Better than the LS50!? KEF Q150 Review

[@ryanmeagher]

Love your style... Most reviewers are on some esoteric level, listening to only audiophile music. I think there needs to be more guys like you reviewing "real" music. Not knocking classical or jazz, but most don't listen to that stuff day to day. Good luck with your channel.

[@cheapaudioman]

Thanks so much!

[@briansimmons5363]

My main draw, your comments with real world music. Throw some Red Hot Chili Peppers in the mix. Keep up the Tool!

[@neilfox4626]

@@briansimmons5363 I was just about to recommend John Darko, then you mentioned the Chili Peppers. He hates them.

[@mrebear9758]

I love Tool but their recordings sound like crap to me, which is probably why most audiophiles don't listen to them. Fear Innoculum is one of the worst engineered records I've heard recently with clipping all over the place. Also LS50s are hard to drive and picky with partnering equipment - which might explain why you didn't like them.

[@michael-4k4000]

Does anyone else get all hot and bothered when Randy talks about Bass?

[@LeeMaverick]

I had these for a few years. So easy to live with, never fatiguing. Great "holographic" center imaging. Pair them with a subwoofer and you have a very good system :)

[@Bernardo-c2j]

Even Without Sub!

[@scottlowell493]

@@Bernardo-c2j They aren't "great" without a sub. They are good within their range. I say this because they are too small to deliver realistic bass from several different instruments. I don't consider something great unless it's reproducing all the audible octaves.

[@Benuetzernaeme]

Since you are like the Ron Swanson of audio gear I will abide to your words.

[@cheapaudioman]

I love Ron Swanson. The highest of compliments. Greatly appreciate it. Now it's time to throw some vegan bacon in the trash.

[@snowrang3r657]

"This is an excellent rectangle!" - Ron Swanson

[@svalbard01]

Zach "Ron Swanson" Galifianakis

[@kaufmanat1]

Was about to post this. You've beaten me to it... You win this round sir. If Ron Swanson had a KZbin channel about audio, it would be this channel.

[@wickywak1]

@@cheapaudioman I'm going to sound dumb but what is a high pass filter?

[@udontexist47]

this is the chillest review ive ever watched. sold me btw.

[@cheapaudioman]

Thanks, Jack.

[@revivehificanada]

I own both of the q150 and q100 running in the same room. These are excellent speakers. Especially in a small vinyl setup running with quality amplification. They run much better with quality amps.

[@brianjackson6643]

@@revivehificanada Do you think a small NAD integrated amp would pair well with them? Kinda deciding on the Q150 vs Q350 for a small two channel setup with a turntable

[@revivehificanada]

@@brianjackson6643 which amp? I have run mine with many different amps. Marantz was my favorite but my vintage NAD 7155 and C740 receivers also sounded great to me. The choice of speakers also depends on your room size too.

[@brianjackson6643]

@@revivehificanada I’ve been looking at the C328 or something by NAD in a similar price range.

[@thefactor6909]

Had LS50’s for a very short time never cared for them and I tried. Since then made me look differently at Kef’s. Nice to see a lower tier speaker in there line performs better in most areas. Thanks for another rockin review Randy👊🏻👍🏻

[@ttownscott]

Used to have a pair of Q100's They were pretty good. I should not have passed them on. I agree these are a good deal for 299.

[@emilpapis93]

I found a listing for the q100(150euro) and it now says "pending" for the past 2 weeks after i asked about it. I was really hoping to get them as they seem like a great budget option. Im gonna pickup some old bang and olufsen CX100's tomorrow for a bit less. But will keep and eye out for some KEF with the unique driver :)

[@Arrionflows]

You've come a long way with you presentation Randy. You are now a slick broadcaster. Yet this is one of you funnier uploads. Excellent

[@deputy3690]

Spot on review I will say. I have these for many months now and got them for $299.00 and think that price is worth that. I do not think that they are worth more than $400 though in a 2 channel system in my opinion.

[@arpeemac]

i use KEF C85 floor standers. been with the family for more than 25 years. once in a while it would still surprise me how good it sounds. last christmas, we gave dad a KEF Q150.

[@jeffreyspencer4005]

I LOVE the "cat in a pillowcase" analogy...however, you seem to have a bit too much 'experience' in this area... love love love your reviews!

[@cheapaudioman]

I'm actually a big animal lover and have never put a cat in a pillowcase. I'm a dog guy but I still wouldn't ever hurt a cat. Just trying to be funny. Probably not being too affective at being funny...

[@jeffreyspencer4005]

@@cheapaudioman I got the joke, believe me...You ARE very effective at being funny! (And I was NOT accusing you of being a "cat hater")...I'm relieved no cats were harmed in the making of your joke, LOL! I spent 20+ years in the high end audio industry and find your reviews very refreshing. I've had MANY $20K plus systems and can attest that my latest little $1K Emotiva rig (B1+ on Ultimate Support stands, TA-100, S12) which I bought for my study are really kick ass for the money. It's not always about price, so thanks for your perspective. I'm a fan and subscriber and recommend you to all I know in the hobby...Cheers!!

[@gerardfletcher1203]

best kef review cheers no flies on u down to earth not beam me up scotty

[@zenquest2900]

Awesome review!! Stumbled onto your channel and am now slowly picking my way through your content. Great stuff.

[@austinkuipers6087]

Cheap enough to buy just for the drivers, add a hp to the coax, pair with any number of nice 5.25-8" woofers (thinking dayton epique or diysg anarchy) and a minidsp 2x4 for a killer set of bookshelves. Better lf extension than R3s if you like the q150 coaxials enough to not feel the ls series driver is worth the extra expense. Thanks for the review Mr. Swanson!

[@RP-ms7lu]

Good review, I think KEF Q150 sound good but not dynamic. Sound is mellowed and good for long listening. But I like my q concept 20 more. Recently i matched it with denon N10 and sound changed dramatically to brilliant 😊

[@jonfoss3437]

I have them hooked up to a vintage fisher with graphic equalizer on it I tone the bass down to just below the point of breakup, and run an older usa mtx sub , it sounds amazing

[@velascovilla]

Thanks Cheapaudioman, now it is clear for me the possible purchase of the Q150. I will go for the Klipsch RP-600M that in Mexico are cheaper than the Q150

[@kellyvanarsdel4027]

I really think most of your review is on point. But largely the amp is a huge factor in mid range clarity and treble airiness. I have mine on a Vincent SV500 hybrid amplifier. The vacuum tube input drivers and massive solid state output section makes them just surreal!

[@carlproctor9101]

Got a pair yesterday they do sound big

[@gregoryfrassetti1276]

You had me at Metallica 👍 Yes I agree that these have a wide soundstage and are basically neutral and tend to lean on the warmer side of neutral. Heard the bigger brother Q550 floorstanders and they are awesome. Hope you can review the Elac Unifi v2 soon. Keep up the good work.

[@cheapaudioman]

I've got them in house right now. The review should be coming soon.

[@gregoryfrassetti1276]

@@cheapaudioman Sweet man! That's awesome. Can't wait for the Saturday comparo between the Unifi v2 vs v1 vs Kef Q150 and whatever else you want to throw in the mix. Battle of the Concentrics! Really interested in finding your take on the sound of the soft dome the Elacs use vs the Kef all metal design too. Well keep up the good work brother.

[@danielmelendrez1616]

Amazing review. I wanna be with this dude in the same room when he's reviewing speakers and possibly drinking a couple of beers or Whiskey

[@FitAfter50]

I just ordered these and they should be here in a week or so. Should be a huge step up form my 50 dollar Daytons. However, if I cannot tell a real difference they are going back. I love you music selection ads it is similar to mine and listening to music at 85 at home, while family is there is loud!

[@cheapaudioman]

If you can't hear a difference I'll be pretty surprised. However, please let us know once you get them in.

[@FitAfter50]

@@cheapaudioman will do. Thanks for you honest and quirky reviews. Good stuff.

[@harveylin3548]

The clarity if off the charts with those speakers, I went from a HTIB 3.1 to this, and I am debating if I should just use those 2 speakers and return the rest to Costco.

[@BlastedBandit]

How are you enjoying the speakers ?

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

Great review. Structured. To the point. Keep at it. It's your style. That's what keeps me hooked. Stay on track, (don't meander as occasionally happens. Maybe because August is hot in Texas. :-) )

[@woodstock480]

I had a pair of Q150s and really liked them. In fact, the only reason I returned them is because I was really jonesing for the Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary bookshelf speakers. What can I say, I really like the look of the Wharfedale. Plus I had read rave reviews of how they pair with the Yamaha A-S501 integrated amplifier, which I own. I really could've stayed with the KEF, though. I think they're amazing at $300. I agree about the bass. I had mine about 12 inches from the back wall and ended up settling on the half/donut port plug/bung as a happy medium for more modern, bass-heavy music that was too much when the port was open, and older, bass-light music that would sound too anemic when using the entire port plug with the "donut" filled in. Liked and subscribed!

[@mrwomansilver]

Kind of liked your review and comparison video. Kind of might have bought a pair. Might be enjoying them. (Takes sip of coffee, says nothing further)...

[@cheapaudioman]

I appreciate it... kind of.

[@boomertsfx1]

love your humor! Love KEFs, but would like to try other brands... I've got the Q100/Q150/LS50s.

[@cheapaudioman]

Well thanks. For some it can be an acquired taste. What’s your opinions on the LS50? I had really high hopes for them but they just didn’t do it for me.

[@boomertsfx1]

@@cheapaudioman Well, I haven't tried any of the other popular alternatives like Klipsch/ELAC/B&W/FOCAL/ML/Dynaudio/etc.... I'd love to, but it's a hassle to do it at home... I'd love to first hear a bunch of them in a listening room to at least hone in on the type of sound my ears prefer (I love treble/brightness), but also unlearn any bad habits I might have, etc. It would be great to find some quality, reasonably-priced speakers NOT made in China as well.... I've gone down the rabbit hole a little bit with headphones as well... sigh =) I got a great deal on the LS50 when it was $900 (right before meta came out I guess). I swapped out my Q150s for them, but never did any A/B testing ... I love the sound/imaging and got them mostly based on youtube/reddit reviews, so not an expert by any means :)

[@cheapaudioman]

I also went down a headphone rabbit hole and finally settled on a few and sold the rest. Dan Clark Aeon RT closed, Monolith M565 and M570. At one time I had about 10 pairs. How do you feel the bass on the LS50 is for you?

[@boomertsfx1]

@@cheapaudioman I have a sub, so I don’t notice any lack of low end... was that what you didn’t like about them mostly?

[@cheapaudioman]

If you've got the room the Elac Debut Reference are frankly my favorite speaker. Have a review on them if you're so inclined. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGa2p6evnZetjq8 Klipsch RP600M are also fantastic and can be had for around $430. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp6rg5yihLKajNk If size is a concern the Q accoustics 3020 are exceptional.kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIqqooajppx2jLc I've got the Emotiva B1+ coming in today. More to come.

[@normanham6142]

They do sound bigger than they are. I had a pair isolated on top of a pair of Klipsch floor standing speakers. I would play them and guests would think they were hearing the big Klipsch. I do run them w/a sub.

[@katie_0258]

I just need to say something, even if this is a 3 y/o review. LS50 is as stated somewhere in this comment section. A high end speaker. They need high end amp. Q150/350 isn't even remotely close in quality. They just work better on cheaper amps. I just sold R11 and Reference 1 from Kef, I kept the LS50. Mostly because it is my inbetweeners. I am waiting for some speakers I ordered. However I used Devialet 200, and now Yamaha A-S3200. Just the amps LS50 loves to be hooked upon. When you use amps that isn't high end, you won't get high end sound. It is sort of easy. I find them more likable than the r11.The R11 need volume to wake up, and have a distinctive mid. LS50 don't. Ref 1 is more hifi correct for sure. But LS50 is more entertaining. Anyway. Randy has of course his right to his opinion too. I just can't hear what he hear.

[@WiseUpRiseUp]

What happened to the tweeters a couple of minutes before what happened to the port was totally appropriate. Proper order of operations. 👌🏼

[@benegesserit9838]

ty for review...bought a par at 220 Euro...i like it a lot!

[@tamsaiming2003]

Q series is for AV. I had Q350, it could not compete with my then LS50w, R3 and now my LS50 meta regarding high fidelity-faithful sound with least distortion, i.e. hifi. That’s why LS50 meta is more expensive than Q950, the flagship loudspeaker in Q series

[@cwilky]

Two comments on the same day! I'm on a roll -- Did you, or do you, ever test with tube amps? I find I really like the acoustic, or similar music on these on a tube amp. in my case I use a 6 watt per channel REISONG A10 and i love it - You've earned my sub - Thank you sir!

[@cheapaudioman]

I would love to get my hands on some tube amps. I have a tube headphone amp and "rolling" tubes fascinates me. When I get the opportunity I will definitely be listening to as many as I can.

[@ssokol91]

You had me at Sad But True. Currently have Polk XT20. Want to see how these compare to Q150.

[@kcmega007]

hi, there i'm new to your channel, I recently bought the Yamaha RX A8A Flagship Receiver, but NOT yet picked up in store, I currently have Kef Q350 for Front L/R and Kef Q150 for REAR and Energy RC MINI - REAR and "Klispch Cinema 8 RSX4 x4 - RCX4 for Center Speaker" and R41M for Surround REARS , and a Cheap Small size Jamo Subwoofer , for my SMALL Size BEDROOM SETUP, Speakers might change in the future, but i hope these will do great on my new A8A Receiver. I mainly use for movie watching , for my home theater setup

[@AndyGrimm]

I love a huge soundstage. Where can I get a goodly priced cat in a pillow case for 7 hours speaker?

[@cheapaudioman]

Petsmart

[@snowrang3r657]

I've had both the Q150s, LS50s. They have different signatures so I can totally see some people just generally preferring the Q150 over the LS50. That said LS50 are a lot more amp picky (as in to get the most out of the LS50 you really need a good pairing). Big issue with the LS50 is they are hard to drive properly. Sure they're 8ohm nominal but dip to 3.2~3.5ohm at some frequencies which means you need an amp with high current (best way to tell this is an amp that has near 2x the 4ohm power rating as it's 8ohm). 2 good options are the Schiit Vidar (100w 8ohm / 200w 4ohm), or the IOTAVX SA3 + PA3 combo (ones an integrated ones a power amp. The two bridged is 100w 8ohm and 180w 4ohm). Granted your channel is called "cheapaudioman" so for cheap/budget yeah the Q150 on sale which work better with cheaper gear makes perfect sense. But I still wanted to leave my comment here so if someone wants to hear the LS50 at their best they have something to try.

[@cheapaudioman]

Can definitely agree with your assessment and I can see why the LS50's are so popular as they are crystalline and they are such an "audiophile" speaker... because to your point, are so dependent on the amp pairing. I'd like to give a listen to the Meta's if the opportunity presents itself. In the end, their low end was a deal breaker and they were too forward for me to keep. Plus I wanted to start this channel and selling them enabled me to bring in more speakers to test. The title was a bit, if not a lot, about getting people to watch. Somewhat petty of me but I'd really like to grow this thing so I have the opportunity to test things like the Meta's. Thanks so much for participating and watching. Views like yours are really important and obviously they are based on facts and not emotion and I appreciate that.

[@snowrang3r657]

@@cheapaudioman That's fair, hope your channel keeps growing. I'll keep watching and liking!

[@Daniel-Condurachi]

how do the KEF Q150 compare to the Q Acoustics 3020i? I see the 3020i behind you besides the PC screens. Thanks

[@celchroma]

I've heard the ls50 but couldn't figure why they weren't my favorite. Thanks for clear it up.

[@ryousuketakahashi5038]

Also i think the best affordable speakers are : Wharfedale Diamond 11 series , EVO series and Elysian series designed by Peter Comeau. They sound and look like speakers that cost 3 or 4 times more , they are unique and very good built. I HAVE SPOKEN

[@noob_strikes0011]

Wharfdale diamond 12.2/ Triangle BR03? To be paired with Loxjie A30 amp. Any other in 500 600usd range ? That really shoots above their price range?

[@ryousuketakahashi5038]

No, in this price range you gain maximum performance with this setup. THIS is the WAY! But if you find Wharfedale Diamond 11.2 on sale they are better than 12.2 , Triangle BR03, Klipsch, Focal, Kef and others

[@noob_strikes0011]

@@ryousuketakahashi5038 hello sir ...so triangle BR03/ WD 12.2 / Elac UB52 for vocals melody ? These are similarly priced now

[@ryousuketakahashi5038]

@@noob_strikes0011 Wharfedale Diamond 12.2

[@noob_strikes0011]

@@ryousuketakahashi5038 Thanks a lot

[@michael-4k4000]

Just ordered a pair for $244. Is that a good deal Sir? Randy wake up already let’s go to the show!

[@c.s.herman860]

Hey! Love the videos. Question: KEF Q150 or Fluance HFS ? (Canada)

[@fantom29comp]

This reminds me of "between two ferns". Love the channel.

[@cheapaudioman]

You're the 3rd person to get the reference. Check out my latest video, we now have a sponsor kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJbKgGimi8ycp9k

[@briansimmons5363]

Come on, every one should know between two ferns.

[@pjo1964]

I've noticed that cold shards are better than warm sharts ( ask Joe B). What kind of cat and what kind of car?.

[@silkhead44]

pair them with a SMSL A300 and they shine

[@kiskez8640]

Do you have that combinación?

[@moonytheloony6516]

Picked up a used set of these for $220.00 and hooked them up to a restored Pioneer SX-3700 receiver. I can pick up on the “warmish” sound from the KEF’s, but I think having a vintage receiver connected to the FEF speakers has created a warmish enhanced/detailed kinda vibe. So far so very very good.

[@ITonOccasion]

How do you like these compared to the Sony SSC5s? I'm testing the Sonys now with my PC setup. Sounds better than my Polk T15s I was using and my Def Tech Pro 800s before those. The T15s had a more mid-forward sound, but they are not made for line-of-sight sound listening. They are made for rear surround apparently. If you listen to them dead on, and then drop down your head below them (get on your knees lol) the highs become more pronounced and clear. Doesn't work well for a desk setup. The Sony's are nice, but while I'm willing to spend money I wonder if I should consider something a little more? I found a deal on these for $200.

[@cheapaudioman]

This speaker is way better than the Sonys. Sony's are great in their price range but when you start to get into this level, the speakers get much more refined, better bass and they start to disappear and just let the music take over. Sony's are a very good budget speaker. This are a speaker that someone could have and not want anything more for the rest of their life.

[@jigax07]

And great vid & style BTW. just subscribed!

[@dlonestar111]

Thank you for the review

[@ricardocastrodelgado3588]

hi Randy. I was on the verge of grabbing these, until you mentioned the treble. Far away cymbals are not for me. Monitor audio silver 50 would be a better bet? Whats your thoughts?

[@MyGroo]

Hey, did you ever consider reviewing the KEF LSX? I am wondering how it would stack against the Q150 which you like, and the LS50 which you hate :D The LSXs have builtin DSP so I am presuming they can be better adjusted to ones preference, although their apps and the remote are apparently total "schiit".

[@ronedwards8239]

I was thinking of these with the KEF Q250C Center for a 3.0 bedroom set up. I don’t want a bright speaker in a smaller room.

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

Interesting revue

[@auldjaded]

I would love to hear your thoughts about equalizers. Many "flaws" can be mitigated by altering eq. Or so I think.

[@TheRealDeal_81]

I’m a little late to the party here, but I respectfully disagree with this assessment. As someone who was never a KEF fan, I happened to recently hear the Q150s, LS50s and the Metas and I loved the LS50 Metas so much that I bought a pair. And this was after hooking them all up to maybe 15 different amps to really get a sense of their overall profiles. The takeaway was this - the LS50 / Metas benefit from (actually, I’d even say require) being hooked up to a solid, high current amp, and with the appropriate amplification, they outshine the Q150’s in pretty much every regard. Whether the LS50 / Meta are 3 times better relative to the cost of the Q150 is subjective, but the LS50s are unquestionably the better speakers. That being said, the Q150s are not bad speakers by any stretch, and at $300 are very good speakers. But in an ideal setup, I would argue that the LS50 Metas in particular are in the conversation for best bookshelf speakers in the sub-$2k category. Again, that’s a big statement coming from someone like me, who never really liked KEF, and I’ve owned setups at various times costing $20k+ 🙃

[@kyrylogayduk1174]

Does buying secondhand IQ3 for 220 CAD in 2024 make sense?

[@davemileham]

Thanks for a great review. I’m buying a Denon DM41 amp and can’t decide whether to go for the KEF Q150s or the Q3020is. Are the KEFs worth the extra £110?

[@paradoxicalcat7173]

Which did you go for? I currently have a pair of Kef Q15.2 as fronts, and they have been awesome. I'm building a new setup and I can't decide between the 3020i or the Q150.

[@brucehazen8982]

Magnolia @ Best Buy has these on sale for $300. I immediately grabbed a pair. Still breaking in (maybe 15 hours on 'em) but my gosh. Detailed, punchy mf'ers. Giant killers? I dunno ... but I never had this much fun listening to LS50's.

[@cheapaudioman]

Right? They’re so much fun

[@doctorbritain9632]

Damn I liked this reviewing style, now I'm going to have to go through your back catalogue.

[@cheapaudioman]

good luck. it gets much much worse the further back you go

[@doctorbritain9632]

@@cheapaudioman 😂 we shall see

[@MrJossher700]

Great channel! If you haven't already, please do a $300 speaker shootout, e.g. Elac B6.2, KEF Q150, etc. Thanks.

[@cheapaudioman]

It's coming this Saturday/Sunday

[@scottdavis0801]

I'm wanting a pair of the Kef 150b speakers, but was wondering about the Wharfedale diamond 225s for the same price?

[@logiman]

Thanks for the very thorough review. I just discovered your channel today and am a new subscriber. I was considering pairing the Q150's with an Emotiva TA-100 I will be getting for Christmas from my wife. Can you comment on that pairing? I might also spend a little more and go with the RP-600M.

[@cheapaudioman]

I can comment on that as that's my daily driver as far as amps go. It's a good pairing for sure. The Emotiva is a bit thicker on the low and mids than the Anthem Integrated 225 which brings a bit of sparkle and clarity in. I don't think you can go wrong. The Klipsch will pair well with the Emotiva because they have a bit more clarity. KEF and Emotiva will still have clarity but feel like a more buttery experience. The Emotiva and Klipsch pair will be just a bit more neutral as the KEFs lean a bit on the rich side. However, I like that.

[@logiman]

@@cheapaudioman That's great info. Thanks very much! Keep up the great work. I love the 'real world' approach.

[@brandonchan8539]

Hello I’ve recently just found your channel and it’s be incredibly helpful. I’m looking to purchase my first real hifi setup. So far I am looking at a Rega P1 with a Rotel RA 820 integrated (already owned, 30W per channel continuous) and some speakers. I’m looking at speakers in the £300 range and have read around the: Elac Debut B5.2 (your review of which lead me here), Dali Spektor 2, Wharfedale D12.1. Having seen you’ve reviewed a number of these and other speakers, do you have a recommendation of which to buy? The music being listened to will vary a lot so being able to cover a variety of genres classical/jazz/rock/rap would be optimal.

[@cristim9779]

A comparison between Q 150 and 3020 would be great!

[@cheapaudioman]

It is coming on Saturday. Thanks so much for watching. I may dedicate an entire video to that comparison because they are definitely in the same weight class so to speak.

[@Steve-kx4yz]

I miss the quality of these videos, the new ones are too shiney

[@TheDenix8]

Would you say that these are not fatiguing even though they have metal tweeter?

[@itsdannyftw]

Very helpful video! Regarding speaker stand height, what's your opinion on the 'ideal' height (is there such a thing) - is it aligned with the conventional wisdom of tweeter height at ear level? I've watched a few videos and some suggest placing it higher than ear-level, and there's also a small minority that advocate for below ear level. I am looking at the Q150 speakers - and the manual for the Q150 suggests 18" - 24" (45-60cm) speaker stands - that seems awfully low and would be below ear level if I sit on my (or any conventional) couch. But the KEF designers/engineers surely must have put this in the manual for a reason? Does this mean they designed or voiced the Q150s in a way that aligns with 18" - 24" and therefore it would be prudent to strictly stick to getting stands within 18 - 24"? If not, should I go with 28" or 32" inch? 32" would be putting it at or just 1" above ear level I'd say, but given how conservative KEF were in their manual, I was wondering whether 28" would be a better choice too... Any advice here would be so helpful! Thank you.

[@silkhead44]

AV reeiver with a high pass filter at 100hz is where they really shine with a sub

[@cheapaudioman]

Awesome. Good to know

[@harveylin3548]

Hey, does this mean I should set up my crossover at 100 hz on my subwoofer and 100hz on my crossover rate in my AV receiver?

[@silkhead44]

@@harveylin3548 my subwoofer Yamaha 8in has no crossover on it...just has a subwoofer out rca input and a volume control

[@truckyouable]

Randy, just watched this one, you sounded blue, what was wrong that day?

[@grahamcmcphee1]

I have the Q350's which respond much the same as you have described. Very happy with those and no sub needed for listening to music. I recently purchased a pair of Kef IQ9's which are floorstanders with an early version of the uni-Q driver. The drivers in these are much brighter sounding than the Q350's. A bit too bright. Interesting. Loved your review. Stay cool.

[@cheapaudioman]

I think I’ve got some 350’s coming in for review

[@bobdrake7604]

@@cheapaudioman Will be interesting to see what you think about the Q350. I had Q300s for awhile with Q100 and LS 50s, found to Q300 too flabby/boxy in the bass compared to the Q100, even though there was obviously more due to the bigger driver. Just don't think it is rigid enough or tightly controlled as the Q 100 size driver. Ended up selling all and keeping the Q150, the perfect mix of the best attributes of them all to my ears. For smallish lower cost speakers of course.

[@bertroost1675]

If the speakers are up against a curtain (about 15" away actually) hanging in the middle on the room would that have the same affect as a solid wall?

[@kohnfutner9637]

I would like for you to review the tekton lore.

[@cheapaudioman]

I'd love to hear those. At $1300 a pair that's a bit out of my price range right now. Maybe in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@watchesgadgetsandstuff]

Ordered these.. waiting to see if I like em... I`m replaceing Wharafedale Diamond 10.1 - Very warm speaker, so there is a chance that I might not like `em much.. lol

[@bmordc]

How did your comparison test turn out?

[@watchesgadgetsandstuff]

@@bmordc My first impression was "too bright" - after an hour I switched back to the Warfedale - the next day I tried again... EQ-ed the upper midrange and treble a bit down... sounded a bit better.. after few days I started to enjoy the KEF-s more and more... probably 2-3 months I remembered I did some EQ - went and changed everything to flat - sounds good! I`m not looking back. They need some time to run in - and I did needed some time - the Warfedales are veeery muddy in the treble and midrange department - muddy/laid back - very easy to listen to but not detailed at all. The KEF`s are good with the detail but still easy to listen to ( I should point out that I have good heading and I am very sensitive to treble in general )

[@TheSodFather09]

Ok kef 150 or the q acoustic 3020i which one would you pick .

[@dontflamemepls7256]

Hi! please help me I am torn between KEFQ150 and Klipsch R51M. I also have a Klipsch R-10SW sub just arrived today to replace my Wharfedale powercube 12+. I have a Denon 5.1 amp nothing special 12+years old. I listen to popular music nothing special like radio pop music and some movies also. Which one would you get for this set up and usage? THX!

[@josephkillham9145]

Could you review the the Focal chorus 605 ..... heard them in a local shop sounded pretty good

[@cheapaudioman]

Would love to and they're on the list for sure.

[@mariovargascareaga]

KEF Q150 vs Elac Debut 2.0 5.2 vs Qacoustics 3020 which one?

[@patrikhlavaty4170]

Thank you. Very good.

[@kiskez8640]

Sir speaker could pIr witha sony amp str hd190

[@tailorsoldierspy6464]

Is my 35 watts per channel amplifier would be enough to drive these speakers?

[@mrebear9758]

Probably not well. How does it deal with low impedance?

[@patrikhlavaty4170]

Which is better? KEF Q150 vs. Fyne Audio F301

[@silkhead44]

sold...I just bought a pair to replace my 8 year old Polks RT1 A3's if they sound better...otherwise back to Amazon they go

[@cheapaudioman]

I think they'll best the RT1's easily. I just reviewed my old Rti A3 if you want to check that out. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKSWlGeoj7pmg5Y

[@isaidstream4547]

Review Cambridge Audio SX-50:😀

[@cristim9779]

Agree! You should review them! I heard they are great!

[@cheapaudioman]

Got them on the list. I'm returning some things that didn't make the cut so I'll see if I can get them on order.

[@svalbard01]

Yes, haven't seen a Cambridge review since Z reviewd the SX50 3 years ago.

[@Chiroman527]

Randy, Have you reviewed the KEF Q350s? I don't see it on you tube?

[@cheapaudioman]

Yes sir. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGaQZWOFpraUprs

[@cheapaudioman]

It’s also in the SSSO from last Saturday

[@ziggy8757]

how would you compare the kef q150 to the Elacs b6, b6.2 and reference debut? is the kef q150 more refined than the elacs? what are your thoughts on this

[@cheapaudioman]

I'll be comparing those soon. Probably next Saturday. This Saturday I'll be comparing the KEF Q150 to the Q Accoustics 3020 and the Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ and the Elac Debut b5.2

[@scottbiden1025]

Watched this and your $300 speaker comparison video, just opted to get a pair these Q150s (45% off!!!!) and now looking to get a new amp to pair with. Any suggestions or input (relatively budget) given it will be primarily for bluetooth and phono input?

[@cheapaudioman]

emotiva ta-100. great phono stage. you'll need a bluetooth adapter for it though. marantz 2 channel receivers are really good too

[@scottbiden1025]

@@cheapaudioman Thanks for this. Looked into getting the Emotiva but it is Temporarily Unavailable, and Marantz seems to be a few $$$ more than hoped. Any thoughts or experience with the Cambridge Audio Axr85 or NAD c 316BEE V2?

[@robertorodriguez2609]

regarding amps maybe it's about time you compare integrateds or pwr amps to see if differences in sound quality are real.

[@cheapaudioman]

Good timing. I’ve got 4 in right now and I’m getting to know them better.

[@robertorodriguez2609]

@@cheapaudioman i know you have done a couple of reviews, maybe one comparo?

[@q0w1e2r3t4y5]

5:05 "if that makes sense" ... well uh ... no? :D Gonna ask my cats though.

[@canadianwildlifeservice8883]

These vs. the Klipsch RP-150M? I have the rp150m and am very impeessed with everything about them besides perhaps imaging not being the strong point.

[@Luke-qs2cg]

These. Hands down

[@canadianwildlifeservice8883]

@@Luke-qs2cg if they ever hit the $300 mark, they're mine. Other than that. They can be had for $350 refurbished. But $219 a pair for the Klipsch which they were brand new, was too good to turn down. EDIT: oops, I thought this review was for the Q150, not the Q350.

[@mgaming7]

I just bought these and hooked them up today for listen. These sound terrible. The are a little bright, but that's not the issue. These sound like MUD in the mid/upper midrange. These go on sale for $300 ish a lot. They are not worth $300. I have a pair of Paradigm Monitor Atom S7's that make them sound like they should cost $129. Playing Tori Amos Past the Mission, the piano was compressed and grainy and muddy. Tried Boston Amanda, even at just moderate listening levels, (not loud), they lack any kind of detail or separation of instruments. I have them in the box ready for return.

[@zrogon]

Never. Ever. Not even close. I’ve owned both, I’m actually on a Revox set now, but the LS50s Meta are overwhelmingly better than the Q’s. I know this review is about LS50s, but who buys old tech nowadays. Everything was better from build quality, through to the sound characteristics. However!!!! Value-wise the Q’s are unbeatable. They sound a bit muddy for me but still absolutely fantastic for the money. I bought my Metas for ~850€ and wouldn’t buy the Q’s for current 460€ (both for a pair). I would however look at the Polk, I don’t remember the model now, same price range. I liked them better than the Qs as well.

[@bobdrake7604]

Wow, pricing is way different in the US, LS50 Metas are like $1,600 (not yet on sale), and the Q150 is $350 on sale these days. Big difference in a decision on purchase!

[@Bigolg1975]

Q150's are 299.99 from original of 500.00

[@vmar71]

You r funny and informative

[@cheapaudioman]

thanks. I appreciate that

[@petetalbert]

Do these ever go on "sale"? I.e. below $300?

[@gando1903]

Would you recommend it in walnut or black finish?

[@cheapaudioman]

I like the wood

[@francisdelacruz6439]

A bit old but so old review based on subscriber count, Congrats. Really entertaining review. Unfortunate you may not have been able to set up the LS50 properly which is a common issue as it requires expensive high current amps and is very transparent meaning you need high end equipment for the system to sound good. If you get to try LS50 wireless and you still don't like it then it's a matter if taste. You would know it's excellent at what it does when set up well but you may not like it anyway wc is cool too. Personally I'd like raidho much much more but then the cost ...

[@Luke-qs2cg]

Sounds like bs to me lol

[@mrebear9758]

@@Luke-qs2cg it's not, look at the impedance curve of the LS50. They are hard to drive. This comment is absolutely correct. There's a reason KEF uses 300wpc in the Wireless versions...

[@Simplicity165]

Not to be rude.. but what are the speakers on the bar stools behind you..?

[@cheapaudioman]

Q accoustics 3020's. Very good speakers. Discontinued. I think they're about $230 right now.

[@avjake]

I've had both, and (ignoring price) I would say "No way".

[@od2437]

what does that mean?

[@daweihk88]

Hi and thanks for the great review. I’m using the KEF q150 for a week now with a Yamaha RX-A2010 and Kef C4 sub. I purchased them especially because everyone claimed the bass was good but I can’t feel anything in my room I can’t figure it out, I crossover them at 80hz but still can’t get the bass response that everyone is praising. I don’t know if could be the speaker problem or my settings or if I’m doing anything wrong. . Any thoughts that could help me to start looking in the right direction?

[@cheapaudioman]

hmm. I'm not sure. I felt these were nice and full out of the box. How close do you have them to the wall. I guess maybe try the crossover at 90 or 100 or 70 and see what you hear. That's a headscratcher for me because I didn't care for the LS50's. I don't know the yamaha at all so maybe it's just super bright but I would doubt that. Maybe tone control the bass up a bit and see how it sounds. I'm not sure. thanks for watching and I'm sorry I couldn't help more.

[@rig4365]

Is it possible that they are connected out of phase?

[@daweihk88]

@@cheapaudioman thanks for your reply. I also tried different crossover frequency but no change. The speakers are located 30cm from the wall. What is interesting (or really bugging me) is that I bring the speakers together with my wires (12 gauge wire copper) to the AV store for testing and the bass was very good. They used a pioneer Pioneer NC-50DAB which technically is less powerful than my AV amp and they stream the song using Tidal while in my system I use the PS4 and Spotify with HDMI to my Yamaha amp to listen music. So could the problem be Spotify or the PS4 or the HDMI ? Even I use pure direct mode there is lack of punch in the bass. Appreciate any help.

[@daweihk88]

@@rig4365 thanks for your help. I double checked and they are not out of phase. Could you please check my answer to cheapaudioman as well and let me know your thoughts. Appreciate.

[@vanderhoff66fu]

I bought the white pair and I absolutely love them. to test them out I turned everything off even the subwoofer I just played these two Channel full range 100 watts each Channel and they were terrific. The three songs I like to test out is Dire Straits Money for Nothing, The Outfield Your Love, and John Cougar ain't even done with the night. Great review by the way thank you

[@pauloreilly778]

"Cat in the pillow case.. cracked me up lol

[@ShankerPaarey]

These or the Dali Oberon 1?