Kef's Cheapest Bookshelf. Is the Q150 worth your money?

[@MrCommunistGen]

I purchased a pair of these shortly before your review came out. I was blown away by the soundstage! I'd (apparently) never heard speakers with good soundstage. I'm a very data driven person and I absolutely appreciate all you do in your reviews.

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Still the best objective reviewer on yt and more. Presents the data and lets the viewer decipher the data while giving hints. Absolutely wonderful Erin!

[@JaytheP]

Hands down, I got all my audiophile buddies to follow EAC

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I appreciate the sentiment. Lots of great reviewers out there so to be considered among them is a compliment in itself.

[@augustinvaclavik6282]

Erin, your not considered one of the good ones you are the golden standart. Yes, Amir has been doing similar thing but not as well as you, at least from a point of view from someone less knowledgable

[@heavyweather4893]

I just bought Q150 for 400 Euros, this are great bookshelves speakers, so happy with it. The sound stage is incredible for the price. Thanks for your very professional review.

[@tshd4B2ZNWS]

I’ve been using q150 since last year and i really like it. Like erin mentioned, the soundstage of this speaker is very good. The only down side is i can hear distortion when you ramp up the volume so it is good for desk-fi with lower volume. I’ve tried 3-4 speakers around $300 price range and this one has been the best speaker for me

[@viktorsarosi5632]

did not you miss the midrange? did not rock/metal music seem blurred?

[@tshd4B2ZNWS]

@@viktorsarosi5632 yes i do feel the midranges are a bit blurred compared to other speakers i tried (jbl studio 530 and polk r200) but i still prefer q150’s imaging and quick bass response

[@FOH3663]

I always thought one of these KEF offerings would be ideal to implement into a all matching, mid-field, multi-channel rig, ie., wides, heights, over heads, surrounds, physically aligned...(opposed to DSP distanced), that'd be a fascinating system, at quite the moderate expense. Pick up 11, or 13 of them, that'd be fun. Coax drivers lend themselves to application like this... so you're not dealing with driver orientation compromises of typical multi-way cabinets (creating nulling etc). I guess 13 powered LS-50 Metas would be the next step...

[@Luke-qs2cg]

Try looking up the kef e3005se.if you can buy 2 full sets with subs, that would cover 10 channels of surround duty and 2 subs you can use in stereo for the crossover for your surrounds. Then use 3 bigger kefs like these for your lcr and a sub or 2 with more power for lfe and front cross. My father in law just set his system up that way with 4 of the satellites being used for atmos and it's a hell of a system. Though his lcr is r3 and r200c with kc62's between them. The htb2 subs are on either side behind the couch.

[@FOH3663]

@@Luke-qs2cg Nice, however the UniQ driver in the LS50 etc, is vastly superior... it's the star.

[@NirreFirre]

great points being communicated throughout this review, newcomers to acoustics and sound reproduction soon have a library of videos in your channel! And us nerds that have been in the thick of it for some time and reads the website always enjoys the video pacing, thoroughness in editing as the icing on the cake. Cheers!

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thanks! I’m trying. 👍

[@kellystigger9318]

Beautiful speaker. Bright at 8,000. Good bass for the size. Average power. Vocals are varying. Average radiation. 86dB is optimized. Use a subwoofer for better response. Sealed vs ported doesn't matter for distortion. From what I can see, and based on the stats, it's a good speaker to have. Not the best on the market, but it'll do in a pinch. Price may scare people, but at this price, it's good.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Ditto.

[@qua7771]

"Treble heavy" may mean perfect for off axis listening. No need for tow-in.

[@user-cv7ey6fb4c]

I wish I understood what all this meant more easily. Audiophile stuff is intense haha. Seems thorough, keep up the good work.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Hey, man, we all started out knowing nothing. I have this series of videos which breaks down the data. It should help. 👍 Understanding the Measurements kzbin.info/aero/PLnIxFR_ey0b37Ex4KV2mBz-kYB7QLffR1

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

Besides the frequency tests most audiophile talk is pseudo nonsense The best thing you can do is go and audition the equipment in person Even when I used to sell hifi I would avoid giving too much opinion or techno babble, rather allowing the customer to lead with their likes and needs This approach was very successful for both parties

[@kevinbehnke7149]

Great review! I've actually had the Emotiva B1+ and Kef Q150. It was a hard decision between but the KEF'S won on Soundstage and imaging. There are just so many good choices under the $300 range!

[@ВикторНекрасов-г1э]

Does that mean q150 are better for HT?

[@kevinbehnke7149]

@@ВикторНекрасов-г1э Couldn't tell you. I am only a 2 channel guy and use 100% for music.

[@AllboroLCD]

Very glad you rushed this one! I have been really curious about this model for a while now! Thanks Erin!

[@kellystigger9318]

Beautiful speaker. Bright at 8,000. Good bass for the size. Average power. Vocals are varying. Average radiation. 86dB is optimized. Use a Subwoofer.

[@bestLetsplayer]

What do you mean with radiation?

[@kellystigger9318]

@bestLetsplayer how far the sound goes into the room from the speaker.

[@scanspeak00]

I suspect the midrange resonance is due to the bass-mid driver surround (the frequency matches the diameter of that driver). It might be worth investing in an accelerometer so you can easily measure enclosure resonances.

[@ChrisHersh42]

Hi Erin, nice review. I ordered these like 4 hours before you posted your video. Excited to give them a try

[@scdude9509]

Hope you get a chance to take a look at the KEF Q350 as well some day. Thanks for your videos.

[@EverythingisFire]

Hope to see a comparison review of the upcoming successor to these :) The Q1 Meta. Q150's are getting clearanced out.

[@LayMeInTheRiver]

Same here!

[@bencausey]

I love mine. I listen with ear level at 6-8 inches above the top. Also use extreme toe in; right aimed at left ear, and vice versa. 3ft off the wall. Speakers 80” apart, listening 9ft away.

[@stephencosta6814]

I’ve tried that it seems to make everything seem flat sounding you lose a lot of trouble response but the imaging is incredible but it seems to lose a lot of energy engagement this way

[@kevinusta7534]

This speaker regularly goes on sale. Accessories4Less has Kef Re-Certified and open boxes all the time. I got these as open boxes for $249 with a 5 year warranty. As for sound comparison within the Q series (I have the 950, 350, 150). Obviously they sound similarly, but I felt that the 150 was better at imaging and detail retrieval, whereas the 350 gave the soundstage a bit of fullness with the bass. You'd think that the 950 towers would do better in every category but in my small 12x10 room they were not enough at lower listening levels, then too much at higher. I'm in the process of setting up a much larger (25x25 L-shaped) room. Not ideal, but the space should lend an even playing field when I test each speaker with a sub. Though their bass isn't as prominent, I'm guessing that with a sub, the bookshelves will sound much better than the 950 alone. To me, they imaged better 3 dimensionally. The tower's bass is tight and fast, but even with room gain, it didn't get that deep, nor does it have the middle slam as the bookshelves.

[@ItsElvis56]

I have watched a few videos now and it feels like I have found the Gamers Nexus of speakers. This is incredible. I will be picking up the Kef Q150.

[@hopey1809]

I use the Q150 as my Rears in my 5.1 (2x R500 Fronts, 1x R2c Center) setup and i am everyday stunned how "big" these speakers sound even in multi channel stereo mode. They offer more warm mid punch than my front stage R series

[@telemarktumalo6978]

I'm also considering these as surrounds with R3's up front and R2C center. After a year, what are your thougts on the Q150's?

[@hopey1809]

@@telemarktumalo6978 still amazing!

[@telemarktumalo6978]

@@hopey1809 Thanks, much appreciated. I'm on the hunt.

[@hopey1809]

@@telemarktumalo6978 i upgraded my avr to a Marantz sr6015 and it Made a huge difference it you Wonder! Good luck

[@missing1102]

I hope you take the speaker apart. I believe it is the design. You can hear the the resonance going on in the speaker. Under room correction, they are good but not worth 600. Excellent review.

[@wal]

I've been wanting to check these out and at the current price seems they are worth a try. Thanks for the detailed analysis!

[@keepingupwiththejones2933]

T-shirt game is so strong. Thanks for the review and observations.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I already forgot what I was wearing because I had to change shirts to make another video for the Arendal Tower speakers. LOL

[@jeremyj.]

Gamey t-shirt! Good thing you changed! 🤣

[@Ephel81]

I use these speakers with a Martin Logan Dynamo 400 sub. You can listen to them without a sub, but after listening with a sub, it's hard to go back. To reduce bubbling, I closed the phase inverter holes.

[@gen-X-trader]

i demoed a pair of these for 2 days in my office and returned them. you articulated my main issues or issue. i hated, with a capital H the 1-2khz zone. imagine great, presence great, midrange terrible. i found it to be just shrilly compared to the dyn emit m20 or b&w 602s3 which i also have here. without going deeper that is what killed the q150 for me. you would listen. eq down the 1-2khz zone. listen again and what you had was the same shrilly sound just less of it. the way a speaker reproduces a sound does not show up on measurements unfortunately you either like how the material resonates in you ear or you don't. side note, i didn't have the time but experimenting with dampening the box internally may affect this speakers worst attribute for the better. resonance in the cone can be an absolute killer and with subs especially i have taken a sub that did the wom-wom sound. stuffed it with polyfill and sprayed rubber coating on the interior of the box and completely changed the sound by drastically reducing resonance. that really could have been part of the issue

[@yayhoo8848]

I had the uni-q egg shaped 5.1 system and it was amazing after room correction. The sound stage was holographic.

[@vladrapchan5330]

I had the same experience with my q300's. After audissey, they became amazing. Holographic is pretty much the word!

[@yayhoo8848]

@@vladrapchan5330 i have tried other speakers and I nothing comes close so I am now returning back to KEF and going to build a system with ls50 or maybe the reference series with a kf92 subwoofer.

[@brendanroach6504]

Which series of eggs are you referring to? 1001, 2001, or 3001? I've just learned about these sets and have found some very cheap secondhand sets on marketplace.

[@yayhoo8848]

@brendanroach6504 3005 I think. It was the 3000 series for sure, but the 2nd iteration. The worked great mounted to the ceiling in the corners of my room. I wish I hadn't sold them now because they were compact and sounded great.

[@brendanroach6504]

@@yayhoo8848 Good to know thanks. I've got a line on a good looking 2000 series, I think it may still be a good bet albeit a little less impressive than the 3000.

[@rickc661]

I have the somewhat bigger ( 6.5 mid ) Q 350 and it's totally fine. obvious KEF saved $ on the cheap vinyl, I got a $50. sheet of real Oak veneer, several hours later.... Stereophile gave the Q350 a great review , direct compare with LS50 & Rodgers.

[@bobdrake7604]

I had pairs of Q100 and Q300 at the same time a few years ago and spent a fair bit of time AB ing them. In the end I felt the Q100 sounded more "integrated" for sake of a better adjective, the Q300 had a bit of bass/boxy bloat. Very subtle, but noticeable to me. I think the sweet spot max size for these UniQ drivers is 5 1/4", as also used in the LS50. Perhaps they tightened it up in the Q350 though, haven't listened to them.

[@charlesking678]

Do you think these would make a good center channel?

[@doublet147]

Great review. I was always really interested in how these speakers performed; even though I never considering buying them. I just don't have a situation to make these work in my home.

[@jayduke3373]

he's the best in the Business for youtube reviews this channel will take off if he keeps doing it!

[@TylerStout]

Good review, Kef really does a good job with their speakers. I'm just now watching Daily Hifi podcast and I'm excited that you're potentially getting the 10" coaxial from JTR. Question: have you ever thought about testing a speaker with a 12db/octave 80hz filter applied to see how stuff like distortion/compression changes. Definitely wouldn't need to be in every review but I think it could make for an interesting video.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I used to test for max SPL using full range and >80Hz. You can find some of those tests on my site and in earlier reviews.

[@foveon1]

How are these compared to the q350’s?

[@normanham6142]

I have a pair of the previous generation of these, the Q-100 bookshelves. Great speaker. I recall feeling the build quality while unboxing. I like the concentric driver array. They sound good w/o a sub, but sound much better with a subwoofer. Use them in a dedicated music 2.2 stereo rig. They sounded a tad bright at first. Not enough to make them shrill or fatiguing. Put the grills on. You can buy w/confidence from Kef as far as build & design quality. I don’t listen critically, just for pleasure. Clarity & detail in mids & highs. I’d say crystal clear. Run w/a sub crossed over @ 100hz in my room. for full enjoyment. I’m running them w/dual 8” subs. I got mine on sale at same price seven years ago. No regrets at sale price.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Good to know. Thanks for the info.

[@normanham6142]

Btw Erin, good review! Enjoy your stuff. Fairly new subscriber. I personally think they sound great w/female vocalists, From Norah Jones to Aretha. Vocals are nice on these.

[@peterphan227]

I have Q100's, running with two Elac Sub1010's (based on Erin's recommendation. Thanks Erin!). Very pleased with how they sound for so little money.

[@bobdrake7604]

I had Q100s too , then bought Q150s, I think they sound better. Better bass somehow, perhaps due the the center placement of the UniQ driver, and smoother treble, despite Erins measurements. Full disclosure, due to my age, I'm not hearing much in the top octave though...

[@normanham6142]

@@bobdrake7604 Thank’s for sharing that. I’ve been curious to hear about the difference from someone who’s had both. I’m getting older by the minute. I hadn’t noticed from pictures that the driver was moved down to center on the 150. I did pick up that the port had been moved from front to back. The Q100’s came w/quality port plugs too. look similar at first glance. Beautiful sound though and I can listen for hours. I’ll die w/these! I always run them w/dual subs.

[@suchkasuchka]

Adding a rejector filter might help with the high frequency bump.

[@geoemm]

This could make a very decent center channel

[@barfy362]

They're the same price on Kef's website which says the sale will last until April 3 or "while supplies last".

[@mndlessdrwer]

They're definitely not bad speakers, but you 100% need a sub, preferably something in the 8" to 10" range with good musicality. It does offer surprisingly decent midbass, so you can somewhat safely cross them over at standard THX mode at 80Hz. They're a pretty nice speaker if you can find them on sale.

[@eattoast6378]

Can you objectively define musicality for me

[@mndlessdrwer]

@@eattoast6378 for subs, you want something that is tuned well across its entire operating frequency rather than something that is tuned with a peak at its resonant frequency with a steep drop off afterward. Basically, you want a sub with a pretty flat response and enough surface area and strong enough magnetic flux that you can get a good kick-drum reproduction without it sounding muffled. Most generic home theater subs aren't really tuned for this, since they're just focused on filling out the low end for movies and stuff which won't be listened to as critically. Defining musicality for your front stage is more complicated and comes down to how the speakers are engineered, how they've been crossed over for tuning and to avoid beaming, and how the cabinet is designed all for the goal of accurately reproducing the sound of the instruments and voices that they're playing. In car audio you have SPL and SQL builds, meaning that for SPL you are focused primarily on how loud you can make your system while maintaining a modicum of accuracy and for SQL you are focused primarily on sound quality without needing it to be insanely loud. So, how accurate to the source is the reproduction?

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

@@eattoast6378 I've always laughed at audiophiles who say equipment is "musical" It's like saying a pizza tastes foody 😄

[@eattoast6378]

@@mndlessdrwer thank you

[@eattoast6378]

@@ArtVandelayOfficial relax.

[@razdillinger3852]

I bought these to use as Atmos front height (on wall) speakers , still waiting for them to ship

[@jake-jp3vb]

For atmos would be a great idea. Anything else not so much .

[@victormedrano2316]

Are they good for heavy metal?

[@amanieux]

what is your speaker or studio monitor recommendation sub $500 for low volume, near field ( 2 feet ) desktop usage ? thanks

[@user473]

Do you plan on reviewing the JBL 530? Seen them in the background in your older videos. They are a good alternative to Q150 with a different design approach and tuning for the same money ($600 msrp, often on sale for $300)

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I was loaned two that were used. One of the results did not look right so I need to investigate and possibly measure the other one. Hasn’t been a priority because the owner isn’t in a rush to get them back.

[@harryarmstrong5728]

I ordered a pair of both, will be interesting to see how they test in my room. I can't take quasi-anechoic measurements though, unfortunately.

[@tonyt.5771]

My whole home theater is Kef, except the sub, outstanding sound.

[@sudheendrar]

How about a comparison with the Q350? I scored a pair for $599 and am trying out some options.

[@audio_facts]

Aaaand, they're sold out 🤪 I got a pair of the Q100's after seeing Zaph's review of the drivers. Great units.

[@DougMen1]

They aren't sold out at Amazon, and Crutchfield, KEF, Best Buy, and other retailers have them at the same price

[@RedBeardedRabbit]

If these could be purchased individually at $150 each, they would likely be the ideal budget center channel when placed on its side due to the cocentric driver.... as Erin has showed us very clearly in his video on centers (and the science has been well known for a long time) you'd otherwise need a properly designed 3-way for good horizontal dispersion and that costs like... at keast $400?

[@Squiesh]

Yeah, easily buying singles would be great, I was looking at these until I saw the matching Q650C is $750 and am probably going with emotiva C1+ and B1s instead. Edit: A4L actually has singles for $219, not ideal but it’s something.

[@d_page2049]

Accessories4less sells singles for $220

[@RC-qc2nz]

@@Squiesh the emotiva center channel is bad. Erin has a video about it

[@Squiesh]

@@RC-qc2nz Good looking out, I haven’t seen any other 3-way centers that are better below $500 but I’ll look into it.

[@meldmagic]

🤠 Get two pairs. Use three Q150s for LCR & one for SL & some random speaker for SR. Your front stage & half the surrounds would be perfectly matched.

[@H2OFSU]

Another great review, thank you. Have you thought about purchasing the GR-Research upgrade kit for this speaker? I think a lot of people would be interested in seeing how much of a difference the components would make to your Klippel data.

[@pliedtka]

GR-research upgrade ;) I would most likely increase the tweeter padding and put some RLC trap around upper mids to clean up the hump a bit. Standard quality components please...

[@andrewskaterrr]

Paying $300 for speakers, and then $300 for upgrades is stupid. Buy $600 speakers instead and get better performance. GRR’s upgrade kits are. typically just overpriced parts that will make a small difference compared to better speakers.

[@H2OFSU]

@@andrewskaterrr I would agree, however I think looking at the Klippel data to compare would be very helpful. My interest would be: - Stock data - Upgraded Kit data - EQed data I’m in the boat that I have speakers that I enjoy…..BUT, I wonder if upgraded parts would help them, or if getting better room eq software would help more (The new MultiEQ Audyssey-X).

[@macattack123mattc3]

@@H2OFSU Considering the directivity of these speakers, room EQ should work reasonably well. Considering the distortion, a bass crossover to something with an 8" woofer would probably be your best bet for improving performance. However, I personally would go with an active DSP-based crossover for these. It would allow me to extend it into a 3 way design down the road easily. As a matter of fact, I literally just ordered a dsp / amp setup for my Q100. I am planning on using the DSP to do a biamp crossover setup, and I will have the ability to set a bass cut to help out the 5.25" driver. Chances are if it really makes a difference I may post something on AudioScienceReview or some other forum. we will see.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I'm all for trying out the GR upgrades. BUT 1) Someone would have to pay for it... or at least help me foot the bill 2) It would render my stock crossover useless because (as far as I know) the upgrade is done by replacing some components in the stock crossover. 3) I really hate soldering. It takes up time that I can spend doing other things. And trust me, I just soldered 10 full range drivers this weekend for a project for a buddy. I hated every minute of it. LOL So, if someone wants to order the parts, solder up the kit and then send the updated crossover to me then I will *absolutely* measure the speakers with the kit. But, otherwise, it's just too costly and time-consuming for me to do at this point in my life.

[@x-techgaming]

Wow, the bass is really that linear down to 55Hz..? A lot better than I would have expected!

[@snypergaming1744]

I bought a pair for 250$ new where i live and they are awesome , it is true they lack a bit of bass if you listen to a lot of trap or house , but for classy stuff and rock they are sweet . I coupled them with a crappy samsung sub (8 inch ) and they were booming

[@danielcabel8203]

is it true that this q150 is hard to partner with a subwoofer?

[@janetyer7147]

Erin, is the Q150 is a monitor, but is it a bookshelf or stand-mount? Those are two very different applications. The standmount is intended for use well away from room boundaries, so should include baffle step compensation, BSC. The bookshelf type is intended for use in close proximity to room boundaries, so does not include the full 6dB BSC, though might still include some EQ for residual diffraction interference ripple and boundary reflection interference. A monitor on a stand near or against the wall is a bookshelf application, regardless the use of the stand.

[@weeooh1]

Bookshelf or stand-mount are equally interchangeable terms that apply to virtually all non-floorstanding speakers. So a stand-mount can be called a bookshelf and vice versa. Usually with bookshelf applications you want to use a port bung if its rear ported. With stand-mount applications thats not necessary.

[@Audiomainia2310]

Hi Erin, These Q150 sales are not unusual, but this may be the last of this series. KEF will be introducing their "Meta" material being incorporated in the Reference series throughout their entire line by later September. Including the Q series.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Are you sure about that (the Q-series getting the Meta treatment, come September)? I know of the latest update and am told I will received one of the new Reference Meta speakers for review (hopefully) soon.

[@Audiomainia2310]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Sure am. Im part of the KEF community on Facebook. My friend is the moderator and has the Reference in his home. He speaks with the higher ups at KEF and was told the entire line was getting the Meta treatment - its more of a dampener behind the coaxial tweeter to smooth out the harshness. From what I've listened to personally, the difference is not readily apparent to my ears, and the entire KEF community does not consider the "Meta" treatment worthy of upgrading. I concur with them. But I'd like your feedback.

[@tktran303]

@@Audiomainia2310 I agree. Re-releasing it with Meta branding and marketing is a clever move. But the main problem is not the tweeter, or the port, (as Erin confirmed) And highly likely not the cabinet (too stout a cabinet is have resonances that high); the problem is highly likely in the woofer- spanning that octave between 700Hz to 1.4Khz. And that’s a hard to fix; and requires significant resources in R&D. It’s the same problem as the woofer from the Q100, which Erin has measured previously, albeit with different equipment; so it’s a little harder to draw direct comparisons. Thus this issue is a bit of a side quest; and I understand Erin’s need to keep the review flowing. Rather than the Meta treatment, why not fix the top octave with a crossover retuning; or better QC so the assembly line product comes out with the tweeter at the right level? Come on KEF! It’s a good speaker for US$150 apiece; you can get a lot worse for a higher price; but you can get ALOT better for a higher price…

[@DjBunito]

​@@Audiomainia2310what happend to the meta treatment on the Q-Series? Any news?

[@AndrewB23]

​@@Audiomainia23102 years and still nothing

[@DougMen1]

They are on sale everywhere for $299, and the Q350 are $499 everywhere

[@michael-4k4000]

Going to use about a 27 inch subwoofer

[@DigitalDawg]

Have you tested the Kef Q350? Would you expect your measurements to differ very much, or is there no way to know short of running your test? I'm considering the Q150 for a 14 ft by 17 ft room, and I do have a Rel subwoofer. Any thoughts or recommendations? BTW, I'll date myself, but my very first speaker was a Kef105, the first speaker to have computer designed crossover 🙂

[@falvegas511]

NO ONE HAS ANSWERED THE QUESTION: What s the "Difference" between the LFE Signal from an AV Amplifier OR the Standard Cross-Over Input from S-Woofer Out ortr The Mains. WE see Major Differences whether the S-woofer is Connected through it's Crossover of if FROM THE AV'S LFE SIGNAL.

[@kevinhoronzy6011]

How would drapes help if they are behind you

[@JayyBird93]

Would love to see you review SVS Ultra bookshelves and center speaker 👍

[@georgedomse]

Would you mind doing a comprehensive review on the topic of break-in (speakers, amps, cables, other gear), with before and after measurements included? Thanks!

[@Martin_HD28]

My 1982 Polk Series 5 monitors are the only speakers I've ever had. Recently my passive radiators are starting to go bad. Any suggestion on replacements would be appreciated. I purchased a pair of Polk XT 70's and had to return them as they just didn't sound very good to my ear.

[@Nick_4i]

what didnt you like about the xt70?

[@PhilipBallGarry]

Thanks for this very comprehensive test/review. My listening room is very small (12ft x 12ft x 9ft high). My listening position is unfortunately only 4ft away. I need a speaker that performs well at low volume too. Taken into consideration from what you've found, do you think the Q150 will be ok without a subwoofer too?

[@mr.f.9672]

What about 6.5" speaker kef Q350?

[@tvolkman88]

Oh my goodness you got this one out quickly 👍

[@Decoder77221]

Are these significantly better than the q100 bookshelf speakers? Assuming I'd be using a subwoofer and center (model TBD) with either one, for a home theater

[@kartikk127]

For the estimated In-room response graph, is there a preferred(or ideal) slope for the downward line?

[@RennieAsh]

I thought it's about 6dB from 100hz to 10kHz?

[@pliedtka]

Some may like even more, but 6dB down from 100 to 10k seems to work well

[@PrezidentHughes]

So KEF have stands that the speakers can attach to?

[@sunshine242-l4y]

Hey Erin, thanks for the video. The general consensus I got from these KEF Q series is that compared to something like the Polk reserve series, they sound thin/don't have as much of a muscular sound to them. Do you find that true as I was looking at the Q950s. That being said, I would certainly love to see another set of measurements where you attempt to address that resonance you mention for these speakers. Would be highly educational imo

[@andrewskaterrr]

An online friend just went from JBL 590s to the Q950s and he said the W950s had even more bass. “Thin” would indicate a lack of bass. So they shouldn’t sound thin at all coming from his thoughts. He heard them at a shop and then in his room. There is a German review with measurements of the Q950 that I literally just deleted off my pc yesterday. You should be able to find it online though. They didn’t show a lack in bass either.

[@tomnwmi]

While I like the Q150's ( I even had a third as center for a while), switching to the R100's brought more life and liveliness to the sound. Immediately noticeable! The 150's are now front heights mounted on the sidewalls crossed at 90Hz.

[@vladrapchan5330]

​@@tomnwmiI have Q300s and I'm torn between Q350s and R200s. Do you miss The imaging and soundstage from the kefs?

[@28_babyshark]

I need help between the KEF Q350 or the KEF Q150, do you have a comparison video?

[@Bradimus1]

Your subjective notes match my experience. It's not for my tastes, but seemed a good speaker overall.

[@c.s.herman860]

How do these compare to Q100?

[@Nick-mg8uv]

As always, very detailed review, thanks for that! It's nice that you mentioned Emotiva too, I'm currently deciding between these 2.. Emo seems to measure better, less dips and more linear response, but could you please tell me which one has warmer signature? Which has richer midrange? which is more likely to be called "shouty"?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

"Warm" usually means a bumped up midrange with respect to the treble. In the case of the two you mentioned, honestly, both are pretty similar. If you look at the estimated in-room response you'll see both have a lifted treble. The Kef has a couple resonances that are more abrupt while the Emotiva has those spread out. The more abrupt ones would be less offensive. But the spread out nature might lend themselves to being more along "warm". Though, I'm really stretching it to make that conclusion. If you have EQ, get the one that takes better to EQ and then adjust to taste. Of course, both of these are - again - about the same in this regard. The Emo gets the very slight edge here. But I'm not sure it's enough to matter.

[@Nick-mg8uv]

@@ErinsAudioCorner Thanks for your reply Erin, I appreciate that! well, if they have similar sound signature, I'll take one that soundstages better.. Do you have any sub in mind that may go well with kef? For about $200-250 I think... Thanks!

[@Shoaibexpert]

My NAD C298 amplifier doesn't have any sub cutoff option. KEF R7s are on the floor with SVS SB 3000 but I have to use them without any crossover settings. Any suggestions on how to manage cross over without having that in the amplifier or DAC. Essentially, currently the KEFs are throwing out low frequencies I don't want them to handle... Thanks

[@dragonstone6594]

Can you review the Heco Aurora 300 also?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I will keep that one in mind.

[@psyphonyxaudio]

" WHATS UP EVERYBODY " ... as fast as possible.. haha .. made me laugh immediately.

[@Gunmastercomua]

Thank you Erin!

[@scott5521]

what is a good cheap amp to buy for this

[@pocket5s1]

I wonder if these would fit in some A-pillars...

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Make it so!

[@brucehazen8982]

Q150 @ $300 pretty much kills the competition. But Wharfedale Diamond 220 on sale @ $250 kills EVERYTHING

[@hamishmartin4420]

THANK YOU !!! fantastic review and intelligent guy!!

[@superstarindia10]

Wharfdale b6.2 vs Elac B6.2 please

[@caioferrari]

You are the best! Thanks for the review.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Welcome!

[@MustacheVerra]

Thanks Erin.

[@joelopez7459]

Love mine, even though i didn't think i would like the sharp top end.

[@idray986]

When is kef gonna send you their new reference metas😁

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Hopefully soon. 👍

[@idray986]

@@ErinsAudioCorner if I was rich I would send you them. However their might be someone in the fb kef enthusiast group you are in that could send you a set. If you ever want my R500 though I'd be happy to send it.

[@chadkayser7010]

Anyone have experience with these actually in a bookshelf with very little space against backwall?

[@kartikk127]

That was quick. Thanks for the great review! Do you have any plans to review the Kef LS50 meta(since they are the step up)? Or would that be redundant since you've already reviewed the LS50 wireless II?

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I’ll probably will not measure the passive version. Since I measured the wireless II, I’m just not that interested in measuring the passive version.

[@josegazal701]

Great review!

[@word2RG]

👍 public service announcement! :)

[@brandobashin4838]

I listened to this on my q150s that I bought a few months ago for $350 I think they are worth it but I wish I paid $50 less

[@toecutterjenkins]

Don't t know if you saw gr research recent video about hifi reviewers , I'd love to see you test his speakers and see what the data says.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I’d be happy to test his speakers but I can’t afford those myself. If someone has a pair to loan then I’m game. Or if someone wants to buy a set and have them shipped to me first then I’d be happy to test and review them.

[@pliedtka]

Someone please send Erin some GR - Research products, from what I know they're very popular, especially the XLS Encore kit. I think ASR measured one of them.

[@RyanTobler]

That's awesome you put this together so fast. I bought the metas a couple weeks ago and just picked these up to compare and maybe $1200+. I've been doing a/b listening and just came across something weird. The "ohhhh ohhh" voice on Into the Unknown (Frozen soundtrack) on the q150s sounds so terrible. If anyone has these could you test the track out and see if I'm crazy? I'm only playing at around 45-50db.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I demoed them with that track and then did some signal gen sine sweeps... I'm not hearing any issues. FWIW, if you load that song into audacity (assuming you own it and can), you can select the specific region you are interested in and plot the frequency spectrum. That will give you an idea of the frequencies that are likely causing your issues. If the issue as at all levels then it could very well be that a part is misaligned. That's something which can happen to all speakers but seems to be problematic with coaxials/concentric designs simply because there is "extra" stuff going where the voice coil is near; you could have some kind of rubbing/buzz created from that. If it does it only at higher volumes then it could be a distortion issue but as you said, it's at low volumes so my bet would be a mechanical resonance. Might be worth taking apart and checking into. (make sure to isolate it to just one speaker if you can)

[@RyanTobler]

Thanks for the reply. I'm glad you weren't able to reproduce it. I actually took the speakers apart and didn't see anything wrong and when I reassembled them the speaker still had the same issue. I guess I'll return them. One positive note, after dissembling the Q150 I understood what you meant by the shadow flare issue and checked the metas and sure enough the trim ring was sticking out. I pushed it back so they are recessed and the change is real! Thank you!

[@JuanSanchez-go6zm]

I want to buy the best monitors for less than 150 dollars. Qué me recomiendas? THNKSS

[@normanham6142]

$150 each, or a pair?

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

currently, here, the Q350 is only 50 €\$ more expensive than the Q150

[@sdrtcacgnrjrc]

430 to 380 €\$

[@caioferrari]

I have a Klipsch RB 51-II and a DIY Sub. It got what better when I set the crossover point to 120 Hz instead of 80 Hz. May be it’s like the KEFs

[@bencausey]

I disagree with his sub crossover points, at least in my room. I have my KEF Kube 12 at 40hz and very low volume level - otherwise bass would be too boomy. (Speaker level inputs)

[@MT-eb2dx]

Damn, great review.

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

Thanks.

[@HomeCinemaJunkie]

Been eyeballing these, but they have gone up 50% in price lately ...so no

[@hhectorlector]

You look like a total hardass on the podcast but I loved this vid. Great work.

[@RennieAsh]

As usual, they are all "unavailable"

[@ErinsAudioCorner]

I see they have them in black and white: amzn.to/36xSMza

[@RennieAsh]

@@ErinsAudioCorner probably not to Australia

[@teachonlywhatiseasy]

nice shirt

[@gbmwaz]

Elacs smoke these at similar $$$ like the Debut 6.2 listening to female vocals on these KEF's is screechy awful