The midrange sounds clean with a warm tonal balance that makes them ideal for a lot of solid-state and tube amplifiers. The Wharfedale EVO4.2 is available in three different finishes: walnut, black oak or white oak. These speaker series follow the tangerine waveguide. Seas (makes some very nice tweeters, midrange, woofers) was founded in 1950 as a spin-off of the Norwegian radio manufacturers Radionette and Tandberg. Imagine expansive pipe-organ notes energizing the air and echoing throughout my little room. Luxman, Triangle and Marantz working perfectly together, #nowspinning. Let us know your views about the KEF Q150 Vs Q350 speaker comparison in the comment section. I don't want you to go out of your way. The embedding of the tweeter at this particular position ensures dynamic and more precise sound delivery. ps. Since the Q150 and Q350 have back ports to boost bass, you should not put them too close to the wall. Triangle was much clearer on the treble and highs. Driven by Rogue Audio's Sphinx hybrid integrated amplifier (tubes, class-D, $1299), the Q350's sound had stout bones, especially through the bottom octaves. only 2 years cover too. A proprietary SVS SoundMatch 2-way crossover enhanced by expertly refined topology ensures accurate frequency response and silky-smooth transitions between drivers as well as pinpoint imaging and phase coherency. Worked into the now complete system the performance of the HT system is a true force of nature. I hear the Bro3s are warm and easy to listen to yet detailed at the same time. The Q350 costs US $700 on Amazon including prime shipping. Intel refuses to participate in these Manufacturing doings and thusly maintains their "Local" Manufacturing. Now, one and two years later, respectively, I'm enjoying both Schiits more than ever. From the bits I did gather, there seemed to be a general consensus that the Q150 had cleaner treble, but the Q350 sounded bigger, warmer, had better mids, and more bass. The Q350's cloth grille is optional at $39.98/pair, but KEF does include concentric, two-piece foam plugs to partially or fully block the rear-firing ports when the pair are positioned near room boundaries. Oh well. Similar to KEF q150, this variant also lacks all of the control features. The Best Active Speakers of 2022 The Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers for Summer The Best Waterproof Bluetooth Speakers The Best Outdoor Speakers for Your Backyard and Summer Parties. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. I take these matters seriously. Don't expect LS50 will shine with your sub $1,000 electronics. When they realized this B&W quickly put a stop to it, but I remember the manager saying that it was a constant battle working with the Chinese in protecting intellectual property, and manufacturing techniques. No doubt, there are more expensive speakers available in this range, but KEF q150 stands out from all these with these stunning features. Trust me and ignore any negative reviews for this speaker. The only thing that KEF Q150 lacks is the presence of the grille, which many people might not need to maintain the aesthetics. Compared to the other drivers, midranges cover sounds, not surprisingly, in the middle of high/treble and low/bass tones. Beautiful, Accurate, Warm, Comfortable Sound, Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2020. Music that was recorded in stereo needs to be listened to in that format unless we are content with listening to single loudspeakers again that attempt to simulate stereo or even surround sound with multiple drivers packed into an enclosure the size of a coffee can. Is there a wonderful story to tell? These speakers are truly remarkable for their size and price. Now that we know about each speaker and their specifications, let us compare the two based on a few factors listed below: A speakers drivers are its brains. All of these speakers are highly regarded. Tony- You do remember that Gold Peak Industries of Hong Kong owns KEF, right. That being said, it is true that some Chinese manufacturing facilities have produced counterfeit goods. Imagine how I felt as I lay on the couch in my night-dark, candlelit apartment, feeling like I was surrounded by the stone walls of a Gothic cathedral begun in 1295. You must log in or register to reply here. I own superb gear now but I still miss my Vintage lovelies. I wonder who got them next. As opposed to the Q150s sensitivity, the Q350 can get marginally quieter and use less power. And as the model was launched recently, it is more advanced and equipped with better features and technology. One evening I setup the Q350 set as the main speakers and had a few friends over. The PSB Alpha P5 is available in two finishes: walnut or black ash. * Magnetic Grilles sold separately. These are one of the best value speakers when on sale. HR found that the "Q350s really liked tubes", specifically the PrimaLuna Prologue Premium stereo amplifier. Adding the stands made a huge improvement. As the maximum of the controlling attuning of the sound is executed by the amplifier. Cons:. The Dali Spektor 2 are another strong contender for the best budget bookshelf speakers that you can buy. I bought and auditioned the Before buying these KEFs, I like many others obsessionally belabored the choice. . Will these Audiophile smart phone people connect the dots, discover Stereophile and end up buying Q series KEF loudspeakers ? Exceptional soundstage. As can be seen in the chart above, median best-selling speakers receives a consumer score of 9.1 (great). This level of clarity and refined detail isnt something we usually hear at this mid-range price were really impressed." I added a SVS SB 2000-Pro sub and it literally calms my soul when I listen to them. Theft of intellectual property should indeed be stamped out, but has nothing to do with a company like KEF (or any of the other high end audio outfits) choosing to have their designs built in China. During the hour preceding my removal of the. Of course, I suspect that HR sold most of us on our long established love affair with those LS3/5a darlings instead of the resonating paneled Qs. I would never have known KEF was For-Sale or how much it Sold for. It is the biggest driver in size, and is usually shaped like a cone. Each speaker weighs almost 14 pounds and is 18 inches tall much bigger than traditional bookshelf speakers and they require a big room and a powerful amplifier. Plus Sanyo, B-Tech, Teac, Techcraft, LG, StudioTech, Bell'O & more. JBL was slightly better on guitar, shocked that both of us noticed that. ls50 meta speakers. Perhaps the product cost reductions that enabled the low pricing might also be excessivley degrading the resulting performance, or maybe not. Buying a piece of Gear is like a Marriage Commitment, a Love Affair, a Relationship. Often, for the highest audio dispersion, bookshelf speakers should be put on stands. The Uni-Q driver has been reconfigured to the middle of the cabinet to improve the clarity and quality of the Q Series bookshelf speakers by reducing unnecessary internal resonance and adding precision to their acoustic clarity and detail.Lower treble output is greatly enhanced with the inclusion of the damped tweeter loading tube, which offers a smooth termination of sound emitted from the rear end of the tweeter, and a new low-distortion inductor provides clearer bass on the crossover. Gray Well-known member. My personal gear went up for adoption and are long gone, I should've put them into "proper" storage. You are not 'old school'. that these lovely Qs are made of Chinesium, RRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr you ? The KEF Q350 bookshelf speaker is the newest iteration of KEF award-winning Q Series. ), Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2022. I considered all the current bookshelf speakers that are being talked about in the current year. Seattle Area. thanks! And I also hear they have a 'different' and 'unique' sound that's very appealing and fun to listen to. In 1981 they produced the 3030 receiver which was the first model made in Taiwan, this particular model wasn't very successful, doesn't attract the cash in the used market because it does not have the build quality the Norwegian manufactured ones do. The Borea BR03 are French-made passive bookshelf speakers that push way beyond their $450 price tag. Therefore, the natural-feeling energy, hip-shaking momentums, saturated colors, high-relief textures, and relaxed coherence they brought to the Q350s did not surprise me. These differences in degrees of directness and exposure made me excited to be reviewing a British loudspeaker that could accomplish such things while costing only $649.99/pair. The JBL L82 Classic won't be for everybody. If you have empirical evidence for Chinese manufactured equipment being of worse quality please present it. They aren't great speakers because they are designed and built in the US, they are a great speaker that happens to be designed and built in the US and has fans willing to pay the premium for that. Buy Triangle Borea BR03 Hi-Fi Bookshelf Speakers Pair for Home Theater Systems and Music, 100 W Power Handling, High Efficiency (Walnut) at Amazon. As a Corporation I have to move my Labor Supply "OffShore" to take advantage of lower labor costs, my personal Contract and Bonuses are contingent on it. Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2022. There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. What's the Best Ultra-Portable Bluetooth Speaker? Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Every feature on the Ultra Bookshelf speaker cabinet is designed with a sonic purpose in mind. It makes a significant difference to move it forward or farther away from the wall. I will of course note that most of the companies you praise are foreign, and some manufacturer their products in China. thanks for another great article! The KEF Q350 speakers turn out to be more efficient and durable. Buy from. I have tried a number of options in this price range and the KEF Q350 is superior: wide and detailed soundstage; high frequencies are nicely presented without sounding harsh; the mid range is full and allows you to listen to a wide range of music genres for long periods without any fatigue; and, the lower frequencies go down to the 40 Hz range and roll off very slowly below that, producing a warm and beefy/rich tone even at low volumes. I'm not yielding to marketplace pressures. The KEF LS50 quickly became regarded as some of the best-sounding passive speakers when they were released in 2012. There is still no such thing as a free lunch. Triangle Borea BR03Amazon product link: https://amzn.to/3onVXk4KEF Q150Amazon product link: https://amzn.to/3F8Zt7CIn case you didn't know, I'm a compact boo. This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Also, due to the better and more strategic position of the tweeter in this version of the speaker, it delivers a more powerful sound even at the higher frequencies. According to Sehdev, "The lower component count for 1st order network allows us to use better quality components for the price." The point is KEF Q150 has a current market retail price of $299/pair MoFi Electronics SourcePoint 10 loudspeaker, SVS Prime Pro wireless active loudspeaker, Fleetwood Sound Company DeVille SQ loudspeaker, Brilliant Corners #3: On the Horns of a DilemmaA for Ara speakers, the Lejonklou Klla streaming DAC, Thinking of You: Terry Hall & The Specials, Revinylization #39: New Reissues of Classic Ella and Billie on Verve and Decca, What I picked up at the Florida Expo 2023besides COVID, High End By Oz, Lansche, Thrax, Hifistay, Rotel, S.I.N. Though the speakers have the save drivers installed along with the same enclosure material like q150. KEFs tangerine waveguide over the tweeter dome adds to Uni-ultra-wide Qs distribution. The SONY CSS5 at $78-$128 per pair outperforms this $499-$599 speaker easily in definition, detail and instrument separation. The Q150 also have a nominal impedance of 8 ohms, making them fairly easy to drive for most amplifiers. You should also ask yourself why these companies have shifted manufacuring to China, or Indonesia, or Mexico? If space is limited the Q350 will not limit your musical enjoyment, a Uni-Q driver and clever port design let it open up the sound. If the bookshelf speaker is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled (or both), youll likely be able to control the output through your smartphone or other device. I agree it's somewhat of a risk to buy deaf/blind (lol), but they have a 30 day return if I don't like them, so it's kind of minimal. Wharfedale is one of the oldest loudspeaker manufacturers in the world and one of the best at designing affordable loudspeakers that can really reproduce a full-range sound. and.. it explains an entry level $500 LS50 re-branded as Q series. I'd prefer it if they were more open about the closeness of components such as the Q350 to much more expensive 'references' but such is life. How many bookshelf speakers are included? I mainly listen to classical and jazz. KEF Q350 Review - One of the best speakers available at $500 and also better than the LS50, Triangle Borea BR03 _(Z Reviews)_ Son, I am dissapoint.. However, because active loudspeakers are an entirely different breed they have numerous wired and wireless connectivity options and demand a significantly higher price tag we've omitted them from the below list. On 4 Mar 2023 (17 hours ago) we went through 92 Speakers expert endorsements . The significant difference comes around the inbuilt wattage. Why do I get the feeling that ownership of these Qs is a "period of time" specific experience, not to be confused with Ownership of a Pair of LS3/5a Rogers being a "Lifetime" experience with Grandchildren lining up to inherit the darn things ? I considered all the current bookshelf speakers that are being talked about in the current year. Wasn't thrilled initially, played with the positioning and added an Energy subwoofer I had on hand and that's when they really started to sound good. It was made in the UK. It explains why none of the Car Groups have KEF sound systems in their Cars. It's here. ps. Sometimes, this capability comes with the caveat, Speakers with Wi-Fi connectivity connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network to stream audio from your devicessmartphone, tablet, laptop, etc. There are dozens of newer speakers on the market. Below are their opinions. Of course I'm delighted to be noticed for doing this kind of work! Although these speakers do not come along with amplifiers, you need to use a medium-watt amplifier if you want to experience the full sound capacity of these speakers. Active loudspeakers also require at least one of the loudspeakers to be plugged into the wall, limiting how you set the speaker up in your space. What matters is the schema of air circulation here. Never, never, attempt to equate speaker quality with price. ReviewFinder is reader-supported - if you click on a link on ReviewFinder and make a purchase, we earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We can say lack in terms of the control system. There are many other advanced features within this price range of the KEF features. They didnt realize the R5 speakers werent playing until I pointed it out. Basically, if you thought KEF's previous speakers sounded good the new LS50 Collection takes that sound to the next level. you explain everything to me and not above me.not meant in a bad waycall off the dog, this has changed my outlook on bookshelf speakers. Your argument is odd (and perhaps a little personal). There is no way to try another amplifier or DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter) to alter the sound. In simple words, we can say that KEF q150 has a very wide soundstage and sounds fantastic even at low volume with neutral sound. With KEF's signature Uni-Q driver array and a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) port, the Q350s deliver detailed natural sound with high clarity and tight bass. Although, the size of these bookshelves speakers varies up to a great extent. Vote 1 1 comment It is your task as a reader to accept their expertise or not, and to apply your own filters such as country of manufacture. Is Stereophile writing to their readership ? Basically, if you thought KEF's previous speakers sounded good the new LS50 Collection takes that sound to the next level. I also want to pair them with a Subwoofer, preferably SVS SB1000 if I can get for a good price. If you're looking for a more refined sound compared to most "entry-level" passive bookshelf speakers but don't want to take out a loan, these are all-around great speakers. As a result of this it does not require an additional subwoofer. View: https://youtu.be/Hz9PyawLrrQ. Its EVO4.2 bookshelf speakers sound positively like floor-standing loudspeakers when positioned on solid stands (which cost an extra $300-$500) no subwoofer required. I own the LS50s with Sound Anchor stands. Kef Q350 are $500 more expensive than the average speakers ($299.98). Before investing, it becomes crucial to check out the various variants of a particular brand to get the perfect knowledge about which s better than the other and worth the money. The data presented is for information purposes only. The Q350 is a small to medium-sized 2-way bookshelf speaker with a rear port. The 3/5a was our balance scale. And I also hear they have a 'different' and . Now KEF brings out a similar less expensive model with its own set of qualities. One knock on Amazon, it took a month before I got these! Decent mid/high detail but bass is overwhelming, very undefined and sloppy, Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2022. On the strength of this review, if I was not already satisfied by my vastly more expensive and bigger speakers I would be going to my local KEF dealer this morning. The last speaker I reviewed, the Totem Signature One, had a rear port that whistled at about 560Hz, so the very first thing I listened for with the Q350s was noise from their ports and cabinets. I'll figure around $5,000 US ! Would have loved to buy it but it costs literally twice as much. In this variant of the KEF speaker, the position of the tweeter is in the acoustic center of the line instead of the usual mid-range of the speaker where the twitter is embedded at the very heart of the uni-q driver technology. The Q350 features a New cabinet, sleek New finishes, and an improved 6.5 Unit-Q driver Array. It needs saying that every Reviewer of Loudspeakers should own and use the LS3/5a as a Reference, I certainly did at my Esoteric Audio Salon. It has an effect on the soundsbass, midrange, and treble, as well as tonal harmony. Hong Kong-based Gold Peak bought KEF (and Celestion) in 1992, IIRC. They pair a 25mm silk dome tweeter with a 16cm midrange/bass paper driver that together has an expansive sound that rivals much more expensive options. Note decays were blurry, and slightly too long. The specs are Class A, 100 watts per channel at 0.006 THD and SNR of 105db. Q Acoustics is now pushing hard into the high-end with the Concept 300 stand-mounted full-range bookshelf loudspeakers. Kef Q350 are a well-known option at the top of the price range. In terms of the speaker/stand interface, KEF does provide some stick-on black rubber pads. Even Foxconn has stated it could move some production overseas. This comes with the exclusive arrangement of drivers which deliver pure sound. The tenor of your posts ill behooves the audiophile community or Stereophile. If you're a true music lover and you have a bigger room to set up your system (these get loud), the B&W 606 are fantastic compact speakers. is an intellectual rant about using poor ( but skilled ) Chinese labor force ( usually young female Farm Girls ) kept in Labor Dormitories ( like Foxcom ( who make our Apple Products ) for ultra competitive Costs resulting in the collapse of a Country's Position in Supplying any such Product. A low distortion inductor is settled inside the speaker to reduce all the abrasion sounds, which tend to distort the quality of the sound. The tweeter is placed in the acoustic middle of the midrange cone, taking the acoustic concept of a single point source closer to reality than ever before. (The new KEF LS50 Meta is their current media darling. All of these speakers are highly regarded. I would definitely recommend these speakers. It makes for nice sounding and a nice looking front stage. The BRC1 works well with the BR03. The BR08 fairs a little better in this regard. The Uni-Q driver has indeed been reconfigured to the middle of the cabinet to improve the clarity and quality of the Q Series bookshelf speakers. ELAC DBR62 - liked these too, but similar to Trangles, when comparing side by side with KEF, Elacs were more fatiguing. They're in the top 3 bestselling speakers and have quite a few popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin or Kanto TUK . Triangle Borea BR03 : Read more . A painful mistake. Apart from the Driver and design, both speakers also share the same crossover frequency of 2.5Hz, the same technology of the Uni-Q array/CFD port, and a nominal impedance of 8ohms. For a retail price of $500 I am so incredibly blown away. People who love to enjoy their music at higher bass can attach a subwoofer to it. It is the logical thing to do in the free enterprise system of which the US is purportedly a shining light. What Triangle has done with the Borea range is ensure that it is very definitely less marmite than some previous offerings from the company. The speakers output can be amplified at various sound levels and volumes with different bass and frequencies. Kef iQ30 was on the verge to be bright but still non-fatiguing on the run of 2-3 hours. Anyone with 400 to spend on speakers would have to consider these wouldn't they? Excellent speakers, but be weary of less-than-ideal placement, Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2017. I tried the foam plugs for the bass reflex port in the back and positioning in/out from the walls, but the bass remained very woolly and not tight at all. This causes the driver t, Power handling, or peak power, is the highest wattage a speaker can accept from an amplifier before it burns out or becomes damaged. These Kefs blow all the speakers in this price range clear out of the water. The human voice and most instruments fall into this range. Actually, it is very surprising to me that the evaluations have not been made using KEF's own dedicated stand as a starting point. Triangle BR03 - liked them, but when comparing side by side with KEF, Triangles sounded more . Ideally, this is great for a small room. I still miss all the Superb Gear that I once owned : Pro-Ac Tablets, Magnapan MG2s, Conrad-Johnson MV45a, Audible Illusions Modulus 2a, Bruce Brisson Cabling MH750s, Meridian M2s & M3s ( both in Rosewood ), both of my original Linn LP12s and a few other pieces of wonderful gear I had to part with as I left the Audio Industry for the Travel Work of a Major Corporation. Chinesium prics X 5 . $799.00 sale $599.00 Add to Cart The Alpha P5 have a lot of competition below $600, but they manage to win the day with an impressive level of transparency, detail and dynamic punch that works with almost every recording you try. Many reading this are probably in the same predicament they find themselves in when the Q150 and Q350 frequently go on sale for $300 and $500 respectively. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . These cones come in three types: tweeters, midranges (sometimes called mids), and woofe, The type of enclosure, or cabinet, plays a key role in determining the focus of your sound. Typically, these speakers require a wirele, Speaker wire is the connection used between speakers, amplifiers and receivers. Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2022. Might someone translate "Tony in Michigan"'s comments into plain ol' English for me? As a general thumb of rule , to optimise the audio experience one should place their speakers six to ten inches apart, that is if you own a pair. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I just did a bit of a Search on the LS50 to discover that KEF originally intended the Design to be a more modern replacement for the LS3/5a. The latest model of the Q series, the Q150 is small, compact, and elegantly powerful. 14.09 x 8.26 x 12.04 in (358 x 210 x 306 mm), KEF reserves the right, in line with continuing research and development, to amend or change specifications. All the while it's been singing it's heart out and giving pride of ownership a steady polish. Triangle BR03 $500-1000 Wharfedale Evo 4.1 Ascend Sierra 1 ELAC UB52 $1000-2000 Ascend Sierra 2EX ELAC UBR62 Focal Aria 906 Whatever speakers you go with, I can't recommend a pair of these 6" or 9" stands strongly enough---imo a must-have for every desktop system. Is there any of these that should be a clear favourite? The proportions of the Triangle are entirely satisfying. It was operating as an employee owned business when in 2014 there was a management led buyout by Sonovox Group (China). This variant of the KEF speaker uses the patented Uni-Q driver technology. In the end, I slightly preferred the Q350s 6' apart, toed in just a little, 33" from the wall behind them to their front baffles, and with their ports partially plugged. So what is this entry level "Audiophile" price concept being frequently touted ? I am thrilled with these speakers, they will outlast my ears. Finally, my first Naim. The KEF Q350, however, while a reasonable product for $749, doesn't stack up against its competitors quite as well. Chinese are product dumpers, it's war for them, it isn't racist. I hear the Bro3s are warm and easy to listen to yet detailed at the same time. I kept moving them to determine which combination of wall-to-speaker distance and port plugging worked best. I have not read all the comments fully, but Tony's statement has a grain of truth. The sound quality of the Q150 is comparable to that of the KEF LS50, but at a lower cost. I bought and auditioned the Triangle Bro 3, the Klipsch RP 600M, Elac Unifi 2.0 and this KEF Q350. I also noticed a bit of "talk" from the cabinet, but only rarely did I detect any cabinet resonances in the fundamental range of human speechapproximately 200750Hzwhile listening to music. The soundstage is comprehensive and big, with heavy bass and reasonable treble, making these speakers suitable for confined areas. If you're willing to take the jump from the sub-$500 price range to the sub-$1,000 price range, these bookshelf speakers are about as good as you can get. Also, as now you know about all the specs and features of the KEF q150 and q350 bookshelves speaker variant, lets look at the difference in the prices. Oh, that's right, no smartphones are made in any of those countries. Bookshelf speakers do a rather convincing job recreating the soundstage; the physical space (studio, garage, music hall) where the recording was made and that illusion of being there with your favorite artist is a big part of the experience. Reviewing loudspeakers is plagued with uncertainty. Also, not all the receivers come along with these elements. Usually located at the top of the speaker, tweeters come in different shapes (detailed below) and sizes. . ( I'm pleased that you found a way of revealing this in some sort of painless way, I think that JA keeps a stethoscope handy for revealing these types of issues ). The speakers need to be 3/4 to 1 metre from side and back walls. For my ears, I like KEF Q350 better than LS50. They key to quality in a woofer materia.