |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | - | $1600 | Kef LS50 The Kef LS50 bookshelf speakers are highly recommended for their exceptional sound quality, versatile frequency response, unique design, and range of connectivity options, making them suitable for a range of music genres and listening environments. | - | 4 | - | - | 7 | 2 | - | 3 | 1 | - |
N/A | N/A | Check price | Kanto YU3 Power | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Curious to see this month's entire Bookshelf Speakers ranking? It's here
Endorsement summary:
- On 13 Feb 2023 ZD Net ranked Kef LS50 as #4
Rank Speakers Comment ... ... ... #4 out of 5 Kef LS50 Best bookshelf speaker splurge... ... ... Source: www.zdnet.com - On 29 Feb 2024 T3 ranked Kef LS50 as #7
Rank Speakers Comment ... ... ... #7 out of 7 Kef LS50 Awesome passive speakers for a high priceSource: www.t3.com - On 5 Jan 2024 Gear Patrol ranked Kef LS50 as #2
Rank Speakers Comment ... ... ... #2 out of 12 Kef LS50 Best upgrade... ... ... Source: www.gearpatrol.com - On 4 Oct 2023 The Master Switch ranked Kef LS50 as #3
Rank Speakers Comment ... ... ... #3 out of 17 Kef LS50 Best High-End Bookshelf Speakers for Audiophiles... ... ... Source: www.themasterswitch.com - On 8 Feb 2024 What Hi-Fi ranked Kef LS50 as #1
Rank Speakers Comment #1 out of 7 Kef LS50 Entertaining and innovative, these are the best stereo speakers overall.... ... ... Source: www.whathifi.com
Rank | Change | Price | Speakers | SoundGuys | ZD Net | Pitchfork | Wirecutter | T3 | Gear Patrol | Rolling Stone | The Master Switch | What Hi-Fi | hifioasis.com |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | - | $1600 | Kef LS50 The Kef LS50 bookshelf speakers are highly recommended for their exceptional sound quality, versatile frequency response, unique design, and range of connectivity options, making them suitable for a range of music genres and listening environments. | - | 4 | - | - | 7 | 2 | - | 3 | 1 | - |
2 | +1 | $359 | Q Acoustics 3020i The Q Acoustics 3020i bookshelf speakers offer excellent sound quality, versatility, and a modern design, making them a great option for audiophiles who prioritize accuracy and transparency in their sound system. | - | - | 7 | 2 | - | 9 | - | 4 | - | 5 |
3 | New * | $700 | Elac Uni-Fi 2.0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 |
4 | +1 | Check price | Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition bookshelf speaker delivers excellent sound performance across the frequency range, with punchy and dynamic bass, a wide frequency response, and a purposeful design, making it a great choice for music and home theater use. | - | 5 | - | - | 5 | 7 | - | 9 | - | - |
Show all rows |
Expert reviews [19]
- with a score: 9
- without a score: 10
Highest score by What Hi-Fi | 100 |
Average score based on 19 reviews | 94 |
Lowest score by World of Turntables | 80 |
Score distribution:
80-100 | |
60-80 | |
40-60 | |
20-40 | |
0-20 |
- 2x Optical (TOSLINK) Audio, Bluetooth 4.0 with Qualcomm aptX, 3.5mm mini-jack AUX, RCA L/R Inputs
- 30 Watts Per Channel
- Class D Amplifier, 4 inch Kevlar drivers, 1 inch Silk Dome tweeters
- Subwoofer Output
- Remote Control included, Each speaker measures 5.5" W x 7.5" D x 8.6" H (14 W x 19 D x 22 H cm)
- Read more
- Connect wirelessly via dual-band Wi-Fi connectivity or Bluetooth 4.0, as well as wired via an asynchronous USB Connection, digital (TOSLINK) input, or an RCA analog input.
- The LS50W uses a 5.25" Uni-Q driver capable of reaching down to 40Hz, combined with a built-in 192Khz/24bit DAC and 230W amplifier.
- Read more
Tweeters produce the highest frequencies in sound, typically anything above 2,000 Hz. Usually located at the top of the speaker, tweeters come in different shapes (detailed below) and sizes. Generally speaking, the size of the tweeter is not as important as the shape. But, for some guidance, consider that a larger tweeter (measured by diameter in inches or millimeters) will likely be louder and able to disperse sound over a larger area.
Speakers with midrange drivers (i.e., at least three-way speakers) have a distinct advantage over two-way speakers. Adding a midrange driver to the mix allows tweeters and woofers to focus on the sound waves they’re best equipped to produce—high tones and low tones respectively. More specific and focused drivers means more accurate, robust sound. Compared to the other drivers, midranges cover sounds, not surprisingly, in the middle of high/treble and low/bass tones. The human voice and most instruments fall into this range. For more sophisticated listeners, or for those who truly want the best sound reproduction, a midrange driver is crucial.
The woofer is the driver that is responsible for low frequency sounds and bass - crucial for well-rounded, booming sound. It is the biggest driver in size, and is usually shaped like a cone. When reviewing different bookshelf speakers, you will often see a measurement in the product name, starting as low as 4” and ranging to 6 ½” or more. This measurement refers to the diameter of the woofer. A general rule of thumb is a bigger woofer means louder, more powerful bass. But, as with any speaker metric, this number alone doesn’t describe the loudness of the speaker and should be taken into consideration with other measurements such as sensitivity, which describes the loudness of a speaker per watt.
- Power cord
- Speaker Wire
- RCA – Mini Jack Adapter
- 2 m Powe Cord
- 3 m Cat-6 Inter-Speaker Cable
- 2 m USB Cable
- 1 m LAN Cable
- Remote Control included
- Knurled binding posts for Left to right speaker connection
- Plug and Play
- Remote Control included
Kef LS50 are a popular and one of the most expensive options. They're in the top 3 bestselling speakers and have dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Wharfedale Linton or Q Acoustics Q Active 200 .
Kef LS50 were released in 2012. There are a lot of newer speakers on the market. Show newer Speakers
Kef LS50 are $1320 more expensive than average speakers ($279.99).