Short answer: the KEF LS50 Meta for better sound quality, the Carmody S2000 for the lower price. The KEF LS50 Meta ranks #4 of 87 bookshelf speakers at $1599. The Carmody S2000 ranks #20 at $250, $1349 cheaper.
What the KEF LS50 Meta offers: Uni-Q concentric driver mounts a 1” vented aluminum dome tweeter at the center of a 5.25” aluminum cone woofer, rated 79Hz-20kHz+. Speaker-to-speaker matching measured tight at roughly 0.5dB deviation between the pair tested, versus 2-3dB seen on some other speakers - likely why imaging stayed so precise. Imaging stays tight and focused even toed out, unlike most coincident designs where toe-out typically diffuses the image, giving more of an oval-shaped soundstage than a hard rectangular boundary. Horizontal and vertical directivity both hold to about ±50° at the -6dB point, so tonality stays consistent across roughly a 100° listening cone. The extended bass shelf is deliberately tuned for near-wall/boundary placement rather than the usual “pull it 3 feet into the room” advice, playing lower without excess boominess when placed close to a wall. At $1,000 (a frequent sale price versus $1,600 list), called a no-brainer for a compact stand-mount speaker. Independent ASR Klippel measurements corroborate this: very good directivity with the on- and off-axis curves tracking closely, and a predicted in-room response the reviewer called “very close to ideal.” Watch for: F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 42Hz mean it doesn’t get much below 50Hz in-room; a subwoofer is recommended for real bass. A 2-3dB scoop around 2-4kHz shows up in both the listening window and sound power measurements, matching a subjectively noticed lack of attack and vocal clarity that the reviewer wanted to correct with about 2dB of EQ. An on-axis diffraction dip around 8kHz smooths out with about 15° of toe-out (typical for concentric designs, but still present at 0°). Distortion is elevated at low frequencies since the single 5.25” cone shares surface area with the tweeter housing, reducing effective radiating area; multitone distortion crosses the 3% threshold at 96dB/1m, making roughly 88dB or below the safer output ceiling. Moderate sensitivity (~83dB average) needed 2-3dB more amplifier gain than typical in testing. Adding a subwoofer at an 80Hz crossover only helps lower-midrange distortion, not the elevated distortion in the 1-2kHz and above-5kHz regions. ASR’s own Klippel testing found the same pattern in starker terms: THD is very good at 86dB SPL/1m but climbs past 100% in the bass at 96dB SPL/1m, confirming this is not a near-field speaker for high-output bass-heavy material. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) also shows a couple of resonances lingering in the 1-2kHz region.
What the Carmody S2000 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows good response between 100Hz and 3kHz with low room dependency thanks to smooth early-window reflections, plus reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth and directivity. A DIY kit built around a small woofer and tweeter with a 3kHz crossover, priced around $250 per pair before assembly labor. Watch for: Energy falls off above 3kHz with a resonance around 11kHz, and directivity errors show up around the 4-5kHz crossover region. Low 84dB efficiency and an impedance that dips below 4 ohms both call for a capable amplifier. Vertical listening angle is sensitive - move off axis and you fall into a response “ditch” that loses energy.
Buy the KEF LS50 Meta if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Carmody S2000 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF LS50 Meta | Carmody S2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,599.00 | $250 |
| Ranked | #4 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #20 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.9"H x 7.9"W x 11"D (302 x 200 x 280.5 mm) | not published (DIY kit) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | below 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) | 84dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption tweeter | small woofer + tweeter, 3kHz crossover (DIY kit) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg each | not published (DIY kit) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Baltic Birch plywood |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-5.9dB); 80Hz - 20kHz (+/-4.1dB) (measured, Audio Science Review) |
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Prices on this page were last checked August 25, 2026 at 6:19 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 LS50 Meta: $1,599.00 Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Uni-Q concentric driver mounts a 1” vented aluminum dome tweeter at the center of a 5.25” aluminum cone woofer, rated 79Hz-20kHz+. Speaker-to-speaker matching measured tight at roughly 0.5dB deviation between the pair tested, versus 2-3dB seen on some other speakers - likely why imaging stayed so precise. Imaging stays tight and focused even toed out, unlike most coincident designs where toe-out typically diffuses the image, giving more of an oval-shaped soundstage than a hard rectangular boundary. Horizontal and vertical directivity both hold to about ±50° at the -6dB point, so tonality stays consistent across roughly a 100° listening cone. The extended bass shelf is deliberately tuned for near-wall/boundary placement rather than the usual “pull it 3 feet into the room” advice, playing lower without excess boominess when placed close to a wall. At $1,000 (a frequent sale price versus $1,600 list), called a no-brainer for a compact stand-mount speaker. Independent ASR Klippel measurements corroborate this: very good directivity with the on- and off-axis curves tracking closely, and a predicted in-room response the reviewer called “very close to ideal.”
Cons: F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 42Hz mean it doesn’t get much below 50Hz in-room; a subwoofer is recommended for real bass. A 2-3dB scoop around 2-4kHz shows up in both the listening window and sound power measurements, matching a subjectively noticed lack of attack and vocal clarity that the reviewer wanted to correct with about 2dB of EQ. An on-axis diffraction dip around 8kHz smooths out with about 15° of toe-out (typical for concentric designs, but still present at 0°). Distortion is elevated at low frequencies since the single 5.25” cone shares surface area with the tweeter housing, reducing effective radiating area; multitone distortion crosses the 3% threshold at 96dB/1m, making roughly 88dB or below the safer output ceiling. Moderate sensitivity (~83dB average) needed 2-3dB more amplifier gain than typical in testing. Adding a subwoofer at an 80Hz crossover only helps lower-midrange distortion, not the elevated distortion in the 1-2kHz and above-5kHz regions. ASR’s own Klippel testing found the same pattern in starker terms: THD is very good at 86dB SPL/1m but climbs past 100% in the bass at 96dB SPL/1m, confirming this is not a near-field speaker for high-output bass-heavy material. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) also shows a couple of resonances lingering in the 1-2kHz region.
Full KEF LS50 Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.9"H x 7.9"W x 11"D (302 x 200 x 280.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs / 7.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Unveiling the KEF LS50 Meta: The Truth Behind the Hype More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF LS50 Meta
- Audio Science Review KEF LS50 Meta More from Audio Science Review →
- GR-Research: KEF LS50 Meta! Worthy of HYPE? More from GR-Research →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for KEF LS50 Meta Review
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Carmody S2000: $250 eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows good response between 100Hz and 3kHz with low room dependency thanks to smooth early-window reflections, plus reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth and directivity. A DIY kit built around a small woofer and tweeter with a 3kHz crossover, priced around $250 per pair before assembly labor.
Cons: Energy falls off above 3kHz with a resonance around 11kHz, and directivity errors show up around the 4-5kHz crossover region. Low 84dB efficiency and an impedance that dips below 4 ohms both call for a capable amplifier. Vertical listening angle is sensitive - move off axis and you fall into a response “ditch” that loses energy.
Full Carmody S2000 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | not published (DIY kit) |
| Drivers | small woofer + tweeter, 3kHz crossover (DIY kit) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-5.9dB); 80Hz - 20kHz (+/-4.1dB) (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | below 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | not published (DIY kit) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Baltic Birch plywood |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons