Generally, In addition to the shape of the tweeter, the material has a big impact on the type of sound emitted. Q Acoustics is now pushing hard into the high-end with the Concept 300 stand-mounted full-range bookshelf loudspeakers. Before buying these KEFs, I like many others obsessionally belabored the choice. The Q350is bigger than the Q150 and is ideal if you already have a tall stand maybe in the range of 18-24 inches. Opinions on that seem to vary quite widely. You are not 'old school'. The LS50 is now a balance scale transducer system that the Pro-Audio World ( including Genelec ) are carefully evaluating and comparing , pretty much like you and Steve G. do within most of your workings. This is usually known as socialism. The Q350 doesn't have the same constrained layer damping as the LS50. Tandberg made some of the finest hi-fi gear in the 60's, 70's and 80's but were very expensive, but beautifully built, with astounding FM tuners in their receivers. I looked up the warranty and it specifically excludes issues related to humidity . These speakers are easy to drive: I am using the Aiyima A07 class D paired with a Schiit Modi 3+ DAC that I am streaming high res audio to via my laptop. I bought and auditioned the Triangle Bro 3, the Klipsch RP 600M, Elac Unifi 2.0 and this KEF Q350. 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. Its recorded by measuring how loud, What you may not know about bookshelf speakers is that they dont always work straight out of the box. Probably because it happened such a long time ago. The KEF bookshelf speakers are small to medium-sized perfect, and they are perfect for any room or even for a moderate space. This variant of the KEF speaker uses the patented Uni-Q driver technology. The woofer sizes of the Q150 and Q350 vary. During my wait time I saw them listed with next week delivery. The speakers can fit in very easily and look stunning while delivering impeccable quality of sound. The vibration I felt, especially toward the bottom front of each side, was not subtle. And I also hear they have a 'different' and 'unique' sound that's very appealing and fun to listen to. 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. The Q350 has a new cabinet, new colours, and a 6.5 Uni-Q driver array that has been upgraded.The Q350 features an improved Uni-Q driver array that smooths out treble frequencies, as well as reinterpreted crossovers for smoother, more precise bass. I hope someone asks Andrew Jones. But the vast majority of people like yourself aren't willing to put their money where their mouths are and pay more for products built in the USA by people who get the (tiny) US minimum wage. Can you recomnend some integrated amps for the bro3. Do you prefer accurate bass or loud bass? The Q150 comes with just enough bass for small to medium rooms and does not instil a vibration. Passive loudspeakers are more flexible as you can experiment with different types of amplifiers, DACs, and placement options. A facility tour will reveal all. 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. Triangle Borea BR03, the cheaper option, tends to get more favorable reviews than Kef Q350. Ideally, this is great for a small room. 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. 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. All of these speakers are highly regarded. There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. In this, the main motive of the wave effect is to reduce the microscopic compression. I don't deny the qualities of various Chinese Mainland Artisan Companies like Cayin who manufacturer and engineer superb products. I don't want you to go out of your way. I ordered these speakers as an open box in like new condition checked by Amazon. The Q 350 is a remarkably well engineered speaker at a very good price. Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2022. Also, the tweeter is placed right in the middle of the speakers driver unit. Q350 Bookshelf Speakers | KEF . When the speakers arrived they looked fine but the tweeter on one speaker was blown. Listening In Summary ( from my perspective ), Chinesium Loudspeaker can be made to sound dam good if you play them with Outstanding-Superb-Carefully Selected-Well Made front ends ! 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. Its rated to go down to 63Hz but seems to go lower than that. Is there a wonderful story to tell? Absolutely a great buy when they're on sale, a decent buy at the $750 list price. Overall, the KEF q150 and q350 are the perfect choices that you can make to get your hands on the best bookshelf affordable speakers. These are the best bookshelf speakers for your home audio setup, in a variety of price ranges. Even with full woofer excursion, the sound does not break up! Manufacturer-provided product description, urls and documents. Adding a midrange driver to the mix allows tweeters and woofers to focus on the sound waves theyre best equipped to producehigh tones and low tones respectively. Now, just to point out the obvious, the LS50 + KEF Performance Speaker Stand come to about $1700 (bring your own sand) while the Q350 + Tontrager stands add up to over $2000. I had to play around with positioning a lot to get the Kef to sound best. Mercedes Teamed Up with Apple to Add Spatial Audio, How to Turn Your Home Stereo Into a Sonos System, 5 Ways to Make Your Speakers Last a Lifetime, The Best Bookshelf Speakers for Your Home Hi-Fi System. Though both the variants of the speaker use the same driver arrangement, the design of the KEF Q350 speakers is also more sturdy and thicker. I could tell where the internal brace was. Everywhere I place them and every amp I connect them to makes a pair of speakers sound different. Combining elegance and technology, it is a continuation of TRIANGLE's investment in favor of a target of pleasure and emotion. Rather than refund $ to my credit card, Amazon put the funds in a gift card account where it sat for 10 days or so. Some of the products have been objectively measured at the Audio Science Forum, some very good, and some not. ), Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2022. 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. Triangle Borea BR03 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker (Pair) LIGHT OAK. Thank you KEF for a well engineered product that I will enjoy for years to come. ", While the motor systems of the LS50's and Q350's drivers are the same, the Q350's specified sensitivity is slightly higher: 87dB/2.83V vs the LS50's 85dB/2.83V. There are so many LS3/5a choices in the market, including Graham Audio, which makes both an LS3/5 and an LS3/5a, and reviews such as this are very informative. 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. Intel refuses to participate in these Manufacturing doings and thusly maintains their "Local" Manufacturing. In comparison to other bookshelf speakers, the Q150 is suitable for laptop tables. The drivers installed are also the same in KEF q150 and q100 speaker ranges. I mainly listen to classical and jazz. The problem is real and the challenges still exist in other industries. Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2023. The speakers output can be amplified at various sound levels and volumes with different bass and frequencies. Will these Audiophile smart phone people connect the dots, discover Stereophile and end up buying Q series KEF loudspeakers ? The ports design has been tweaked to reduce vibration at higher speeds, resulting in little port noise and LF compression. So, again, I can't wait. 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. Buy from. Many other technical specifications come along with these new speaker models. However I lived my entire working Career as a General Motors Corporate Citizen ( except for a brief adventure as a Audio Manufacturer, Importer and Retailer ). I appreciate and value the beautiful things that Chinese Artisans produce and export to the USA. In the past few years, Bowers & Wilkins decided to update its famed 600 range of speakers (which is now over 25 years old). Hence, in this post, we will provide you with a detailed review of the most popular bookshelf speaker variants, KEF q150 VS q350. It is the logical thing to do in the free enterprise system of which the US is purportedly a shining light. Also, the Tensegrity stands don't come with the speakers and add a significant ($999) price bump. Mistahhhhhhhh Space., You're Not Suggesting Block or unblock port if using with subwoofers? What, get outa here, a chinese outfit owns KEF. But maybe this isn't a bad thing? Oh well. The primary components of a bookshelf speaker are drivers, which are the cones that actually create the sound. China has been our Global Industrial leader since the time of Christ, ( with the exception of the last 150 years ), they are no strangers to super high quality. There are dozens of newer speakers on the market. Discover. All of these speakers are highly regarded. I bought and auditioned the Before buying these KEFs, I like many others obsessionally belabored the choice. Similar to KEF q150, this variant also lacks all of the control features. Or, is the Q series mostly aimed at those Big Screen 4K TV Buyers at Costco? The position of the tweeter is also ideal for reducing the mechanical resonance, unwanted vibrations. But the reviews have told me a lot of characteristics that appeal to me, mainly the soft dome tweeter as opposed to metal (metal kills my ears and gives me fatigue) and that separation and vocals are strong, which is what im searching for. Triangle Borea BR03 Hi-Fi Bookshelf Speakers Pair (White) for Home Theater Systems or Music, 100 W Power Handling, High Efficiency Horn-Loaded Tweeters, Excellent Realism, Fast and Accurate by triangle Color: White Change Write a review How customer reviews and ratings work Top positive review All positive reviews Story Angel Below, we've rounded up our favorite passive bookshelf speakers of 2022. Every product is carefully selected by our editors. Note decays were blurry, and slightly too long. I too found myself on that see-saw of trying to decide which to buy and if the Q350 was worth the extra $200. KEF going Asian is KEF racing to the bottom. Triangle Borea BR03 Speakers https://amzn.to/2ybOCwjPrice: $549 (April, 2020), Overall Rating: Pros: Detail Sound, Clean Midrange and Bass, Good Sound Stage.Cons: A Little Cold And Bright Sound Signature From Upper Midrange to Highs, Cabinet Vinyl Wrapping is Not Up To Standard.Build Quality: Highs: Midrange: Bass: Sound Stage: Price: Music by Yao Si Ting: http://ebay.us/BHbje1Associated Equipments;Wharfedale Evo 4.2: https://amzn.to/3c9BIwvKEF LS50: https://amzn.to/36DQv1tB\u0026W 706 S2 Speakers: https://ebay.to/2Vuyi15Wharfedale Diamond 225: https://amzn.to/3aAT5WgDenon PMA-SX11 Integrated Amp: http://ebay.us/KV7KC3Marantz UD7007: http://ebay.us/zZfGqCDenon DP-47F Turntable: http://ebay.us/5v1hARDenon DL-301 MK II MC Cart: https://amzn.to/3abnWZcCanare 4S11 Speaker Cables: https://amzn.to/3eoJiFNAudioquest Type 4 Speaker Cables: https://amzn.to/3bBJ5gZAudioquest Big Sur RCA Cables: https://amzn.to/3aab3inBelden 8402 XLR Cables: http://ebay.us/G4Nt2qPS Audio AC-5 \u0026 AC-12 Power Cables: https://amzn.to/2KSlkJ1Power Bright 3KVA Step Down Transformer: https://amzn.to/3a8h4MjMonolith XL Audio Stand: https://amzn.to/3aiHcnSB\u0026W STAV-24 Speaker Stands.Hey!Only Option To Listen YouTube Sound Demo is with good headphones, not your favorite sound system because listening to two rooms at once is not a good thing, no matter how good your sound system is.My Preferred Headphones For YouTube Sound Demos: https://amzn.to/2wAkk54If you use these links to purchase any items from Amazon or eBay(No Extra Cost To You), I get a small percentage which help support my work and helps me keep going.And you want to help more? So what is this entry level "Audiophile" price concept being frequently touted ? Considering $1000 be your highest price, according to most users, the Q150 speaker model seems to be underpriced. The B&W 606 S2 Anniversary Edition is available in three finishes: black, white or oak. I added a SVS SB 2000-Pro sub and it literally calms my soul when I listen to them. Triangle BR03 - liked them, but when comparing side by side with KEF, Triangles sounded more fatiguing. The trade-off with any active loudspeaker is that you are committed to how the final product sounds. I mainly listen to classical and jazz. components, and hallmark Paradigm sound quality. Clarity is enhanced by reducing the audibility of midrange leakage through the port, thanks to a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) port configuration with the port reconfigured to the speakers back. The LS50 has a 5.25" Uni-Q coincident array with an aluminum-magnesium alloy midrange-bass cone, a 1" aluminum dome tweeter, and a cast-aluminum basket, in a 7.5-liter, 15.8-lb cabinet made of MDF and a sculpted structural foam solid molding. Years ago I read B&W's first foray into manufacturing speakers in China resulted in a surprising find; after production for B&W's entry speakers stopped for the day at the factory, night shift workers had copied the original B&W speaker and were producing exact copies without B&W's permission, for the Chinese market, and in some cases badging them with the B&W logo for sale. A general rule of thumb is a bigger woofer means louder, more powerful bass. Well, the increment in prices is only due to the larger size of the driver. Setup What you are searching for and your budget will determine the answer. * Measurement per unit, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The KEF LS50 quickly became regarded as some of the best-sounding passive speakers when they were released in 2012. I too found myself on that see-saw of trying to decide which to buy and if the Q350 was worth the extra $200. ( for gods sake ) "Real Wood" & pride of ownership !