i *never* leave comments; and i generally *never* buy speakers without hearing them IRL - but, your review of the Q150's was so thorough & even-handed that i ended up getting a pair - and I really couldn't be any happier with them. So, THANK YOU :)
I got these for Christmas for my office, but had them at home these past two weeks. I have played them back to back to compare with the Klipsch RP600Ms in my livingroom and... I like the KEFs better. The Klipsch sound warmer and bigger, and I still like them, but the KEFs sound more realistic. That's the main thing. The Klipsch's were a nice upgrade from the Elac B6.2s I used to have because they image so much better, IMO. But I just think the KEFs do most everything better. Which surprised me...
I love that I am shocked that someone would spend $550 for a pair of nice speakers, while I'm simultaneously planning on spending about $800 on a used pair of HD800 in a couple of days.
Josh, thank you for posting your thoughts on the KEF Q150 speakers. I have been living with them for almost a year now and I also got them on the sale price but from Crutchfield, not Amazon. I have to disagree with you on the ELAC UB5's though as they are very particular about where they're going to be setup in a room - placement for them is huge and if you can't get it right or if they don't work in your room, they just won't ever sound right. Triangle Audio recently released the Borea BR03 and they have received rave reviews ($549 MSRP). The UB5's also go on sale quite often for as low as $350. ELAC recently released the Debut Reference DBR-62 for $599 which have also received very good reviews. Unfortunately, the only way to tell if a pair of speakers are going to sound good in your room, with your gear, is to audition them in your home and auditioning multiple pairs of speakers can be expensive. Consider that floorstanding speakers can provide a fuller larger scale sound while occupying the same floorspace as a stand mount/bookshelf speaker.
For the first time I'm hearing, that KEFs are analytical. I have x300a, R700 and they are everything else, but analytical. Warm and smooth frequency response like Sennheiser HD650 with lots of details. The best imaging and soundstage I've ever heard from pair of speakers.
I have the iQ90 and they're absolutely fantastic. They have impeccable detail retrieval, but their tuning actually rolls off the treble ever so slightly so it doesn't become fatiguing. So maybe people just don't like being able to hear everything in their music?
Older KEF harsh and analytical? Older KEF were very warm and could even be considered a bit dark. Only one series was harsh and analytical and that was the XQ series. R Series is a bit veiled, R Series 2018 and Reference are completely neutral.
I got the elacs and they are incredible. Hust got the kefs and gonns compare. I got rhe kef for tubes low power amp i think they will sound good on that.
$500 US for UB5'S? They are $450 CAN all day on Amazon.ca. I got the Slims for $600 CAD on Amazon . I love the satin black finish. Couldn't do the vinyl wrap due to durability.
One of the interesting things about KEF speakers is that they don't even necessarily sound worse as you go back in time through their catalogue, they just sound different. I've got the iQ90, which are a couple generations older still and they sound absolutely fantastic (though I did spend $700 on my pair, but that's the price you pay for 3-way towers).
Hi Joshua, however is that stand you are showing in the video. I was considering them for my JBL 305P, but they are a little bit on an expensive side. Keep up the great work btw. Cheers
Your visuals in this video are really outstanding!! It really really looks great! Perhaps I’ll also take pictures of my systems, but mine are chaotic and messy 😂 I do have quite a lot of media though.. Lots to chose from. I am one of the ‘too bright for me’ types.. I liked the LS50’s, but a bit to clinical to my taste. Then again, I use quite midrangy kind of speakers with slightly rolled off top ends... So really, what do I know. But I do get curious now 😀
"Fragile" is the word I keep coming back to when explaining why I can't love KEF. They just sound fragile to me. Like everything is going to come flying apart at any moment.
Almost jumped on that deal as well but since I would be using them to replace the Q100 on my desk and they are so much more difficult to drive I decided against them.
@@SeanSisco I have Klipsch rp150m (best desk speakers I've had until I tried ub5) which on paper are supposed to be a lot more efficient but I didn't notice that huge of a difference compared to ub5. I wouldn't worry about their sensitivity. They are just slightly less sensitive then Klipsch. Even my 1980s old integrated amllifier (which is my backup) has no issues pushing these things. I strongly recommend you try them. They are amazing. Some other speakers that I've had in the last year are micca rb42 which are meeh. Don't get them unless you absolutely need a tiny speaker. They sound very small. I also had Klipsch r820f which were just a bit too bright for my liking. I like the ub5 over all of them.
@@DenisZ2023 good feedback, thank you. I also tried the RB42 because of all of the positive reviews and was extremely disappointed so I sent them back. If/when the Ubi goes back in sale I'll go ahead and give them a shot. All of the reviews of them indicate that they require more power than what I push at my desktop, but I can always return them if they don't workout. Thanks again for responding with the comparison to the Klipsch, I appreciate it!
@@SeanSisco I started out feeding 70 wpc into my UB5'S and they were fantastic. I now have 140wpc into them and they really opened up. All depends on how loud you want to go and the size of the room.
@@dicmccoy I'm feeding 40wpc to my Q100 and they are just as good as when as I pushing 100wpc so when I watched all of the reviewers say over and over again that the Ubis we're power hungry I backed off. I'm happy to hear actual testimonials around how much power is needed. These are for my desk in my home office so I have no desire to use a large amp (physical size). I primarily use headphones and a headphone amp in this part of the house, but like having audiophile quality bookshelves when I decide to use speakers. Thanks for your insight, between the two responses I'm definitely convinced to grab a pair and test them on my current setup 👍👍👍
This is my first Kef speaker and it has replaced my Paradigm Titan v6 stand mount speakers. The sound stage is wow! Good bass for a small speaker as I turned off my subwoofer just to enjoy them more.
What type of amplifier did you use to test these speakers? I’m in the market for both speakers but just curious on power usage and budget for that gear.
What would be your top 3 speaker picks (Bookshelf or Towers) for the best bang for your buck under 3k? And why? [For a Small/Midsized Living Room with duel SB-3000's] Thanks in advance!
So far i'm very interested in trying Focal, KEF, B&W, Revel, SVS, Paradigm, and Martin Logan. Right now i'm trying the SVS Ultra Bookshelves which are very nice overall. They just seem to be missing a little something in the Vocals for my taste, just hard to put it into words. I guess I wish they sounded just a bit more forward, textured, and 3D like... Great speakers though overall, especially for the money!! Any suggestions on a direction from the previous brands I mentioned??
I hope you've listened to the q150 with the half foam bungs as well (donut plug). They transform the speaker into something much better in this price range (arguably better than the UB5). The plugs really fix the semi recessed mids and too much bass which IMO are due to the rear port and thinner cabinets. Even stereophile recommends using at least the half foam plug in their review. (for the q350 atleast, which is the one I have). That said, excellent review.
Just bought the q150s for 200 dollars! Having gotten them yet, but what do you mean on semi recessed mids, and i will probably be using the port plugs with my svs sb3000 and a 80 hertz crossover. Do you think this will take away some of the cons of the speaker I’m hearing from these reviews? because i am a little nervous on what to expect with this speaker.
@@paulwenzel8914 if you use port plugs, they sound great and takes the thin cabinets out of the equation. semi recessed mids, i meant the bass & treble overpowers the mids/vocals on some rooms especially when the ports are fully open and placed near the wall. for $200, that is unbeatable value. the uniq driver makes for a very deep soundstage.
These speakers sound spectacular with the foam plugs in, on stands, with a couple of subs and with Dirac Live room correction. You can get well above reference level with no distortion in a 250 Sq. foot room.
Yes I agree, have these as my front mains with Q250c and Kef 12 and SVS Sb1000also using the port plugs just finalizing my positioning tomorrow, fine tuning the slight boomyness, but gonna move them a few more inches from the back wall. And very little toe in, as these speakers do not like toe in. Great review, thank you for what you do!
@@jc4626 Yes, do not toe them in. I keep wanting to upgrade for the sake of upgrading I guess. Looking at the R3 meta's. But at the end of the day, these Q150's with the subs sound so dam good as is that I can't pull the trigger.
Would you still choose the Vanatoo T1E over the KEF Q150 + amplifier if pure sound quality alone and nearfield listening like on a desktop. Lets say both are on a speaker stand. Also, lets put a subwoofer scenario too.
Hi, can I suggest 2 products for review? 1). Shure SRH1840 - an open backed headphone in same price category as Beyerdynamic DT1990 with lots of 5 star reviews from hifi and pro-audio publications calling it very accurate with flat frequency response, yet still enjoyable. 2). Quad ERA-1 - a planar magnetic open backed headphone in the same price category as Audeze LCD2C and said to have much better highs with same dynamic slam
I love the ELAC's a lot, but they are not speakers for the average Joe, You need a serious powerful amplifier to show their sound quality, something which most people can't afford! The KEF's are easier to drive, even with a home theater receiver!
If I wanted to use them for computer speakers, would UB5 still be a better choice? Asking because the drivers are not concentric and need time to integrate, and I'm not sure how much distance is usually needed for this
Hey Josh, just curious. What ever happened to the Audioquest Nighthawks you had? Did you ever get to the ridiculous 150 hours of burn in? With Zeos sort of raving about them I'm curious on what you thought.
Hey Josh! I was wondering to buy the q150 for my desktop pc I have a medium size room, can you recommend a good amp dac to drive them? (combo or standalone) maybe something with the headphone out for the beyerdynamic dt 990? Thanks! I'm a total noob about audiophile stuff.
Yet again an amazing video awesome cinematic feel. I honestly think you should try to produce videos outside the audiophile area, I honestly believe you could be very successful out your comfort zone. Good luck.
100% agree with this statement. I notice that with most TH-cam videos I watch, I can just let it play in the background while I'm doing something else, but with his videos, I want to stop what I'm doing just to see the camera-work.
@@IsraelCruzJr starting to think I have a man crush. I think if he put a good effort into it he could do great things. You know who he reminds me of, is Casey Neistat.
@@juliangst Let me correct my statement. Imho the LS50 is the better buy (not the better speaker). On KEF's site RRPP is 1300Eur vs 2000Eur, but yes, the LS50 is an older model and can be found much cheaper now (600Eur 2nd hand). But R3's also sell online for 1300Eur now. Both are great. The LS50 was a 50th anniversary celebration model and designed as a superb entry level for the top Reference series, but its a small bookshelf that needs a subwoofer (unless you get the even better W version at double the price). The R3 is a bigger 3 way with fuller sound, but imho LS50+sub will sound very similar and is probably a better deal. In my case I went for the LS50W as I don't want to play the amp lottery game and already own 2xsubs. Search the forums for impressions, eg: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-of-the-kef-r3s.7867/
I ended up with a pair of q350 by accident. I have a Vandersteen Quatro and an Audio Research amp in for service and unfortunately for me with the COVID-19 thing going on among other things I won’t get my amp back until mid June and my speaker back until mid to late may. My dealer loaned me a pair of Simaudio 400m monoblocks a Rel sub and a pair of Ls50s on loan. Well I happened to be out looking around in a Best Buy Magnolia store one weekend and saw the Kef q350 and they were $375.00 and $392.00 with tax due to a rather large dent in the box, but the speakers were untouched. I took them home after listening to a demo of them, but it was something about their neutral character as come paired to the Ls50s. I bought a pair of metal Monoprice Monolith stands and filled them with sand. Very careful setup and toe end with blue Tac material and light acoustic treatments in the rear of the speakers and BAM, along with the Rel sub, they sounded about 75 percent of the LS50S, and even without the sub they have better bass than the Ls50s. With the sub setup correctly the bass is nice and tight and the midrange and tweeter are left to do what that design does best and that’s image like crazy and provide detail, but with a wider sound stage than the Ls50s. What a surprise, are they better overall than the Ls50s, no, but properly setup with the right front end, my case is overkill, they sound like a speaker well above it’s price even at 700.00 regular price. It goes without saying that the Ls50s are great with the sub, but again the Simaudio 400m amps are freaking overkill and fantastic at the same time and I’m probably doing a trade in to keep them, they are effortless and trickle down technology from the Evolution series. These are a sleeper speaker and when you catch them in my case the q350 on sale, they can be a steal and the Rel Sub is just the icing on the cake.
Thanks for your video sir! I like it so much. I am just hesitated about kef q150 or elac ub5. I have a Nad d 3020 amplifier. I mainly listen to classical music, like piano, cello, violin sonatas, chamber music, and symphony. If not considering about price, could you please give me a recommendation for these two? Thanks so much!
Btw. Check out the last minutes of the Opera Elektra (Richard Strauss) for a test of the dynamic range of a system (better than "Mountains" in my opinion) th-cam.com/video/C6NGVTfLF9Y/w-d-xo.html#t=53m10s
I just returned the Q150. It is V shape, it is bassy but not really warm. I paired with pm6005. Q150 has wider presentation and highs details than my old Tannoy Mercury V1. But vocal, guitar, pianno are thinner or not enough presence on Q150. I felt it is not sound musical or able to bring the emotion enough.
I was looking at getting these and the SMSL AD18, was wondering if I'd need any additional cables to attach it to my PC, or does everything I need come in the box?
I think toe guy asked one person... and he misheard them. classic KEF was never bright or too cmon so and were unanimously known for the exact opposite. I am so confused by this review.
Great video! Thank you. And thank you for not doing the wild hand flailing, talking in that overly enthusiastic "TH-cam" voice while techno blares in the BG. Like and Subscribe!!!
would like to try with my lsx speakers as i needed a small sub as i have under my desk and use with my computer , at the moment i am using a kanto sub and it works well and is small , still think if it was up to $1000 would be a little less harder to swollow , considering the lsx are only $1000 , i think you are paying a premium for its size .. as for the aluminium dont think its that expensive , my washing line is solid aluminium and was very cheap ? would be a higher price as it needs machining but sales people always lay that one on you ... if i want true high end sound i just put on my focal clears which run through rme adi-2 dac from computer ,, bliss
Hey Joshua, great video. Im currently looking at the KEF q950s for my home theater setup. I like music and movies equally i would say, and I saw that you also reviewed the SVS Ultra towers, would you recommend the svs ultra towers over the kef q950s? And does anyone else have any suggestions between the two mentioned speakers?
I'm ordering these tomorrow through Amazon, they have been holding at $299 per pair. I do have a medium size room and will be driving them with my Naim Nait 5si, 60 watt with an Arcam Ir Dac using Naim speaker cables and Kimber Silver Streak interconnects. Have been using in that system the entry level Elac B6 2.0, which sound amazing but want to change it up now! Thanks for the comparison. It all comes down to which amp you are using to get every last drop of detail from your speakers. To me its amp first then speaker consideration.
Would you say these would be a good choice for a open living room space (1st floor of a medium sized house)? Not sure of total ft sq of the area, but it's larger than a typical living room as it bleeds out to the dining area and open kitchen area. Found them on Amazon for $299, price seems pretty good.
Brightness on Kef has a lot to do with mindful pairing with an amplifier because of the materials they chose. There's no real spec on an amplifier that will help inform, so you need to read and chose one that is reviewed for being darker or simply not bright/analytical.
I was honestly shocked by how disappointed I was by this overhyped speaker. its closest to sounding like the kef 3001SEs and even the 3001SEs beat it at the frequency range above 60hz which is well below where you'd have a subwoofer crossed over anyway. I guess I'd recommend it over the 3001SEs if you weren't planning on using a sub and are happy with your bass extending flat only down to 50hz. they are definitely not affordable ls50s however and have obvious cabinet coloration and surprisingly less bass oomf than even the 3001SE Eggs which roll off at about 55hz. th-cam.com/video/Lmj6OAuSp5s/w-d-xo.html
Hi Josh...never heard of Kef being too bright / analytical. I bought a new pair of LS50’s (in white / electric blue and absolutely love them. They get better and better all the time as they break in. Playing high quality files also helps, as it does with any speakers / systems. In another video, I learned that you stream from Google Music. So do I but we are definitely in the minority. I tried them all before choosing Google for its very easy UI, sharing and full screen artwork. As a result, I have built a huge library and array of play lists within the software. I will love it when they merge with the TH-cam Music app. I also love TH-cam Red ad free viewing as a bonus.
Hey Josh, just wanted to say, this is probably your best recorded and edited video, I mean, typically your videos are great in this regard but this in specific is fantastic.
The kefs definitely sound more refined. I had the smaller klipsch speakers and found they could sound quite boxy in the wrong room and harsh on the top in others.
![ผัวเถื่อน - ยูริ โตเกียวมิวสิค [ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/P08ORRVDGl8/mqdefault.jpg)
i *never* leave comments; and i generally *never* buy speakers without hearing them IRL - but, your review of the Q150's was so thorough & even-handed that i ended up getting a pair - and I really couldn't be any happier with them. So, THANK YOU :)
BEST ENTRY LEVEL SPEAKERS OF ALL TIME
I got these for Christmas for my office, but had them at home these past two weeks. I have played them back to back to compare with the Klipsch RP600Ms in my livingroom and... I like the KEFs better. The Klipsch sound warmer and bigger, and I still like them, but the KEFs sound more realistic. That's the main thing. The Klipsch's were a nice upgrade from the Elac B6.2s I used to have because they image so much better, IMO. But I just think the KEFs do most everything better. Which surprised me...
The uniq drivers tend to show weakness's in amplifiers, source and mastering. But when you get it all right its incredible.
Listen to London Grammar on these. I have the q350s and it sounds great!
I have the Q750 and totally agree. Love how they reproduce female voices
I love that I am shocked that someone would spend $550 for a pair of nice speakers, while I'm simultaneously planning on spending about $800 on a used pair of HD800 in a couple of days.
Hahahahaha yes!
Josh, thank you for posting your thoughts on the KEF Q150 speakers. I have been living with them for almost a year now and I also got them on the sale price but from Crutchfield, not Amazon. I have to disagree with you on the ELAC UB5's though as they are very particular about where they're going to be setup in a room - placement for them is huge and if you can't get it right or if they don't work in your room, they just won't ever sound right. Triangle Audio recently released the Borea BR03 and they have received rave reviews ($549 MSRP). The UB5's also go on sale quite often for as low as $350. ELAC recently released the Debut Reference DBR-62 for $599 which have also received very good reviews. Unfortunately, the only way to tell if a pair of speakers are going to sound good in your room, with your gear, is to audition them in your home and auditioning multiple pairs of speakers can be expensive. Consider that floorstanding speakers can provide a fuller larger scale sound while occupying the same floorspace as a stand mount/bookshelf speaker.
The Q150 is the pinicle of ALL speakers! This is truly a Gamechanger
I just bought them and I love them. These speakers are very sensitive to electronics.
Thanks 😊 for your support 🙏....
The kefs are frequently $299 and it's unbeatable at that price. UB5s bang a little too much for small rooms but are also stellar
Paid $266 for my Q150 pair ! Loving them!
Kef Q150 vs SVS Prime? Mostly Rock & Metal
For the first time I'm hearing, that KEFs are analytical. I have x300a, R700 and they are everything else, but analytical. Warm and smooth frequency response like Sennheiser HD650 with lots of details. The best imaging and soundstage I've ever heard from pair of speakers.
I have the iQ90 and they're absolutely fantastic. They have impeccable detail retrieval, but their tuning actually rolls off the treble ever so slightly so it doesn't become fatiguing. So maybe people just don't like being able to hear everything in their music?
Have you tested the q150’s?
Older KEF harsh and analytical? Older KEF were very warm and could even be considered a bit dark. Only one series was harsh and analytical and that was the XQ series. R Series is a bit veiled, R Series 2018 and Reference are completely neutral.
The Q150 is a Gamechanger!
I got KEFs Q on my tiny Home Theater and it's the best choice I ever made.
And I had ELACs UBs before these. I just enjoy the KEFs more - especially cause I paid $350
I got the elacs and they are incredible. Hust got the kefs and gonns compare. I got rhe kef for tubes low power amp i think they will sound good on that.
I got a pair and have to say it sounds amazing. Better then UB5s to me.
The intro and outre music is awesome. makes want to spend $500 on headphone
$500 US for UB5'S? They are $450 CAN all day on Amazon.ca. I got the Slims for $600 CAD on Amazon . I love the satin black finish. Couldn't do the vinyl wrap due to durability.
I got the kef r100's for less than the q150s cost. Just a superior speaker if you ask me.
One of the interesting things about KEF speakers is that they don't even necessarily sound worse as you go back in time through their catalogue, they just sound different. I've got the iQ90, which are a couple generations older still and they sound absolutely fantastic (though I did spend $700 on my pair, but that's the price you pay for 3-way towers).
Hi Joshua, however is that stand you are showing in the video. I was considering them for my JBL 305P, but they are a little bit on an expensive side.
Keep up the great work btw. Cheers
Your visuals in this video are really outstanding!! It really really looks great! Perhaps I’ll also take pictures of my systems, but mine are chaotic and messy 😂 I do have quite a lot of media though.. Lots to chose from. I am one of the ‘too bright for me’ types.. I liked the LS50’s, but a bit to clinical to my taste. Then again, I use quite midrangy kind of speakers with slightly rolled off top ends... So really, what do I know. But I do get curious now 😀
"Fragile" is the word I keep coming back to when explaining why I can't love KEF. They just sound fragile to me. Like everything is going to come flying apart at any moment.
Just bought ELAC ub5 on sale on Amazon for $300. Pretty happy with them.
Almost jumped on that deal as well but since I would be using them to replace the Q100 on my desk and they are so much more difficult to drive I decided against them.
@@SeanSisco I have Klipsch rp150m (best desk speakers I've had until I tried ub5) which on paper are supposed to be a lot more efficient but I didn't notice that huge of a difference compared to ub5. I wouldn't worry about their sensitivity. They are just slightly less sensitive then Klipsch. Even my 1980s old integrated amllifier (which is my backup) has no issues pushing these things. I strongly recommend you try them. They are amazing. Some other speakers that I've had in the last year are micca rb42 which are meeh. Don't get them unless you absolutely need a tiny speaker. They sound very small. I also had Klipsch r820f which were just a bit too bright for my liking. I like the ub5 over all of them.
@@DenisZ2023 good feedback, thank you. I also tried the RB42 because of all of the positive reviews and was extremely disappointed so I sent them back. If/when the Ubi goes back in sale I'll go ahead and give them a shot. All of the reviews of them indicate that they require more power than what I push at my desktop, but I can always return them if they don't workout. Thanks again for responding with the comparison to the Klipsch, I appreciate it!
@@SeanSisco I started out feeding 70 wpc into my UB5'S and they were fantastic. I now have 140wpc into them and they really opened up. All depends on how loud you want to go and the size of the room.
@@dicmccoy I'm feeding 40wpc to my Q100 and they are just as good as when as I pushing 100wpc so when I watched all of the reviewers say over and over again that the Ubis we're power hungry I backed off. I'm happy to hear actual testimonials around how much power is needed. These are for my desk in my home office so I have no desire to use a large amp (physical size). I primarily use headphones and a headphone amp in this part of the house, but like having audiophile quality bookshelves when I decide to use speakers. Thanks for your insight, between the two responses I'm definitely convinced to grab a pair and test them on my current setup 👍👍👍
This is my first Kef speaker and it has replaced my Paradigm Titan v6 stand mount speakers. The sound stage is wow! Good bass for a small speaker as I turned off my subwoofer just to enjoy them more.
@David Kef Kube 12
What type of amplifier did you use to test these speakers? I’m in the market for both speakers but just curious on power usage and budget for that gear.
Theyre currently on sale for 180 euros (like 200 dollars) is that a good deal?
What would be your top 3 speaker picks (Bookshelf or Towers) for the best bang for your buck under 3k? And why? [For a Small/Midsized Living Room with duel SB-3000's] Thanks in advance!
So far i'm very interested in trying Focal, KEF, B&W, Revel, SVS, Paradigm, and Martin Logan. Right now i'm trying the SVS Ultra Bookshelves which are very nice overall. They just seem to be missing a little something in the Vocals for my taste, just hard to put it into words. I guess I wish they sounded just a bit more forward, textured, and 3D like... Great speakers though overall, especially for the money!! Any suggestions on a direction from the previous brands I mentioned??
@@midevil1980 KEF LSX speakers are said to be very nice
I hope you've listened to the q150 with the half foam bungs as well (donut plug). They transform the speaker into something much better in this price range (arguably better than the UB5). The plugs really fix the semi recessed mids and too much bass which IMO are due to the rear port and thinner cabinets. Even stereophile recommends using at least the half foam plug in their review. (for the q350 atleast, which is the one I have). That said, excellent review.
Just bought the q150s for 200 dollars! Having gotten them yet, but what do you mean on semi recessed mids, and i will probably be using the port plugs with my svs sb3000 and a 80 hertz crossover. Do you think this will take away some of the cons of the speaker I’m hearing from these reviews? because i am a little nervous on what to expect with this speaker.
@@paulwenzel8914 if you use port plugs, they sound great and takes the thin cabinets out of the equation. semi recessed mids, i meant the bass & treble overpowers the mids/vocals on some rooms especially when the ports are fully open and placed near the wall. for $200, that is unbeatable value. the uniq driver makes for a very deep soundstage.
mykeldg sick! Im so excited comes within saturday!
Are they good as surrounds in a 5.1 or 7.1 with Q750s as front channel?
These speakers sound spectacular with the foam plugs in, on stands, with a couple of subs and with Dirac Live room correction. You can get well above reference level with no distortion in a 250 Sq. foot room.
Yes I agree, have these as my front mains with Q250c and Kef 12 and SVS Sb1000also using the port plugs just finalizing my positioning tomorrow, fine tuning the slight boomyness, but gonna move them a few more inches from the back wall. And very little toe in, as these speakers do not like toe in. Great review, thank you for what you do!
@@jc4626 Yes, do not toe them in. I keep wanting to upgrade for the sake of upgrading I guess. Looking at the R3 meta's. But at the end of the day, these Q150's with the subs sound so dam good as is that I can't pull the trigger.
only dont like it cuz I can't afford at that price. XD
Alvin Chan they’re half off right now 👍
Bro post production of ur videos is epic. It's like Nicolas Winding Refn movies)
Would these speakers be good for my height channels? They would be 3 ft from the wall on my entertainment close to the ceiling.
Would you still choose the Vanatoo T1E over the KEF Q150 + amplifier if pure sound quality alone and nearfield listening like on a desktop. Lets say both are on a speaker stand. Also, lets put a subwoofer scenario too.
Just upgraded my HT setup with the Q series (2 x Q350, Q650c and a pair of Q150s). They sound absolutely amazing 👍😘😍
What about the Q350?
which one is better kef ls50 or kef Q150. Also do these speakers need an amplifier to support.
Hello what’s tour opinion Kef q or Bw 606 ? For home theater ...
Thanks
Hi, can I suggest 2 products for review? 1). Shure SRH1840 - an open backed headphone in same price category as Beyerdynamic DT1990 with lots of 5 star reviews from hifi and pro-audio publications calling it very accurate with flat frequency response, yet still enjoyable. 2). Quad ERA-1 - a planar magnetic open backed headphone in the same price category as Audeze LCD2C and said to have much better highs with same dynamic slam
“People who do not like KEF” … you mean JBL, Klipsch and B&W owners?
I love the ELAC's a lot, but they are not speakers for the average Joe, You need a serious powerful amplifier to show their sound quality, something which most people can't afford!
The KEF's are easier to drive, even with a home theater receiver!
If I wanted to use them for computer speakers, would UB5 still be a better choice? Asking because the drivers are not concentric and need time to integrate, and I'm not sure how much distance is usually needed for this
Hey Josh, just curious. What ever happened to the Audioquest Nighthawks you had? Did you ever get to the ridiculous 150 hours of burn in? With Zeos sort of raving about them I'm curious on what you thought.
Pair them with a digital amp and a s*** Loki equalizer
I can't find anything comparing these to the 350s
Hey Josh! I was wondering to buy the q150 for my desktop pc I have a medium size room, can you recommend a good amp dac to drive them? (combo or standalone) maybe something with the headphone out for the beyerdynamic dt 990? Thanks! I'm a total noob about audiophile stuff.
Don't use the Q150 on a desktop, I tried this and they weren't great nearfield, great in my living room.
what about the ohms of that elac, will have to spend mroe on receiver than speakers
i really wonder how they will compare with the active argoan audio a4s
How do these KEFs fair against the Emotiva B1+?
Yet again an amazing video awesome cinematic feel. I honestly think you should try to produce videos outside the audiophile area, I honestly believe you could be very successful out your comfort zone. Good luck.
100% agree with this statement. I notice that with most TH-cam videos I watch, I can just let it play in the background while I'm doing something else, but with his videos, I want to stop what I'm doing just to see the camera-work.
@@IsraelCruzJr starting to think I have a man crush. I think if he put a good effort into it he could do great things. You know who he reminds me of, is Casey Neistat.
Elac and Klipsch sound dull in comparison to these.
agreed
I'm more interested into the ls50 and how they compare to r3
That´s a complete other league. And the LS50 is the superior speaker of those 2, imho.
@@Miskatonic-University kef r3 are brand new and double the price tho🤔
@@juliangst Let me correct my statement. Imho the LS50 is the better buy (not the better speaker). On KEF's site RRPP is 1300Eur vs 2000Eur, but yes, the LS50 is an older model and can be found much cheaper now (600Eur 2nd hand). But R3's also sell online for 1300Eur now. Both are great. The LS50 was a 50th anniversary celebration model and designed as a superb entry level for the top Reference series, but its a small bookshelf that needs a subwoofer (unless you get the even better W version at double the price). The R3 is a bigger 3 way with fuller sound, but imho LS50+sub will sound very similar and is probably a better deal. In my case I went for the LS50W as I don't want to play the amp lottery game and already own 2xsubs. Search the forums for impressions, eg: www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/review-of-the-kef-r3s.7867/
I ended up with a pair of q350 by accident. I have a Vandersteen Quatro and an Audio Research amp in for service and unfortunately for me with the COVID-19 thing going on among other things I won’t get my amp back until mid June and my speaker back until mid to late may. My dealer loaned me a pair of Simaudio 400m monoblocks a Rel sub and a pair of Ls50s on loan. Well I happened to be out looking around in a Best Buy Magnolia store one weekend and saw the Kef q350 and they were $375.00 and $392.00 with tax due to a rather large dent in the box, but the speakers were untouched.
I took them home after listening to a demo of them, but it was something about their neutral character as come paired to the Ls50s. I bought a pair of metal Monoprice Monolith stands and filled them with sand. Very careful setup and toe end with blue Tac material and light acoustic treatments in the rear of the speakers and BAM, along with the Rel sub, they sounded about 75 percent of the LS50S, and even without the sub they have better bass than the Ls50s. With the sub setup correctly the bass is nice and tight and the midrange and tweeter are left to do what that design does best and that’s image like crazy and provide detail, but with a wider sound stage than the Ls50s.
What a surprise, are they better overall than the Ls50s, no, but properly setup with the right front end, my case is overkill, they sound like a speaker well above it’s price even at 700.00 regular price. It goes without saying that the Ls50s are great with the sub, but again the Simaudio 400m amps are freaking overkill and fantastic at the same time and I’m probably doing a trade in to keep them, they are effortless and trickle down technology from the Evolution series. These are a sleeper speaker and when you catch them in my case the q350 on sale, they can be a steal and the Rel Sub is just the icing on the cake.
Thanks for your video sir! I like it so much. I am just hesitated about kef q150 or elac ub5. I have a Nad d 3020 amplifier. I mainly listen to classical music, like piano, cello, violin sonatas, chamber music, and symphony. If not considering about price, could you please give me a recommendation for these two? Thanks so much!
Btw. Check out the last minutes of the Opera Elektra (Richard Strauss) for a test of the dynamic range of a system (better than "Mountains" in my opinion) th-cam.com/video/C6NGVTfLF9Y/w-d-xo.html#t=53m10s
you should review the R3 from Kef
I just returned the Q150. It is V shape, it is bassy but not really warm. I paired with pm6005. Q150 has wider presentation and highs details than my old Tannoy Mercury V1. But vocal, guitar, pianno are thinner or not enough presence on Q150. I felt it is not sound musical or able to bring the emotion enough.
What do you recommend for the vocal? I'm looking for something that can deliver good vocal. And same I don't like V shape.
Are the bottoms finished on the 150s? I would need to position them on their side is why I'm asking.
Yessir
@@JoshuaValour Thanks!
I got the q150 and i love how they sound and look
@Owen Kincaid definitely these are my favorite speakers
ELAC IS VERY NEUTRAL I HAVE Paradimg atom SE and Kef Q150 for me this 2 speakers have better Sound to the Elac
@joshua Valour, nice review. Can you please provide me the name/type of speakerstand at 2m36. thanks!
I was looking at getting these and the SMSL AD18, was wondering if I'd need any additional cables to attach it to my PC, or does everything I need come in the box?
From Oxford dictionary, definition of "analytical": Relating to or using analysis or logical reasoning.
nu-males
I think toe guy asked one person... and he misheard them. classic KEF was never bright or too cmon so and were unanimously known for the exact opposite. I am so confused by this review.
Looks like mini washer and dryer on speaker stands.
Haha! That's funny and right on the mark. :)
Great video! Thank you. And thank you for not doing the wild hand flailing, talking in that overly enthusiastic "TH-cam" voice while techno blares in the BG. Like and Subscribe!!!
Please bear in mind the Q150's are better than the UB5's at lower listening levels, more dynamic and detailed.
would like to try with my lsx speakers as i needed a small sub as i have under my desk and use with
my computer , at the moment i am using a kanto sub and it works well and is small , still think if it was
up to $1000 would be a little less harder to swollow , considering the lsx are only $1000 , i think
you are paying a premium for its size ..
as for the aluminium dont think its that expensive , my washing line is solid aluminium and was
very cheap ?
would be a higher price as it needs machining but sales people always lay that one on you ...
if i want true high end sound i just put on my focal clears which run through rme adi-2 dac
from computer ,, bliss
I didn't like these speakers
All these words that have no definition, the worst part about audio reviews.
What amp would you recommend for these
What are the headphones stand that you use ? like at 1:14 !
I can listen to these speakers for hours and they never Tire me out
Hey Joshua, great video. Im currently looking at the KEF q950s for my home theater setup. I like music and movies equally i would say, and I saw that you also reviewed the SVS Ultra towers, would you recommend the svs ultra towers over the kef q950s? And does anyone else have any suggestions between the two mentioned speakers?
You forgot one of the main kef complaints, lack of low end, not good at bass.
I'm ordering these tomorrow through Amazon, they have been holding at $299 per pair. I do have a medium size room and will be driving them with my Naim Nait 5si, 60 watt with an Arcam Ir Dac using Naim speaker cables and Kimber Silver Streak interconnects. Have been using in that system the entry level Elac B6 2.0, which sound amazing but want to change it up now! Thanks for the comparison. It all comes down to which amp you are using to get every last drop of detail from your speakers. To me its amp first then speaker consideration.
These for 300 or the PSB p3 for 220? How do they compare? Anyone with experience with both brands?
Would you say these would be a good choice for a open living room space (1st floor of a medium sized house)? Not sure of total ft sq of the area, but it's larger than a typical living room as it bleeds out to the dining area and open kitchen area. Found them on Amazon for $299, price seems pretty good.
Good review, short and to the point and also the comparison to the UB5's.
THANK YOU :)
Brightness on Kef has a lot to do with mindful pairing with an amplifier because of the materials they chose. There's no real spec on an amplifier that will help inform, so you need to read and chose one that is reviewed for being darker or simply not bright/analytical.
Do you think that for HT is it worth to spend a little more on Uni-Fi over Debut 2.0 ?
simoSLJ89 I wouldn't go with Elac for home theater. I would do Ascend CBM-170 or HSU HB-1 MK2 for home theater.
I was honestly shocked by how disappointed I was by this overhyped speaker. its closest to sounding like the kef 3001SEs and even the 3001SEs beat it at the frequency range above 60hz which is well below where you'd have a subwoofer crossed over anyway.
I guess I'd recommend it over the 3001SEs if you weren't planning on using a sub and are happy with your bass extending flat only down to 50hz.
they are definitely not affordable ls50s however and have obvious cabinet coloration and surprisingly less bass oomf than even the 3001SE Eggs which roll off at about 55hz.
th-cam.com/video/Lmj6OAuSp5s/w-d-xo.html
You should compare the KEF M500 Hi-Fi On-Ears to the HD6xx. Would be interested to hear your opinion.
I currently have Q100s and Q200 for fronts and center, would you recommend these for use as surround speakers?
Hi Josh...never heard of Kef being too bright / analytical. I bought a new pair of LS50’s (in white / electric blue and absolutely love them. They get better and better all the time as they break in. Playing high quality files also helps, as it does with any speakers / systems.
In another video, I learned that you stream from Google Music. So do I but we are definitely in the minority. I tried them all before choosing Google for its very easy UI, sharing and full screen artwork. As a result, I have built a huge library and array of play lists within the software. I will love it when they merge with the TH-cam Music app. I also love TH-cam Red ad free viewing as a bonus.
What do you use to power them?
damn, that ub5 was recently $350 and i missed it.
I have the ub5 they are enjoyable and different than anything else I ever had. Great in my bedroom with my takara x880 receiver.
I don't think their bright I wish they were brighter
Toe them in more, and you'll have bright.
Hey Josh, just wanted to say, this is probably your best recorded and edited video, I mean, typically your videos are great in this regard but this in specific is fantastic.
Same old recommendations as if there were only 3 manufacturers of speakers from which to choose .....
would love to hear your take on Q acoustics concept 20 (also on the $400 to $500 category); thanks for the review
Hi, will they sound great with denon 600ne amp - 45w p/c ?
Are these better than Emotiva B1+?
Elac UB5 is more Expensive! What about KEF350 compared to Elac's?
love these
Love mine for more then 4 years now
What would be the best choice between a Klipsch, RP-150M and a KEF Q150. They would be used in a Cambridge SR20 receiver.
Thanks for helping!
The kefs definitely sound more refined. I had the smaller klipsch speakers and found they could sound quite boxy in the wrong room and harsh on the top in others.
What abour Klipsch rp-600m?
how many meters/feet did you place for optimal position? i want to get them for my desktop, are they better for your tv?
Tatsu Miyagawa they're great for both desktop and TV. I personally like them for nearfield because the Coaxial throws a fantastic soundstage
Can u do review about klipsch