A Review of The KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.ค. 2024
- #KEF #KEFAudio #KEFspeakers #KEFQ350
If you're trying to build a decent home theater system or 2 channel audio system on a budget, then the KEF Q350 offers a lot of value for your dollar and here's why. In this review I go over the cabinet construction, the TS parameters of the drivers, sound quality, and the bass output of the KEF Q350 speakers.
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Please considering purchasing your set of Q350s from the below affiliate links if you would like to support the channel. Your support is much appreciated!
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Sonic Barrier 3 layer dampening material (I'm using this on my Q350s): amzn.to/46wSRwT
Amazon Basics butyl rubber sound dampening material: amzn.to/3RJWzPr
Speaker Switcher: amzn.to/3FEcGXs
I bought a pair of KEF Q350s today; their full-bodied, rich sound sold me instantly.
Congrats! The KEF Q350s are one of my favorite bookshelf speakers on the market.
Two years and 3 months on my Q350's very difficult to justify switching them out, they are that good and continue to surprise me, I have them on 28" Sanus stands that have the hardwood centre post, driving them with a Yamaha RX797, a match made in stereo heaven which I picked up used about 3 years ago for $160 canadian when I had the Q150's because I was thinking about a sub, havent though about a sub since having the q350s. Love em!
Thank you. Enjoyed the comparison of the 2 and your review at the end but the kitty in the video was the best.
Got my pair of Q350 a few days ago for just 220€ (yes, a pair).
They are amazing😊
Nice score! The Q350s are one of my favorite sounding speakers for the money.
Love your testing of speakers. Been in interest in stereo forsterker 40 years but learning something new every day.
Thank you so mutch for there videos. Greetings from norway.
Thanks Morgan! I really appreciate the kind words!
Im hype for the upgrade series!
Good timing I'm considering replacing my b&w 707 s2 for these since I use it for movies more then music these days. It will be in a 2.1 channel set up with my mk1 rel 1205 which is the sub that made me discover your channel. I've owned a q950 in the past but my room wasn't big and I still miss them sometimes
Very helpful video. I’m considering the three brands Aria 906, KEF 350 and monitor audio silver 50, and I will currently be powering them by a Harman Kardon AVR110 which looks to be similar to what you are running in the second setup. Not a bad sounding receiver for its age.
I love older Harman Kardon receivers!! They had some of the best sounding AVRs that you could buy back then. I have an AVR520 that I bought new in 2003 and it still blows the doors off on some of the overpriced newer AVRs that you can buy today. You're not wrong for keeping it around.
Thoughts about running a left right and centre combo of the kef q350?
Looking at that, the qa 3050i, 3090ci combo
Or the fyne audio f501 and f500c.
Room is 5m wide and 6m deep but listening area is to the right half so more lole 3m wide and 2.5m viewing distance
Loved the video. Selfishly, haha, your content is so on point with stuff I'm interested in. I'd love to hear your take on the SVS Prime bookshelf. It's priced similarly and, in my opinion, sounds incredible. I'd love to hear how it compares to the KEF.
Thanks, man! I really appreciate that! The KEFs are going to be my reference speakers going forward to compare other speakers to. I have a pair of SVS Ultra Surround speakers and thought they were ok (nothing to write home about), but I will make a note of your suggestion. I'm getting things planned for next year and its filling up quickly. As always, I appreciate your feedback!
I can listen to mine for 4 to 5 hours with with no fatigue at all
I bought my KEF Q350s in August 2018 for INR 49,000 (equivalent to USD 587 at today’s exchange rate). These speakers sound awesome, and the built quality, as the reviewer pointed out, is top notch. I’ll never part with them.
The Q350s are one of my favorite affordable bookshelf speakers. Enjoy them!
Great video. Appreciate the side by side comparisons. A side note I love both of your core systems with McIntosh and Rotel separates. Speaking of side by side which speakers would you choose for a 2 channel music setup - the KEFs or Monitor Audios?
Thank you! I will talk more about the differences between these two speakers in my up and coming review video for the MA Bronze 100 which will be out on 1/15/23.
I own the Q750 as my first ever true hifi speaker. I totally agree that the soundstage is nice and wide and dialog is super clear, so these are a great ht speakers. Also, I feel the response is quite neutral and easy to listen to. I don't even own an AVR and simply watch movies in stereo paired with a subwoofer.
If you are a basshead though, even the q750 might not be for you as the bass is tight but lacks a bit of meat on the bones in the upper bass and extension in the subbass (in my room, of course). Adding one or two subs is a major improvement.
They will at some point be replaced by DIY speakers, but for now I am happy and can recommend them without hesitation if you find a good deal.
I just picked out the denon 900h and the audio shop recommended these speakers and not knowing much about speakers I got them ,paid $500 was unsure because their bass seemed a bit poor compared elac dbr62 the other choice he had . But listing to him compare them to a $900 focal I prefer them over that even and the elac were very bass heavy
Great video, keen to see the upgrade series.
An external mic definitely will help improve the sound demo quality but you will still be very handicapped by TH-cam's compression as on audio it's particularly bad so I wouldn't overspend on a mic. The demo's aren't a waste of time but they generally only highlight the more extreme differences.
Thanks for the feedback! It is much appreciated!
People overestimate the influence of the youtube compression. I think the best option would be a dummyhead, but they are extremely expensive, but can deliver good resluts like in here th-cam.com/video/fUz4ZJHtGoc/w-d-xo.html
With has the widest soundstage?
Great video! Very tough choice between the Kefs and MA speakers! I’m looking to get a pair of Q350s but as someone who is new to hifi, I’m a little concerned at whether my 30w Rotel amp (ra-820ax) will be able to power them… would you be able to answer that by any chance. Also, I’m a uni student and will be doing a lot of low volume listening but also want something where I get really decent bass response for partying. How does the bass response compare to the bronze 100s and do they sound okay near field? Once again, great video, you’ve earned a sub :)
Hi James,
I'm not familiar with that amplifier, but Rotel makes some good stuff or at least they did back in the day, so I would think you would have no problem powering a set of Q350's with it. Just don't expect explosive loudness with only 30 watts of power. In all honesty I don't think you could go wrong with either the KEF or MA, it really boils down to personal preference. Hope this helps!
As for your questions about the KEF vs Monitor Audio, check out my look inside and review videos that will be out in January 2024. All of your questions will be answered there.
@@generationbehindhifi Thanks, looking forward to it 👍
It's a lot of work to open and review the speakers. Thank you. Demos ? Well, it's a matter of taste. I usually don't listen demos: mics coloration, different rooms and different speakers (recording and listener), different setups or levels in recording room, etc. In this case, I tried and I heard a lot of room reverberation and a boomy sound (maybe between 70 Hz and 150 Hz). Both speakersare too close to the wall, and Focals are closer between them which couples these low frequencies even more. I don't mind if tweeter is made of aluminium, beryllium or silk: just the sound matters. Room treatment and setup improved brightness, "boominess", and clarity in my setup. One speaker can sound brighter than another with closer dispersion in an untreated room, and at the same time sound neutral in a treated room. I suppose that the sound I hear trough my speakers and TH-cam is totally different from yours, therefore demos are just fine entertainment to me. Focal should cost under 798 € or 867,2 $ with shipping and taxes the pair. I don't know what's going on in USA and Mexico with the dealers of this brand. Thank you for this great review.
Thank you for your feedback and comment! It is much appreciated! You're exactly right! A speaker can sound totally different depending on the variables it is being tested in (room size, room treatment, placement, etc.).
I agree to the echo... Also a mic should propably be a very flat response mic... Makes me wonder how much sound quality improvements many would get by improving the room acoustics first instead of speakers etc... Great video btw. Thanks!
Hi, I liked this video since I'm in the market for book shelf speakers. I like a tight sounding speaker. I listen mostly to Dave Grusin, Four Play, The Piano Guys etc that sort of music. In your opinion do you feel that these speakers will satisfy my needs?
Also, when you will be doing the upgrade? Thanks!
Hello! The KEF Q350s are one of my favorite affordable bookshelf speakers on the market. I really love the uni-q driver and think it sounds great. I think you will be very happy with these speakers as long as your not trying to fill a large room. If you're placing these speakers in a large room, then I would highly recommend that you pair them with a quality subwoofer.
Work as been crazy busy so the videos have been few and far between. I have the upgrade video all filmed, I just need to find the time to edit it.
Hope this helps!
Hi,
Thank you for your reply. I'll be waiting for the upgrade video when it's available!. Hopefully, I'll get a notice when it's ready.
Thanks again,
Howard.
Thanks for the to-the-point review! The Q350s are now well near the $700 price point. At that price, the Focal Theva No. 1s are well within reach, so the Q350s could be a tough sell. Also, being fully aware of the limitations of judging sound quality through a youtube demo, I kinda liked the Arias better as they're brighter and more forward, while the KEFs sounded a bit muted.
You're very welcome! KEF always has the Q350 on sale. You will be able to get them for $499 again soon. I would bet money on that! As for Focal speakers, if you like a bright sounding speaker then they are definitely the speaker for you. I did a look inside and review video on the Aria 906 and wasn't impressed considering their $2200 MSRP.
Yes, but the KEFs are very playful and will always surprise you.
6"5. Size woofer is a good size, but still not enough for my personal taste, I bought the Klipsch RB 81 2 8 ' inches Woofer!! Those have the right amount of Bass for my taste.
More neutral by KEF. I need to set up wifi 50% Music + 50% Movies. Am having Yamaha RXV465 receiver, room size is 24 ft x 12 ft am looking for affordable good speakers package. What can you suggest 2 options with kefq350 with sub or tower speaker package.
Thanks.
I would rather go with the KEF Q350 with a sub than a KEF tower speaker without a sub, but that's what I would do. I would recommend you listen to both setups and decide for yourself. I don't think you can go wrong with either setup, but if you intend on watching a movies, than powerful sub is a must have!
May I suggest that you send this over to Gr Research in texas for a proper crossover design. It will help us all out. I own a pair too, and ive been waiting for someone to send a pair to Danny at Gr research
Why not send your pair over there?
You gained a new subscriber. Given you asked for our feedback I suggest to address the room first. Very echoing and the bare walls don't help either. Chears mate😊
Thanks for the feedback! No doubt I could use some room treatment! That's painfully obvious. :)
Not much of a diff between them. One question: Did you check the decibles between them. Sensitivity could tilt the choices.
My Tabby looks quite a bit like yours with some longer fur and about 6lbs more weight.
You Have Huge RT60 !!! man
Great video. To my ears the focals had more bass but the kefs had more detail. I think the gap in the bass is less significant than the detail/highs gap so my choice would be the kefs. I think these types of demos are very helpful but There's so much the sound has to go through before it reaches my ears that I would never 100% trust it but rather just use it as a general reference to test later in an audio store. Keep up the good work - Subscribing. So all that being said - which would you recommend for someone who mostly listens to jazz/acoustic/vocal/soft rock music, doesn't want to use a subwoofer and has a slight bias towards speaker with studio monitor sound - kefs or those monitor audios ? Thanks :)
I really appreciate the feedback! That's a tough choice (KEF vs MA) and it really boils down to what you prefer. The KEFs have almost the same bass output and their midrange is quite a bit better in terms of detail and presence when compared to the Bronze 100. The Bronze 100 on the other hand is brighter than the KEFs, but no where near as bad as the Focal Aria 906. I think MA did a good job with the tweeter on the Bronze 100, but the midrange and bass output was a bit disappointing. I would recommend you buy both and return the pair you don't like.
I don't know where you're from, but here in America we have plenty of dealers that offer free in home trials (Amazon is one of them) which makes picking out what I like so much easier. Happy hunting! :)
@@generationbehindhifi Thank you so much for taking the time to respond ! I'm really not sure I can do a home test in my country. According to your reply it seems like the kefs should be in the lead for me and my taste, so just curious if your answer/comparison would change if I were to look at the bronze 100 or even silver 100 7G ?
@@d.s.6268 I haven't heard the Silver 100 7G. I have been wanting to have a listen but there aren't any local dealers around. If the Silver 100's fix the issues that the Bronze 100's (midrange and bass) have, then I would definitely chose them over the Q350s. I would hope the Silver 100's are much better than the Q350s since they are triple the sale price of the KEFs. KEF Q350s have an MSRP of $799 and can be found on sale quite regularly for $499. The MA Silver 100s are triple that at $1500 a pair and I have yet to see a pair on sale. Hope this helps and happy hunting!
@@generationbehindhifi Thank you very much again. Highly appreciate it !
I’m looking forward to see what you do with these Kefs!
If you’re looking to do something a bit different for a review Cerwin-Vega! Just came out with an affordable new line called the LA series. It would be great to see a review on these. CV usually dosent disappoint and they are probably a great bang for buck. There isint any reviews on them yet
Cool! Thanks for letting me know about CV. I used to lust after their speakers in my high school years. I thought CV was dead since they really haven't produced anything in the last decade, so that's a welcome surprise to hear that they came out with a new line. I might have to check them out.
@@generationbehindhifi yes 3 new lines. Some really nice powered studio monitors, the cheap LA series, and soon to be released higher end real wood veneer called the LSD series. Unfortunately they are going to be a narrow baffle speaker. I’m waiting for a good old school high efficiency 3 way design with a 12” or 15” woofer. You should reach out to them, they are easy to get a hold of and no one seems to want to review them. They would probably send you some samples
@@JR-ho5qm LOL! I'm too small for them to send me samples. I wish they would because I would love to try them out. No doubt, the new series looks promising. How do you know about the LSD series? I can't find any info on that series anywhere.
I reached out to them so we will see, but I have a feeling that they will say I'm too small to matter. :)
@@generationbehindhifi every channel starts out small. You are doing a good job! You definitely have what it takes. The crossover upgrade series will help your channel grow. 👍🏻. I would recommend phoning CerwinVega that seems to be the best way to get anywhere
Kef or monitor audio?
They're $800 right now. How do these compare to the Hsu CCB-8?
Amazon will have them on sale again. They always do. :) I can't give any feedback on the CCB-8 since I have never heard them, but I do love my Q350s!
How you are changing the output to different speakers spontaneously ..Any equipment to change
I'm using a speaker switcher like you would find in an audio store. Pretty sure I included a link to the switcher I'm using in the description.
@@generationbehindhifi yes..I found the link..Thanks..will a speaker switcher reduce the sound performance of the speaker
The room where you did the comparison had a noticeable echo. It was still possible to hear the sound differences, however.
Yeah, I'm in desperate need of some room treatment. Will see how big the channel gets and then I will decide if I will invest in it.
@@generationbehindhifi That room did sound very problematic. You could already hear it when you were talking. So maybe your channel will not ever become big UNLESS you get your listening room(s) treated. 😉 You can make a few videos while going through the whole treatment process. It's a great subject! Many of us are struggling in similar rooms and wondering how we can solve it.
You can't expect to get a real appreciation for the actual sound of the speakers through TH-cam. You have to go listen in person
6:40 you have all that equipment and you watch movie with fluid motion on??!! That’s hilarious 😂. Good review though.
What I dont understand, it is a 2 way speaker but I see only one? I search a not to expensive speaker around 500€ the pair. I test the B&W 606 S3, sound fantastic in my living room, but double the price and have to return them.
It's a 2 way speaker design. The only difference is the tweeter is installed in the center of the woofer. Think coaxial design. When the KEF Q350s are on sale, it's hard speaker to beat in terms of performance. I really love mine.
How does it compare to heco aurora?
The laws of physics play a big role here and because of that it isn't a fair comparison. The Heco speakers will be the clear winner because of the number of drivers and size (tower vs bookshelf). A pair of Heco Aurora 700s have a total of 8 drivers in them whereas a pair of KEF Q350s have 4 drivers. The Heco's will have more of everything (Imaging, soundstage, bass, etc) because of their size and the number of drivers they have. If you pair the Q350s with a quality subwoofer, then it would be a more fair comparison. Hope this helps!
@generationbehindhifi i just bought one set of aurora 300, im shortlisted either q350 and aurora 300, and after watching many reviews on youtube and forums, i decided to go with the Heco, and I am quite happy with it. I was just wondering what your opinion would be on both brands as comparison, btw heco is WAY cheaper then kef in my country, part of my decision as well.
@@generationbehindhifi really appreciated your reply dude, keep up with your video
How about a review/guts for those Monior Audio?
January is the month of the Monitor Audio review and look inside videos. The look inside video will be out on 1/1/24 and the review will be out 1/15/24. I'm trying to release new videos every month on the 1st and 15th. We will see if I have time to keep up with this schedule since this is just a side hobby for me.
To keep it short and to the point, my 1999 B&W DM 601 S2 were $600 plus tax. As a high school kid that was expensive but as an adult the $1100 on the equivalent speaker (hopefully improved over time) is a bit harder to deal with. Simply due to more expenses as an adult.
Inflation dictates that to be the natural increase. $1 in ‘99 equal to $1.83 today. $600 to $1098.
I won’t make it political but I don’t believe it’s all inflation. I believe there’s greed mixed in. But that’s beside the point. There are much cheaper speakers out there today that can sound almost as good as some of these more expensive entry-level speakers which means that the increases can’t really be justified without major improvements in quality. I’d like to pick up some 700 S3 speakers (not sure which ones right now), but it would have to be open box or used because there’s no way I could afford them or justify the price. Even though I make enough.
My Bowers and Wilkins DM602 S3 were also $600 a pair brand new. Bowers & Wilkins's 600 line has always been affordable during my days of selling them, but in the last 5 years they have been dramatically raising the prices on them. I think this is a bad move for them since most people who are starting out aren't willing to spend almost $1000 on a set of bookshelf speakers with 5" drivers in them -- especially when there are other value brands like Heco, Monitor Audio, and KEF with stellar reputations. Time will tell, but I think B&W's greed will end up biting them.
Content creation on TH-cam is becoming far more sophisticated even for homegrown presentations. Your video production wants far better lighting so that you don't look like you are in the dark for a lot of the demos. Lighting is just a requirement. Secondarily, you probably want to look at upgrading your camera so that you don't look so grainy in lower light. Audio production is improved with close-micing with a lavalier, LDC, or SDC condenser microphones. Close micing will remove all the room echo and flutter which is distracting on audio.
The very last mile is Acoustic Room treatment. Audiophiles might consider it the very first mile though. Absorption and Diffusion panels and Bass Traps are not always practical but can offer a massive improvement in tamping down reflections and improve the performance of your over all sound in the room. There are plenty of DIY solutions that can tamp down the costs. Your floors already look carpeted which does go a long way in keeping reverberation down though. If you look at other audio channels, you will notice that they use room acoustic treatment quite often for their own ability to evaluate speakers, let alone trying to capture audio sound demo comparisons out to their audience. This treatment will remove the room sound and will bring out just the sound of the speakers themselves.
Your content, flow, and presentation are OK. That always improves with REPETITION. As a musician, it is very much like home studio production. The more I record, mix, and produce, the better the final productions become. Particularly the mixing which is only one part of your production. With TH-cam video production you not only have to have some chops in audio production, but also video editing. The only app I can think of, although there are many others, it Apple Final Cut. Only repetition with these tools over time will get you to a more competitive quality production.
Hi Michael,
I have no plans of trying to make it big on youtube! I'm just doing this for fun and the moment you start making it serious, it starts to become more like a job. No doubt my microphone, lightening, and camera could use some improvements. Yes, I get that! I did buy some spot lights to help during recording and a new RODE microphone for my 4k Sony Camera, but beyond that I have no plans to spend anymore money on additional equipment. I understand that might turn some people away which is fine, that just means my videos weren't meant for them anyways. I think my videos for the most part entertain my true fans which is all I really care about. Thanks for the comment!
Wow all speakers you show are more expensive around £100-150$ then in UK
I have q150 can't believe he said they don't bass
They don't. They only have a 5.25" driver.
@@DIYDanCars I get plenty of bass out of them
These speakers are super easy to damage. The drivers are ultra fragile. One bump and they will crack. If you even touch them with your fingers they will be damaged. You would think that under these circumstances protective grills would be included - but no.
Kef sounds more natural
I agree!
The baffle thickness is 1& 3/8" thick according to your tape measure not 1 & 3/4"...still 35mm is a good thickness baffle for a bookshelf speaker...i have a pair, great speakers but disapointed Kef put no damping panels, bituman, dynamat etc on internal speaker walls & only 2 tiny pieces of cheap BAF like material for internal damping...lol...1 day i will re-build the crossover with an air cored inductor & the best polypropylene capacitor i can afford, rewire them ,fit audiophile grade input terminals & put some open cell foam inside as the cabinets are to lively...i don't understand why Kef changed the shape from the old Q series curved cabinets which were far superior built...built like a tank with a great shape to get rid of standing waves & cabinet resonance's....the Q350 drive unit is very good... good review & demo
Hello, Thanks for the comment! I just wanted to point out that I never said the front baffle was "1-3/4 inches" thick. I said it was "1.34 inches thick". :)
Yes, it was a bit disappointing to see the lack of damping material inside the cabinet. If you're handy then doing a few DIY upgrades will really bring this speaker to the next level! Good luck on the upgrades! It sounds like you're going to take your Q350's to the next level.
Lol....right got it ,1.34 is a mixture of metric & imperial...in the UK we use one or the other, mainly metric but never mix both...
.... 1.34" written down would be taken as one & three quarter inches in the UK causing confusement... different strokes for different folks... our UK English is not the same as your American English...i learn something new every day even at 59...lol...yeah i reckon i can squeeze a more refined sound out of them....finding an audiophile grade polypropylene cap was not easy at 4.4uf but i ordered a pair of Claritycap ESA's which are better than the caps used in the Q350's & a pair of air cored inductors from Dayton Audio, same specs.....i would have redesigned the crossover but i don't have the equipment any more, i used to design transducers/loudspeakers 30+ yrs ago but sold the equipment when i became a musician playing bass for many years, still do sometimes when i can.....
I had the Focal Aria 906. I paid $1800, they are now $2200. The crossover has crap electrolytic caps. Not to mention I hate the cheap tweeter. Total waste of money and way overpriced.
I was underwhelmed at the unnatural sound. Sold mine.
KITTY!
Sorry, nothing in that sound demo helped. the resonance and mic limitations made both sound literally terrible. way too many echos in the room. need a WAY better full range mic and some sound absorption in the room to stop echos
500$ is hardly a "budget speaker" nor affordable. Entry level speakers from known brands start at half of that.
Unfortunately, in the world of HiFi it is.
come on. you don't like audio if you buy $100 speakers. real audiophile speakers usually cost THOUSANDS. $500 IS a budget speaker. Anything under $999 is a budget speaker. if you need $200 speakers, go buy the Sony SC5 speakers and stop watching audio videos.
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