KEF LS50 vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf: review and comparison

There are currently many kinds of speakers available in the market which can be perfect for your home sound system. There are many brands to choose from and each brand has a different quality of speakers. So you have to wisely choose one from them according to your preference. But currently, there are some which are creating a real buzz more than others among the music lovers. And they have gained much popularity due to their efficiency. Two such kinds of speakers are the KEF LS50 vs SVS Ultra Bookshelf.

Both are good in their own way. But since you have to choose one, we are going to make a comparison between them in this article so that it becomes easy for you to compare and choose.

Comparison Chart of KEF LS50 vs SVS Ultra

Hope this chart will give you a summary of the comparison and help you more to understand which can do a better job for you and then choose one according to the preference. The chart is given below:

The KEF LS50

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KEF has been one of the pioneer brands that has provided us with various technical innovations in terms of sound technology for more than 50 years. And to mark their huge journey of 50 years, they tried to give us a special speaker which has been influenced by the LS3/5a, the legendary studio monitor of BBC. And the special speaker is KEF LS 50.

For decades BBC has used the LS3/5a as their go-to studio monitor as its sound quality is good in an extraordinary way. So countless speakers have been produced by different manufacturers that are influenced by the LS3/5a. So when KEF joined the long list, it was evident that they would deliver something really good.

Along with that vintage technology, KEF mixed the special technology of their blade flagship floor stander with this particular bookshelf speaker. Also, an elegant and sophisticated design has been used in this speaker.

Design

The KEF LS50 bookshelf speaker is a compact one that comes in two colors, it is either in high gloss white or black piano lacquer. A 5.25 inch newly developed ‘Uni-Q’ array with an electric blue colored magnesium-aluminum cone for the white version and a rose-gold colored one for the black.

With a ‘tangerine waveguide’, the driver sits an aluminum dome tweeter of 1 inch in the center. The tangerine waveguide contributes to the wide and excellent sound dispersion of the driver array. The midrange driver is shaped exceptionally in the KEF LS50, that’s why the sound waves are omnidirectional in a phenomenal way. The tweeter’s sound waves aren’t affected negatively due to the very flat membrane.

Technology and Features

Optimized sound management is provided by the curved baffle in KEF LS50 which also minimizes edge diffraction. An effective stiffening and bracing of the cabinet subdues the resonances. On critical parts of the cabinet, insulation is used for which the outer structure is separated from the internal structure, so the residual resonances that occur eventually are kept inside.

The Uni-Q driver is also allowed to play openly and freely at all frequencies by that. The air exiting flow behavior is controlled by the generously flared bass reflex tube at both ends which are shaped elliptically. It also avoids chuffing and flow noise. The tube has another special feature, which is it can expand when needed as the middle of the tube is flexible. Long stoke resonances are eliminated by this flexible part.

According to KEF, the minimum impedance of the LS50 is 3.2 ohms and at about 2200 Hz, the high and mid-range frequencies are filtered. During the lowest bass frequencies, the speaker usually drops to an impedance rate of 3.8 ohms, so it is identified as a 6-ohm speaker. And as per the impedance curve, low power amplifiers can easily pair up with these speakers. Well dimensioned single wiring terminals are used to connect the amplifiers.

Features

• Bookshelf Speakers
• Polymer/Lacquer finish
• Hard Dome Tweeter
• 25 inches woofer
• Power ranges from 25-100 watts
• Has a sensitivity of 85dB
• The frequency response of 79-25k Hz
• Post connector type

Sound Quality

Now let’s talk about the sound quality of the KEF LS50. The sound will be so crisp and unequivocally clear that you will able to get into the music by yourself and if the sound engineer does a bad job in that music you will be able to get it too.

As this compact speaker doesn’t hide any details of a sound, everything will be clear as a day to you. Though you should be careful about the placement, the speaker can actually click from any part of the room for the homogeneity and wide dispersion of the Uni-Q drivers.

The resolution of this speaker’s width and depth is really extraordinary. You can easily find the perfect volume for yourself and the voices sound really natural with this speaker. This monitor speaker has remarkable sound stability and also possesses floor stander quality.

If the bass sound is of really low frequency, it will find difficulties, but it can play smoothly and precisely down to 60-70 Hz. It sounds way better if it is positioned near the wall and that also provides an elegant ambiance for your room. Along with excellent detail resolution, the speaker is also great at providing spatial acuity and firm, clean, and magical audio experience.

So we can safely say that the KEF LS50 is a glorious speaker with exceptional sound quality and also a gorgeous look. A compact studio monitor of this size is hardly as good as this one. Though this is expensive, the price is quite reasonable for a speaker with this much quality.

However, if the rest of the equipment of the sound system isn’t good enough, this speaker won’t be of much good. Overall, this speaker is really captivating. Let’s take a peek at KEF Q350 and Elac UB5 speakers with similar kind of sound quality.

The SVS Ultra

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SVS is one of the leading brands in the sound industries and their performance per dollar equation is quite high. Their subwoofer performance is also legendary. And they have claimed that their ultra series will exceed the expectations of the customers with new designs, techs, and high fidelity.

Design and Technology

The SVS Ultra bookshelf speaker is a rear-ported and two-way speaker that has a 1” aluminum dome tweeter and 6.5” glass fiber cone. A substantial motor, a cast basket frame, and a vented former help the speaker to reduce turbulence. The voice coil also gets help in getting cool.

The standard bi-amp and bi-wire features are used in this speaker. The SVS ultra comes in three different colors, they are gloss black, gloss white, and black oak veneer. To reduce diffraction, both drivers are flush-mounted into the baffle which is rigid and 1” thick. ¾” MDF is used to construct the cabinet.

Specs/Features

The speakers are beautifully designed and built to provide perfect clarity and performance. It can easily produce clear sounds even at high volume with the help of air-core inductors, great capacitors, and heavy trace printed circuit boards.  The speaker weighs 19 pounds and has a measurement of 10,9×8.5×15 inches, making it a perfect fit for any room for your home.

The speaker also offers great tonal balance and deep bass with a highly coherent, deep soundstage and accurate imaging. And the cabinet panels also help greatly to reduce distortion. The slopes and the crossover frequency are selected precisely for which great phase coherency, a clear off-axis polar response, and enhanced power are guaranteed.

A 1” aluminum dome tweeter, a 6.5” woofer, and other high-quality materials are used to make sure great performance of the speaker and clear sound. Check out these KEF R300 and R3 speakers with better features.

Features

• 2-way design
• 1″ aluminum dome tweeter
• 6-1/2″ composite glass-fiber woofer
• Frequency response: 45-32,000 Hz (±3dB)
• Recommended amplifier power: 20-150 watts
• Sensitivity: 87 dB
• Nominal impedance: 8 ohms
• Bass-reflex cabinet with rear-firing port
• Non-parallel cabinet panels
• Chamfered front baffle and flush-mounted drivers
• Dual pairs of gold-plated 5-way binding posts
• Elastomer stick-on bumper feet
• Removable cloth grille

Sound and Other Qualities

Even though these speakers don’t have huge power requirements, they will still need high-quality amplifiers to ensure good quality sound. Otherwise, it won’t work well and with that, the speaker itself is really expensive. Though the price is worth the quality you are getting from the SVS Ultra speaker, as they are currently one of the best speakers in the market currently in terms of sound quality. Find out about SVS Subwoofers for better bass performance.

And the speaker also produces a really dynamic and impressive bass sound. The SVS Ultra also guarantees a long time of service without losing sound quality, so you can use it for a long time with proper maintenance. And finally, the SVS Ultra got the ‘Top Pick of the Year’ award from the ‘Sound and Vision’ magazine.

Alternative Options

KEF R3

There is no reason for you to not buy the KEF R300. If you look at this product from all the different angles and aspects, it is simply the best bookshelf speaker that does not overdo or compromises in any category. It is just perfect and is ideal for any and all usage, given you have a compatible amplifier to go with them.

Pros

Klipsch R-51M

The Klipsch Reference R-51M combines outstanding construction efficiency with a pleasing “retro” aesthetic at a reasonable price. Particularly with rock and pop, the sound quality is dynamic and punchy. The speakers are very powerful and can play music at a high volume without pressure.

Pros

• Vintage design.
• Durable construction that’s thick enough to dampen vibrations.
• Produce excellent mids and highs.
• Equipped with a rear air-flow port for more powerful bass.
• Have higher sensitivity.

Cons

• Need a standalone amplifier
• Limited bass range

FAQs

This FAQ section is here to solve some of your problems regarding this matter. Count this as a goodbye gift from us! let’s find out more!

What are the pros of the KEF LS50?

The KEF LS50 monitors are a shining example of fine craftsmanship and are technologically up to date. The internal stiffening and curved baffle combine to create a cabinet that is very stable and resistant to resonances.

Where do the KEF LS50 speakers come from?

Although the LS50 was designed and engineered in England, Gold Peak, the Hong Kong company that has owned KEF since 1993, manufactures it in China.

SVS Ultra bookshelf speakers: how fine are they?

The Ultra Bookshelf from SVS combines high-end sound and design in a small speaker. Even before I noticed the SVS Ultra Bookshelf speaker, I had a positive feeling about it. First and foremost, the high-gloss black finish was flawless, and the 19-pound heft of this beauty left no question about the speaker’s construction quality. It seemed to be solid.

Conclusion

So we can see that both speakers are really good in their own way. But there will always be one which will fit more with your preferences than the other. And also you can look at the cost issues before choosing one.

Then you can choose one from them which will suit you the best. But if you choose one among them, we can safely say that you are up for a really great and enhanced audio experience at your home.

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Nafis Siam Almas

Student of Mass Communication and Journalism and Tech Journalist  Read More