Short answer: the KEF LS50 Wireless II for on-axis polish, the Presonus Eris E5 XT for smooth directivity. The E5 XT’s CEA2034 spinorama shows very smooth, consistent directivity through the crossover region and into the treble, but its on-axis response is uneven: peaks at both frequency extremes and a dip around the roughly 3kHz crossover leave a bass-and-treble-heavy balance. The LS50 Wireless II’s Uni-Q array gives excellent, consistent off-axis dispersion.
On the KEF LS50 Wireless II side: Uni-Q coincident driver array (130mm aluminum woofer with a 25mm MAT dome tweeter mounted at its acoustic center) gives excellent, consistent off-axis dispersion, measuring the tightest directivity spread of this batch alongside a smooth listening-window response. The catch: Primary/Secondary architecture means one speaker handles every input while the other depends on a wireless or wired Ethernet link back to it - placement is less flexible than a fully symmetric pair.
Buy the KEF LS50 Wireless II. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the Presonus Eris E5 XT is discontinued.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Powered Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF LS50 Wireless II | Presonus Eris E5 XT | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,999.99 per pair | $239.98 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #14 of 68 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #47 of 68 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 46.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org) | 56.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, optical, digital coaxial, 3.5mm analog, USB-A (service), Ethernet | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Drivers | Uni-Q coincident array: 130mm aluminum woofer + 25mm MAT aluminum dome tweeter | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| App | KEF Connect (placement EQ presets, source selection, firmware updates) | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.2 | No |
| EQ | Yes, fixed placement presets (desk/bookshelf/wall-mount) - no automatic room correction | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Weight | 44.3 lbs (20.1 kg) for the pair | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| Amplifier Power | 280W (LF) + 100W (HF) per speaker, bi-amped | 80w Per Speaker |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.9” x 12.2” (305 x 200 x 311 mm) each | 10.2”H x 7”W x 7.7”D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 28kHz ±3dB | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB at 1m (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.43 | 3.58 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.51 | 6.00 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | - |
| Outputs | RCA subwoofer | - |
| XLR Input | No | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | Yes |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Coaxial Input | Yes | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | Yes | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How KEF LS50 Wireless II compares with other leading options:
- Genelec 8331A vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Neumann KH120 MKII vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Genelec 8030C vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Dynaudio LYD 5 vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
Prices on this page were last checked October 3, 2026 at 10:26 PM 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
KEF LS50 Wireless II: $2,999.99 per pair Amazon KEF Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Erin’s measurements give preference scores of 5.43 standalone and 7.51 with an ideal subwoofer, with a -3dB point around 51Hz. The coincident Uni-Q layout helps preserve tonal consistency across horizontal and vertical listening positions. Low listening-window narrow-band deviation of 0.308 supports relatively clean midrange reproduction. HDMI eARC and streaming functions make it a capable all-in-one stereo system. Measured bass extension of 51.3Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 3.0dB response span is good but not reference-leading, and dispersion still varies with frequency. Compact bass drivers limit deep-bass output. App placement adjustments are not the same as microphone-based automatic room correction. The price and primary/secondary architecture are practical trade-offs; neither driver geometry nor a single directivity statistic guarantees the best sound in every room.
Full KEF LS50 Wireless II review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 280W (LF) + 100W (HF) per speaker, bi-amped |
| App | KEF Connect (placement EQ presets, source selection, firmware updates) |
| Aux Input | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51.3Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | Yes, 4.2 |
| Coaxial Input | Yes |
| Dimensions | 12” x 7.9” x 12.2” (305 x 200 x 311 mm) each |
| Drivers | Uni-Q coincident array: 130mm aluminum woofer + 25mm MAT aluminum dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes, fixed placement presets (desk/bookshelf/wall-mount) - no automatic room correction |
| Frequency Response | 45Hz - 28kHz ±3dB |
| HDMI Input | Yes |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, optical, digital coaxial, 3.5mm analog, USB-A (service), Ethernet |
| Maximum SPL | 108dB at 1m (manufacturer specified) |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Outputs | RCA subwoofer |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.43 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.51 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 44.3 lbs (20.1 kg) for the pair |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs JBL 305P MKII
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs Klipsch The Fives
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM MKII
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs Genelec 8020D
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs Genelec 8320A
- KEF LS50 Wireless II vs Kali Audio SM-5
- See all 45 comparisons
Presonus Eris E5 XT: $239.98 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the PreSonus Eris Studio 5. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
Pros: ASR’s measurements show reasonably consistent directivity through the crossover, so EQ changes are more likely to benefit both direct and reflected sound. Bass reaches -3dB around 56Hz. A standalone preference score of 3.58 rises to 6.00 with an ideal subwoofer, indicating useful bass reach but only moderate native tonal performance. Measured bass extension of 56.4Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The response has bass and treble emphasis with a recessed crossover region; smooth directivity carries that imbalance into room reflections rather than fixing it. Existing distortion testing shows problems across a broad range when pushed to 96dB. Tone correction and moderate levels help, but it is not a reference-flat monitor out of the box. Discontinued.
Full Presonus Eris E5 XT review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 80w Per Speaker |
| App | No |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 46.9Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 56.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Dimensions | 10.2”H x 7”W x 7.7”D (259.1 x 177.8 x 195.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 5” (127mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 53Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.58 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.00 |
| TRS Input | Yes |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 10.1 lbs (4.6 kg) each |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: New PreSonus E5 XT and Yamaha HS5 could not sound any more different! SOUND AND RESPONSE COMPARISON More from DSAUDIOreview →
- DSAUDIO.review: Bright and brighter. PreSonus E5 XT takes on Adam Audio T5V SOUND & FREQUENCY RESPONSE COMPARISON
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E5 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 (new vs old) Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E7 XT vs PreSonus E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E8 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus E5 XT vs KRK Rokit 5 G4 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Audio Science Review Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier S2000MKIII
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier MR4.5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Edifier MR4
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Palmer STUDIMON 5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs KRK Classic 5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Adam Audio A4V
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs Yamaha HS5
- Presonus Eris E5 XT vs M-Audio BX4 D3
- See all 55 comparisons