Short answer: the KEF LS50 Meta. It ranks #4 of 179 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.5/5, at $1,599.99. The Role Audio Skiff ranks #147, rated 2.4/5, at $495, $1,104.99 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The KEF LS50 Meta is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. 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 -0.47 for the Role Audio Skiff. Its bass reaches about 68Hz before falling 3dB, against 143.6Hz for the Role Audio Skiff. The tradeoff: F3 of 67Hz and F10 of 42Hz mean it doesn’t get much below 50Hz in-room; a subwoofer is recommended for real bass.
What the Role Audio Skiff does well: An extremely compact US-made sealed speaker with a single full-range driver and a five year warranty, made for desktops or small rooms. The tradeoff: The local Spinorama score is -0.47 raw and only 3.61 with a subwoofer, with 128Hz measured extension, among the weakest measured results we list.
Buy the KEF LS50 Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $1,104.99 you would save on the Role Audio Skiff does not close the gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
An iconic compact KEF speaker with highly accurate sound, pinpoint imaging and a coaxial driver that keeps tone even across the room.
An extremely compact US-made sealed speaker with a single full-range driver and a five year warranty, made for desktops or small rooms.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF LS50 Meta | Role Audio Skiff | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,599.99 per pair | $495 per pair |
| Ranked | #4 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #147 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 106.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 143.6Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 11.9”H x 7.9”W x 11”D (302 x 200 x 280.5 mm) | 6H x 4W x 5D in |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; 85dB manufacturer specified) | 88dB |
| Drivers | 130 mm (5.25 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with Metamaterial Absorption tweeter | 3-inch cast-frame full-range |
| Weight | 17.2 lbs (7.8 kg) each | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.74 | -0.47 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.88 | 3.61 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Sealed single-driver |
| Frequency Response | - | 100Hz-20kHz |
| Country | - | United States |
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