Short answer: the Kali LP-UNF for the higher ranking, the Focal Alpha 50 EVO for the lower price. The Kali LP-UNF ranks #5 of 24 powered bookshelf speakers at $349. The Focal Alpha 50 EVO ranks #6 at $314, $35 cheaper.
The case for the Focal Alpha 50 EVO: More neutral than the great HS5.
What the Kali LP-UNF gets right: 1” dome tweeter on a waveguide crossed unusually low at 1.9kHz to a 4.5” ported midwoofer. The tradeoff: F3 of 54Hz and F10 of 39Hz mean bass rolls off quickly below about 40Hz, bottoming out around 50Hz in-room.
Buy the Focal Alpha 50 EVO if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Kali LP-UNF if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Focal Alpha 50 EVO | Kali LP-UNF | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $314.00 | $349.00 |
| Ranked | #6 of 24 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 24 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 12.2"H x 9.0"W x 9.4"D (309.9 x 228.6 x 238.8 mm) | - |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz - 22 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | Bluetooth, USB-C (digital), RCA, TRS |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 6.0 kg each | 17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer | 4.5" woofer, 1" Textile Dome tweeter |
| App | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | No |
| Output Power | 60w Per Speaker | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 54Hz |
The Two Speakers In Full
Focal Alpha 50 EVO: $314.00 Amazon
Pros: More neutral than the great HS5
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| Dimensions | 12.2"H x 9.0"W x 9.4"D (309.9 x 228.6 x 238.8 mm) |
| Drivers | 5" (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 45 Hz - 22 kHz (+-3 dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA |
| Output Power | 60w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs / 6.0 kg each |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Adam Audio T5V sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review APS Klasik 2020 vs Focal Alpha 50 EVO sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs KRK Rokit 5 G4 RP5G4 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs JBL 305P MKII sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A5X vs Focal Alpha 50 EVO sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Eve Audio SC205 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Kali Audio LP-6 V2 (2nd Wave) vs Focal Alpha 50 EVO sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs KRK Classic 5 CL5G3 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Yamaha HS5 sound.DEMO
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs KRK Rokit 5 G4
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Yamaha HS5
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs JBL 305P MKII
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs KRK Classic 5
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Adam Audio T5V
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Focal Alpha 65 EVO
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs APS Klasik 2020
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Genelec 8020D
- Focal Alpha 50 EVO vs Neumann KH80 DSP
- Links
Kali LP-UNF: $349.00 Amazon
Pros: 1” dome tweeter on a waveguide crossed unusually low at 1.9kHz to a 4.5” ported midwoofer, giving wide vertical dispersion (about ±30-40° off the tweeter/mid reference axis) for a two-way design - well beyond the typical ±10-15°. Extensive dip-switch tuning covers desk vs. free-standing placement, near-wall (<0.5m) compensation, and ±2dB treble/bass adjustment. Distortion stays below 3% at 86dB; the reviewer calls it the best-measuring powered desktop monitor he’s tested, ahead of competitors like the PreSonus Eris E3.5 2nd Gen and Fosi SP3, which he describes as having one-note bass and roughly a 7dB midrange suckout. USB-C, RCA, TRS, and Bluetooth inputs; the secondary speaker is powered through a link cable from the primary unit rather than needing its own separate power connection. At $300/pair, called a no-brainer recommendation for a compact desktop monitor.
Cons: F3 of 54Hz and F10 of 39Hz mean bass rolls off quickly below about 40Hz, bottoming out around 50Hz in-room. No dedicated subwoofer output - pairing with an outboard sub (routing its own crossover back through the mains) is the only way to extend bass further. A built-in limiter caps real-world maximum output around 91dB/1m per speaker, about 5dB below the 96dB target used in compression testing, and distortion climbs past 3% beyond that point. Designed strictly for near-field use (about 0.8m recommended listening distance), not for filling a larger room at volume.
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54Hz |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Drivers | 4.5" woofer, 1" Textile Dome tweeter |
| EQ | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, USB-C (digital), RCA, TRS |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner Review Measurements
- Erin’s Audio Corner: The Perfect Desktop Speaker? Kali LP-UNF.
- Erin’s Audio Corner: The Best Budget Desktop Speakers, Tested & Rated
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Absolute Favorite Products of 2024 Revealed
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 10 Great (and Terrible) Speakers Under $300!
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Links
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.