Exquisite sound, fifty years in the making

KEF has spent decades refining the sound of their reference-level bookshelf speakers. The LS50s are the culmination of their hard work, marking 50 years of speaker innovation. This stylish pair of bookshelf speakers creates engaging, room-filling sound. Its sleek, grille-less design is available in two high-gloss finishes that will stand out in your room.

A room-filling "sweet spot," thanks to Uni-Q® technology

KEF's patented Uni-Q technology places each speaker's tweeter in the acoustic center of the bass/midrange cone. This lets the LS50s create a detailed and accurate three-dimensional sound image. This makes the "sweet spot" (the ideal listening position) much larger. Sit wherever you like — you'll have fantastic sound throughout your room.

KEF LS50 bookshelf speakers leverage 50 years of expert design and craftsmanship to create a phenomenal listening experience.

My experience with the LS50s

One of the best parts of working at Crutchfield is listening to the variety of speakers that come through our doors. It's fair to say that we geek out about it. So I was thrilled when I had the opportunity to test the award-winning LS50 bookshelf speakers.

I listened to a dozen high-resolution tracks that revealed crystal-clear detail and pinpoint imaging. "Billie Jean" from Michael Jackson's Thriller album had that instantly recognizable 80s glossy production texture and feel.

When we landed on the ballad "Blue in Green" from Miles Davis' seminal Kind of Blue album, coworker JR Stoffel remarked on the detail you could hear in Jimmy Cobb's delicate brushwork.

Are these speakers right for you?

The LS50s can deliver truly incredible sound — in the right setup. That means you'll need high-current amplification; 100 or more watts of power from a quality power amp or integrated amplifier.

Proper speaker placement is also crucial to getting the best performance out of the LS50s. Placing them on a pair of custom-designed LS50 speaker stands helps eliminate unwanted vibrations and reflections. Read my article on stereo speaker placement for positioning and set-up tips.

If you'd like personalized advice on matching these speakers with an amp, give one of our advisors a shout for a free expert recommendation.

Add a sub for better bass

If you love hard-hitting thump with your music, consider adding a powered sub to complement the LS50s. This doesn't mean you need to blast your room with bass, but it does give you that extra bit of low-frequency impact that helps re-create the live show experience. My powered subwoofer buying guide has tips on choosing the right one for your room and taste in bass.