Short answer: the KEF LS50 Meta. It ranks #4 of 179 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $1,199. The Dayton Audio OPAL1 ranks #59, rated 3.6/5, at $1,038.99, $160.01 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The KEF LS50 Meta is the more accurate pick. An iconic compact KEF speaker with highly accurate sound, pinpoint imaging and a coaxial driver that keeps tone even across the room. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.74 against 5.08 for the Dayton Audio OPAL1. The catch: F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 42Hz mean it doesn’t get much below 50Hz in-room; a subwoofer is recommended for real bass.
The Dayton Audio OPAL1 is the deeper-bass pick. Bookshelf speakers with twin rear passive radiators for deep bass that can sit close to a wall without booming. Its bass reaches about 55Hz before falling 3dB, against 68Hz for the KEF LS50 Meta. The tradeoff: Measured average sensitivity is notably low at about 75.7dB (well under the 78dB spec) due to a nearly 3dB dip through the midrange, and the reviewer needed serious amplification (monoblock power amps, not just a compact streaming amp) to drive them to real listening levels for bass testing.
Buy the KEF LS50 Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $160.01 saving on the Dayton Audio OPAL1 is not enough to make up the difference.
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Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Dayton Audio OPAL1 reaches 30 Hz (10 dB down) against 43 Hz for the KEF LS50 Meta, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the KEF LS50 Meta scores 7.9 against 6.6 for the Dayton Audio OPAL1 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Efficiency: the KEF LS50 Meta is rated at 83 dB sensitivity against 75.7 dB for the Dayton Audio OPAL1, so it plays as loud with roughly a third of the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF LS50 Meta | Dayton Audio OPAL1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,199.00 per pair | $1,038.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #4 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #59 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.9”H x 7.9”W x 11”D (302 x 200 x 280.5 mm) | 14”H x 7”W x 9.5”D |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum @ 4.4kHz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) | 75.7dB (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner; 78dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption tweeter | 5.25” mid-woofer, 1” dome tweeter, dual rear passive radiators |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each | 20.7 lbs (9.4 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator, rear (dual) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.74 | 5.08 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.88 | 6.58 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 32Hz - 20kHz (-3dB, half-space, manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 200W RMS (75-200W recommended amplifier power) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2,200Hz |
Where the Ratings Come From
- KEF LS50 Meta: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner, Audio Science Review and GR-Research.
- Dayton Audio OPAL1: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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