Short answer: choose the CI130.2CR whenever its 158mm cutout can fit; the CI50R is for spaces so small that even the compact CI130.2CR is impossible.
The CI130.2CR is the practical modern compact choice. Its 5.25-inch coaxial Uni-Q keeps the tweeter acoustically centered, fits a shallow 82.3mm-deep cavity, and reaches about 100Hz at -3dB. It still benefits from a subwoofer, but can work as a coherent surround, height, or background channel.
The CI50R is much smaller but far more limited. Its 80mm square body and 2-inch full-range driver suit cabinetry and tight voids, but bass rolls off around 170Hz at -3dB. It is discontinued and appropriate only for high-crossover ambient or fill use.
Buy the CI130.2CR for a compact current-production Uni-Q speaker.
Buy the CI50R only when its micro dimensions are the deciding constraint.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF CI130.2CR | KEF CI50R | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299.99 | Discontinued |
| Ranked | #4 of 5 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers | #5 of 5 in In-Wall & In-Ceiling Speakers |
| Drivers | 5.25" Uni-Q coaxial woofer with 16mm aluminum dome tweeter | 2" full-range driver |
| Enclosure | Open-backed, in-ceiling | Open-backed (optional rear enclosure), in-ceiling |
| Mounting Cutout | 158 x 158mm | 70mm (2.76 in) with rear enclosure |
| Dimensions | 7.6" x 7.6" x 3.2" (193.4 x 193.4 x 82.3 mm) (77.7mm mounting depth) | 3.1" x 3.1" x 2.2" (80 x 80 x 55 mm) |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs / 1.3kg | 2.2 lbs / 1.0kg |
| Sensitivity | 87dB | 82dB |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 10-80W recommended amplifier power | 10-30W recommended amplifier power |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) | 125Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 100Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 170Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 113Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KEF Ci3160RLM-THX vs KEF CI200RR-THX
- KEF CI250RRM-THX vs KEF CI200RR-THX
- KEF Ci3160RLM-THX vs KEF CI250RRM-THX
- KEF CI200RR-THX vs KEF CI130.2CR
- KEF CI200RR-THX vs KEF CI50R
Prices on this page were last checked September 7, 2026 at 7:47 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF CI130.2CR: $299.99 World Wide Stereo eBay
Pros: A compact 158 x 158mm cutout and 82.3mm depth fit tight joist bays and shallow ceiling cavities where the larger Ci-THX models in this category won’t. At $299.99 each it’s the most affordable speaker in this category by a wide margin. The 5.25” Uni-Q driver keeps its 16mm aluminum dome tweeter coaxially centered on the woofer, so the two acoustic centers stay aligned regardless of listening position.
Cons: KEF’s own frequency response spec bottoms out at 52Hz, and the measured curve reaches only about 100Hz at -3dB and roughly 53.5Hz at -10dB, the shallowest low end among the models in this category with a THX certification, so pairing it with a subwoofer is worth planning for. It’s open-backed with only medium-quality vendor measurement data behind it, not an independently verified Klippel scan.
Full KEF CI130.2CR review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 100Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Dimensions | 7.6" x 7.6" x 3.2" (193.4 x 193.4 x 82.3 mm) (77.7mm mounting depth) |
| Drivers | 5.25" Uni-Q coaxial woofer with 16mm aluminum dome tweeter |
| Enclosure | Open-backed, in-ceiling |
| Frequency Response | 52Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Mounting Cutout | 158 x 158mm |
| Power Handling | 10-80W recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 87dB |
| Weight | 2.9 lbs / 1.3kg |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KEF CI50R: Discontinued eBay
Pros: At just 80 x 80mm and 55mm deep, this is by far the smallest speaker in this category, small enough to fit into spaces, tight closets, cabinetry, shallow ceiling cavities, that none of the other in-wall or in-ceiling models here can reach.
Cons: No longer sold as a current KEF product; dealer listings mark it a legacy item replaced in KEF’s lineup, so buying one now means used or leftover new-old stock rather than a current retail purchase. It measures the shallowest bass extension of any speaker in this category by a wide margin, reaching only about 170Hz at -3dB and roughly 113Hz at -10dB, consistent with a small background or ambient-audio speaker rather than one built for full-range listening. Discontinued.
Full KEF CI50R review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 113Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 170Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) |
| Dimensions | 3.1" x 3.1" x 2.2" (80 x 80 x 55 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2" full-range driver |
| Enclosure | Open-backed (optional rear enclosure), in-ceiling |
| Frequency Response | 125Hz-20kHz +/-6dB (manufacturer, open-backed) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Mounting Cutout | 70mm (2.76 in) with rear enclosure |
| Power Handling | 10-30W recommended amplifier power |
| Sensitivity | 82dB |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs / 1.0kg |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons