I found the KEF's really shining here. I do think the R200's hold the candle at the end re. more body and perhaps a bit more refined, but not by a large margin. I could easily live with the KEF and SA10. 😄 Thanks E, for improving the sound. Not sure what you did, besides removing the TV, but it works like magic 😄 I really enjoyed your last demo's. 👍
Both sounded quite nice，Q150 being slightly laidback in comparison，with the R200 almost twice the cost，the gag between the two is small with this amp. Very interesting result.
Both are amazing values. Although this is a price level comparison, a more fair physical comparison would be the R100 vs the Q150. I’d say that the R100 is a more accurate speaker with the KEF being a more seductive and sweet sounding speaker with a slight openness in the mid treble. Laid back is what I’d call both, with the Polk being slightly fuller sounding throughout the upper mids and treble. I had the q150 with subs and loved it… So I planned on getting the LS50 Meta and am now postponing making the jump, having found a pair of used R100. I still might get the Metas when I can fit the expensive stands into my headspace, or find some nice ones that are a better fit. The Reserve series are probably Polk’s most accurate line to date.
I agree. After comparing (even to the overrated ls50) I got the R-100. They are BETTER in the nearfield with vocals than the KEF or the R200. They are just as all-day listenable as Kef with zero fatigue. I got my reserve on sale and would consider the KEF (even Q350) a downgrade due to the overly polite softness and rolled off treble.
I think you should play the same part of the song on both for a better comparison. The song just continues and it is hard to tell for me because they are not playing the same part of the song
Both pair sound damn good, and far more similar than I would have ever expected. The R200's sound near their best in this video, and the Q150 is far from completely beat by it, but the Polk does beat it to me. The R200 has deeper, beefier bass, and slightly smoother and creamier sounding mids. The Q150 has a touch more presence and detail in upper mids and treble, but is comparitively harsher sounding to me with the Arcam, wich is something their big brother Q350's really aren't. I think they improve with a warmer and less defined sounding amp, while the Polks may not, as I think they're more laid back in detail and presence. At a bit more than half the price of the R200's, I think the Q150's are pretty respectable.
They are at the sale price of $350, but not at their regular price of $600. I think I'd rather have the Bronze 50 at the sale price of $440, or even at their regular price. Also, the amazing Triangle BR03 are on sale at Amazon right now for $440
At first I liked the Polks better... but then i did a blind listen and the only way I knew the KEFS were on was to listen to the upper mid / treble distortions that happen time to time on the Polk. I think many people, including myself, perceive the Polks noise as slightly more open because of it. Cool comparison! Closer then I expected, but I give the nod to the KEFS!
Wow! The Q150 sounds a little clearer and brighter than the 350 with this amp, and I don't think we heard the 150 with the Arcam before. They are still a little more laid back in the midrange than the Polks, but sound less veiled than the 350s do to me, but are still too boxy and smaller sounding, and sometimes get a bit honky. I think they sound closer to the Polks with this amp than with others, and I think I prefer them with the Arcam than with other amps, but I still prefer the Polks and the 350s. I just wish the 350s were a little brighter than they are, and a little more like the 150s and R3s in that regard
That's sux, because it's a beautiful speaker and I almost got the 350s but went with the Polk R 200s. I thought the 350s would be alot better than the 150s
@@IamVintage72 The 350s ARE a lot better than the 150s, they're just a little softer on top, but it's nothing that turning up the treble a little can't correct. And I haven't heard any of them in person, but, from what I've heard on TH-cam, I like the R200s more with most amps than the KEFs. They're one of the very best speakers under $1k, so I think you made the right decision, and won't be disapppointed
@@DougMen1 Nice to know. I heard the 1 R 500 tower up against a Q acoustics 3050i tower for some bass tones and the Polk was just humming bass while the Q acoustics was chuffing bad. Plus I like the look of the Polks in the Reserve line compared to the rest of their stuff. Except the LSiM line I wanted the 703s but then the Reserves released.
Hysterical. Our obsevation are nearly opposite on this one. I thought the Q150 clearly sounded much more forward and too sharp with the Arcam and you think they sound more laid back than the Polks.
@@williammiebach1798 They are too sharp and bright in the upper mids and treble perhaps, but are more recessed and less full sounding through some of the lower mids than the Polks, but not in a good way. The Polks are much more balanced and sound a lot cleaner and smoother overall. I thimk we often hear the same things but just describe them in a different way
I just listened to the video from August comparing the Meta and Q150 driven by the Cambridge CXA81, and the sound quality of both speakers in that video is astounding and atonishing, and is miles above anything we've heard from them with the Arcam, or any other recent recordings with them. I don't know if it's just the quality of the recording of the song used in that video, or if it's the Cambridge, or if there's something else in the setup there that's different than more recent videos, the room, the DAC or cables used, or different mics or other recording equipment that E Project used then compared to more recent videos, but the diffrerence in sound quality is simply stunning
D, I just listened to that demo you refered to. It sounds really bad compared to the new ones. While both KEFs don't sound too dissimilar, they both sound kind of diffuse and unfocused. It's much poorer quality than this one. I listened to another with a Cambridge and the Q150 vs Q350, and its way, way better. It's one with the speaker shelves behind, so it has more room ambience, but it's properly focused sounding, and reveals nicely the contrast between the two. The 150 is leaner, but brighter and definately more revealing in the mids, but trades down to the 350 on warmth, weight and overall clarity. They're more refined. The Cambridge works well with both, but makes the Q150's much less harsh than with the Arcam, but still detailed.
@@williammiebach1798 I don't know what you're listening with, but you're hearing the opposite of what I am. The electric guitar in that video, with the 150s and the Metas, is stunningly real sounding, with that easygoing liquid and natural overall tonal balance, imaging, and character that I haven't heard from those speakers in more recent videos. Ok, I just realized that you must have listened to a different video than the one I'm talking about. You must have listened to the one with the metal song Did it to Myself, with the video title "Any difference? You will be shocked". I'm talking about the video with the jazz female vocal song called After Midnight. The video title is "[SOUND BATTLE]- KEF LS50 Meta vs, Q150 with Cambridge Audio CXA81". After listening to the comparison of those two with the song Did it to Myself, I guess it's just the recording quality of the song After Midinight that blew me away, although After Midnight used the CXA81 and Did it to Myself used the CXA61. Also, I don't know which video with the 150 and 350 you're referring to, because there's more than one.
@@DougMen1 I'll tell you why you think that. Because something in that demo recording is completely out of phase. Either the speakers or the microphones, or both in combination, and while it"s completely bluring the entire stereo imaging of the recording, it's adding some delay, or extra ambience that is working in conjuction with the reverb effect on the guitar, wich makes it sound huge and expansive, like it's being heard in an arena. It's like an artificial arena ambience that happens to make the guitars sound cool, BUT it is not the actual sound on the recording! It is a technical inacuracy that sounds good on that one thing, but it's messing up the sound of the recording to sound like something it doesn't! That's not hi-fidelity at all, even if you like the way it sounds, because it isn't reproducing the recording accurately You just' can't pick out one thing in a recording, and judge the total reproduction quality from that one thing, Bro. You gotta listen to it in a broader, all encompassing way, or you can be confused and fooled.
@@DougMen1 I WAS listeming to the demo titled "Any difference? You will be shocked!" Yeah, I was shocked by how f'd up it sounds, and that I thought you were saying it sounds so great. 🙄 Sorry. I havn't found the other one with the Jazz song yet.
![[Sound Battle] KEF LS50 Meta vs KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers w/Arcam SA10 Integrated Amp](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MTKaSMwzOs4/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Sound Battle] KEF LS50 Meta vs KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speakers w/Arcam SA10 Integrated Amp](/img/tr.png)
![[Sound Battle] Polk Audio Reserve R200 vs KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speakers w/Arcam SA10 Integrated Amp](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AM4oSkCOgG4/mqdefault.jpg)
Thank you so much for making this comparison.
I found the KEF's really shining here. I do think the R200's hold the candle at the end re. more body and perhaps a bit more refined, but not by a large margin. I could easily live with the KEF and SA10. 😄
Thanks E, for improving the sound. Not sure what you did, besides removing the TV, but it works like magic 😄 I really enjoyed your last demo's. 👍
Both sounded quite nice，Q150 being slightly laidback in comparison，with the R200 almost twice the cost，the gag between the two is small with this amp. Very interesting result.
Both are amazing values. Although this is a price level comparison, a more fair physical comparison would be the R100 vs the Q150.
I’d say that the R100 is a more accurate speaker with the KEF being a more seductive and sweet sounding speaker with a slight openness in the mid treble. Laid back is what I’d call both, with the Polk being slightly fuller sounding throughout the upper mids and treble. I had the q150 with subs and loved it… So I planned on getting the LS50 Meta and am now postponing making the jump, having found a pair of used R100. I still might get the Metas when I can fit the expensive stands into my headspace, or find some nice ones that are a better fit. The Reserve series are probably Polk’s most accurate line to date.
I agree. After comparing (even to the overrated ls50) I got the R-100. They are BETTER in the nearfield with vocals than the KEF or the R200. They are just as all-day listenable as Kef with zero fatigue. I got my reserve on sale and would consider the KEF (even Q350) a downgrade due to the overly polite softness and rolled off treble.
I think you should play the same part of the song on both for a better comparison. The song just continues and it is hard to tell for me because they are not playing the same part of the song
Both pair sound damn good, and far more similar than I would have ever expected. The R200's sound near their best in this video, and the Q150 is far from completely beat by it, but the Polk does beat it to me. The R200 has deeper, beefier bass, and slightly smoother and creamier sounding mids. The Q150 has a touch more presence and detail in upper mids and treble, but is comparitively harsher sounding to me with the Arcam, wich is something their big brother Q350's really aren't. I think they improve with a warmer and less defined sounding amp, while the Polks may not, as I think they're more laid back in detail and presence. At a bit more than half the price of the R200's, I think the Q150's are pretty respectable.
What is the name of the “space music” track played during the intro while the speaker marketing images are shown?
The Q150 sounds very good, they are very close and the KEF are the better value.
They are at the sale price of $350, but not at their regular price of $600. I think I'd rather have the Bronze 50 at the sale price of $440, or even at their regular price. Also, the amazing Triangle BR03 are on sale at Amazon right now for $440
At first I liked the Polks better... but then i did a blind listen and the only way I knew the KEFS were on was to listen to the upper mid / treble distortions that happen time to time on the Polk. I think many people, including myself, perceive the Polks noise as slightly more open because of it. Cool comparison! Closer then I expected, but I give the nod to the KEFS!
Now we need to heat the Bronze 50 and 100 with the Arcam and without the flatscreen, lol
Wow the Kef 150s sounded better in this video comparison. Those Polks are Legendary already if u ask me.
Wow! The Q150 sounds a little clearer and brighter than the 350 with this amp, and I don't think we heard the 150 with the Arcam before. They are still a little more laid back in the midrange than the Polks, but sound less veiled than the 350s do to me, but are still too boxy and smaller sounding, and sometimes get a bit honky. I think they sound closer to the Polks with this amp than with others, and I think I prefer them with the Arcam than with other amps, but I still prefer the Polks and the 350s. I just wish the 350s were a little brighter than they are, and a little more like the 150s and R3s in that regard
That's sux, because it's a beautiful speaker and I almost got the 350s but went with the Polk R 200s. I thought the 350s would be alot better than the 150s
@@IamVintage72 The 350s ARE a lot better than the 150s, they're just a little softer on top, but it's nothing that turning up the treble a little can't correct. And I haven't heard any of them in person, but, from what I've heard on TH-cam, I like the R200s more with most amps than the KEFs. They're one of the very best speakers under $1k, so I think you made the right decision, and won't be disapppointed
@@DougMen1 Nice to know. I heard the 1 R 500 tower up against a Q acoustics 3050i tower for some bass tones and the Polk was just humming bass while the Q acoustics was chuffing bad. Plus I like the look of the Polks in the Reserve line compared to the rest of their stuff. Except the LSiM line I wanted the 703s but then the Reserves released.
Hysterical. Our obsevation are nearly opposite on this one. I thought the Q150 clearly sounded much more forward and too sharp with the Arcam and you think they sound more laid back than the Polks.
@@williammiebach1798 They are too sharp and bright in the upper mids and treble perhaps, but are more recessed and less full sounding through some of the lower mids than the Polks, but not in a good way. The Polks are much more balanced and sound a lot cleaner and smoother overall. I thimk we often hear the same things but just describe them in a different way
I just listened to the video from August comparing the Meta and Q150 driven by the Cambridge CXA81, and the sound quality of both speakers in that video is astounding and atonishing, and is miles above anything we've heard from them with the Arcam, or any other recent recordings with them. I don't know if it's just the quality of the recording of the song used in that video, or if it's the Cambridge, or if there's something else in the setup there that's different than more recent videos, the room, the DAC or cables used, or different mics or other recording equipment that E Project used then compared to more recent videos, but the diffrerence in sound quality is simply stunning
Defenitely changed. Good stuff 👍
D, I just listened to that demo you refered to. It sounds really bad compared to the new ones. While both KEFs don't sound too dissimilar, they both sound kind of diffuse and unfocused. It's much poorer quality than this one. I listened to another with a Cambridge and the Q150 vs Q350, and its way, way better. It's one with the speaker shelves behind, so it has more room ambience, but it's properly focused sounding, and reveals nicely the contrast between the two. The 150 is leaner, but brighter and definately more revealing in the mids, but trades down to the 350 on warmth, weight and overall clarity. They're more refined. The Cambridge works well with both, but makes the Q150's much less harsh than with the Arcam, but still detailed.
@@williammiebach1798 I don't know what you're listening with, but you're hearing the opposite of what I am. The electric guitar in that video, with the 150s and the Metas, is stunningly real sounding, with that easygoing liquid and natural overall tonal balance, imaging, and character that I haven't heard from those speakers in more recent videos. Ok, I just realized that you must have listened to a different video than the one I'm talking about. You must have listened to the one with the metal song Did it to Myself, with the video title "Any difference? You will be shocked". I'm talking about the video with the jazz female vocal song called After Midnight. The video title is "[SOUND BATTLE]- KEF LS50 Meta vs, Q150 with Cambridge Audio CXA81". After listening to the comparison of those two with the song Did it to Myself, I guess it's just the recording quality of the song After Midinight that blew me away, although After Midnight used the CXA81 and Did it to Myself used the CXA61. Also, I don't know which video with the 150 and 350 you're referring to, because there's more than one.
@@DougMen1 I'll tell you why you think that. Because something in that demo recording is completely out of phase. Either the speakers or the microphones, or both in combination, and while it"s completely bluring the entire stereo imaging of the recording, it's adding some delay, or extra ambience that is working in conjuction with the reverb effect on the guitar, wich makes it sound huge and expansive, like it's being heard in an arena. It's like an artificial arena ambience that happens to make the guitars sound cool, BUT it is not the actual sound on the recording! It is a technical inacuracy that sounds good on that one thing, but it's messing up the sound of the recording to sound like something it doesn't! That's not hi-fidelity at all, even if you like the way it sounds, because it isn't reproducing the recording accurately
You just' can't pick out one thing in a recording, and judge the total reproduction quality from that one thing, Bro. You gotta listen to it in a broader, all encompassing way, or you can be confused and fooled.
@@DougMen1 I WAS listeming to the demo titled "Any difference? You will be shocked!" Yeah, I was shocked by how f'd up it sounds, and that I thought you were saying it sounds so great. 🙄 Sorry.
I havn't found the other one with the Jazz song yet.
just do it for the price
This Arcam amp is weird. Makes the Q350s sound veiled and a little muddy, but makes the Q150s bright and detailed.