Short answer: the KEF LS50 Meta if sound quality matters at all. It ranks #4 of 160 medium bookshelf speakers, far ahead of the Q Acoustics 3020i near the bottom of the class at #132. The price gap between them is $1,284.01. The Q Acoustics 3020i is discontinued; its replacement is the Q Acoustics 3020c, rated 2.6/5.
The measured difference here is stark, not subtle. Independent ASR Klippel testing on the KEF found very good directivity with on- and off-axis curves tracking closely, and a predicted in-room response the reviewer called “very close to ideal.” The Q Acoustics measured the opposite: a rising upper-frequency trend, a dip in the 2-4kHz crossover region alongside two resonance-related dips, and a significant resonance at 366Hz visible in waterfall plots. Its horizontal directivity is also narrow and uneven due to a woofer and tweeter beamwidth mismatch. The reviewer’s verdict was blunt: without EQ correction, he said he “can’t recommend the Q Acoustics 3020i,” and even cautioned it can act as “merely a distortion generator” if played too quietly.
EQ helps the Q Acoustics but doesn’t close the gap. With high-frequency shelving and a sub-40Hz high-pass filter applied, the same reviewer found its performance “improves substantially,” so it’s not a lost cause if you’re willing to correct it. The KEF, by contrast, already measures close to ideal out of the box, though it has its own known issue: a 2-3dB scoop around 2-4kHz that causes a slight lack of attack and vocal clarity, correctable with about 2dB of EQ if you want to chase perfection.
The KEF’s Uni-Q concentric driver also delivers imaging advantages the Q Acoustics can’t match. Speaker-to-speaker matching measured tight at roughly 0.5dB deviation, and imaging stays tight and focused even when toed out, unlike most coincident designs where toe-out typically diffuses the image. Its bass shelf is also deliberately tuned for near-wall placement, letting it play lower without excess boominess close to a wall, a placement flexibility the Q Acoustics doesn’t offer.
Buy the KEF LS50 Meta. It’s frequently available on sale closer to its lower list competitors and was called a no-brainer for a compact stand-mount speaker at that price.
Buy the Q Acoustics 3020i only if the price is the deciding factor, and plan on applying EQ correction since the reviewer who tested it wouldn’t recommend it without one.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF LS50 Meta | Q Acoustics 3020i | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,599.00 per pair | $314.99 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #4 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #132 of 160 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 49.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.9”H x 7.9”W x 11”D (302 x 200 x 280.5 mm) | 10.9”H x 6.7”W x 11.1”D (278 x 170 x 282 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption tweeter | 125mm (5”) bass driver, 22mm (0.9”) tweeter |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, reflex |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.74 | 3.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.88 | 6.38 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 2.4kHz |
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF LS50 Meta: $1,599.00 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Older model: the KEF LS50 (ranked lower, rated 3.9/5).
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 its frequent sale price, well below 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.”. Measured bass extension of 68Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.74 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.88 |
| 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)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Ribbon
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Philharmonic Ceramic Mini
- KEF LS50 Meta vs XMechanik Mechano23 DIY
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Audio First Fidelia
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Ascend Acoustics HTM-200SE2
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- KEF LS50 Meta vs SunAudio Purified 4
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Q Acoustics 3020i: $314.99 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Q Acoustics 3020c, ranked higher, estimated 2.6/5.
Same family: the Q Acoustics 3030i (larger bookshelf, rated 4/5).
Pros: UK-designed (Finkteam) with attractive styling, including recessed binding posts and custom connectors. Vertical directivity is good enough that the tweeter doesn’t need to be exactly at ear level. With EQ correction, especially high-frequency shelving and a sub-40Hz high-pass filter, Amir found performance “improves substantially.”. Measured bass extension of 82.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: On-axis response shows a rising upper-frequency trend and a dip in the 2-4kHz crossover region alongside two resonance-related dips; a significant resonance appears at 366Hz in the waterfall plot. Horizontal directivity is narrow and uneven due to a woofer/tweeter beamwidth mismatch. Amir cautions the speaker is “merely a distortion generator” if played too low, and its low impedance demands a quality amplifier. Without EQ, Amir “can’t recommend the Q Acoustics 3020i.”. Discontinued; Q Acoustics now sells the Q Acoustics 3030i and Q Acoustics 3010c in its place.
Full Q Acoustics 3020i review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 10.9”H x 6.7”W x 11.1”D (278 x 170 x 282 mm) |
| Drivers | 125mm (5”) bass driver, 22mm (0.9”) tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.38 |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, reflex |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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