In this review, we will be comparing F5E and Q350, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F5E and KEF Q350 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F5E | KEF Q350 |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-38k Hz | 63-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 90 W watts | 10-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.90kg / 8.6lbs | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.6" x 6.9" x 9"
269.2 x 175.3 x 228.6mm | 14.0" x 8.2" x 12.0"
358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F5E and KEF Q350 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Fyne Audio F5E |
KEF Q350 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both F5E and Q350 are 2-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F5EKEF Q350
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Fyne Audio F5E |
KEF Q350 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
F5E features a " Tweeter and x 5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz. On the other hand, the Q350 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
F5E has a frequency range of 55-38k Hz whereas Q350 has a frequency range of 63-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the F5E can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q350's min frequency of 63Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
F5E and Q350 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Q350 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas F5E has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Q350.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
F5E features Post type posts and Q350 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q350's Post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Fyne Audio F5E's and KEF Q350's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F5E has external dimensions of 269.2 x 175.3 x 228.6mm (10.6 x 6.9 x 9inch) whereas KEF Q350 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm (14.0 x 8.2 x 12.0inch).
KEF Q350 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 34.7mm wider, 88.8mm taller and 77.4mm deeper than Fyne Audio F5E.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF Q350 needs about 60% more floor or shelf area. KEF Q350 is 77mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF Q350 is 89mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Fyne Audio F5E is approximately 400.7cm2 / 62.1inch2 and base area of the KEF Q350 is approximately 642.6cm2 / 99.6inch2. The F5E requires 38% less surface area than the Q350 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Fyne Audio F5E weighs 3.90kg / 8.6lbs and the KEF Q350 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs. This makes the Q350 95% heavier than the F5E.
Here is a comparison of how F5E and Q350's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q350?
Here are the items that come with the Q350:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
269mm
vs
358mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
400cm2
vs
642cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
699USD
vs
750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Fyne Audio F5E |
KEF Q350 |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 90 W watts |
10-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-38k Hz |
63-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800 Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
269.2mm (10.6") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
175.3mm (6.9") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
228.6mm (9") |
306.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
3.90kg (8.6lbs) |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Fyne Audio F5E is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Fyne Audio F5E digs deeper - 55Hz against 63Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q350 takes more power (120W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F5E is easier to place; KEF Q350 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($699 vs $750 a pair). |
A Fyne Audio F5E B KEF Q350
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 63Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F5E the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Q350 for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.