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KEF Q150 vs Bowers & Wilkins 606
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KEF Q150

Passive Bookshelf | 51-28k Hz

KEF Q150
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B&W 606

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

Bowers & Wilkins 606
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KEF Q150 vs B&W 606 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Q150 and BW 606, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Bowers & Wilkins. Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF Q150 and B&W 606 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF Q150 Key Specs

  • 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 51-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:10-100watts
  • Weight:5.60kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 303.0" x 7.0" x 10.9"( 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm )

B&W 606 Key Specs

  • 1" Decoupled Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Continuum Woofer
  • 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:30-120watts
  • Weight:6.90kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 345.0" x 7.4" x 12.7"( 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm )

In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how KEF Q150 and B&W 606 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Q150 and BW 606 are 2-way speakers. Q150 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, BW 606 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Decoupled Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Continuum Woofer .

Frequency Response

Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz whereas BW 606 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the BW 606 can go slightly deeper then the Q150's min frequency of 51Hz.

Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers under Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF Q150
B&W 606
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF Q150
B&W 606
Min
Average
Max

Impedance and Sensitivity

Q150 and BW 606 has the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q150 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and BW 606's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes B&W 606 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF Q150
B&W 606
Min
Average
Max

Power Range

Q150 has a power range of 10-100 watts RMS whereas BW 606 has a power range of 30-120 watts.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

BW 606 features Post posts which makes bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q150 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF Q150 Terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals

B&W 606Post Terminals
B&W 606's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Q150 and BW 606 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generlly need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.

KEF Q150  Port
KEF Q150 Port

Physical Specs

Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, We are going to compare KEF Q150's and B&W 606's external dimensions. KEF Q150 has external dimensions of 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) whereas B&W 606 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 190.0 x 324.0mm ( 13.5 x 7.4 x 12.7inch) .

B&W 606 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 42mm taller and 46mm deeper than KEF Q150.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Q150 and B&W 606 in scale.

KEF Q150 vs B&W 606 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KEF Q150 and B&W 606 Size and External Dimensions

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

KEF Q150 vs B&W 606 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of KEF Q150 and B&W 606 on a Media Console


Reasons to choose KEF Q150 over Bowers & Wilkins 606
Low Frequency Response 51 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass
Height 303mm vs 345mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Width 180mm vs 190mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Depth 278mm vs 324mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Price per pair* 600USD vs 899USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins 606 over KEF Q150
Max Input Power 120 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity 88 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

KEF Q150 vs B&W 606 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General KEF Q150 Bowers & Wilkins 606
Brand KEF Bowers & Wilkins
Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
Power Range 10-100 watts 30-120 watts
Sensitivity 86 dB 88 dB
Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
Impedance 3.7 ohms 3.7 ohms
Frequency Response 51-28k Hz 52-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 1 1
Woofer Size 5.25" 6.5"
Woofer Composition Aluminum Continuum
Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
Tweeter Size 1" 1"
Tweeter Type Dome Decoupled Dome
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No No
Crossover Frequency 2500Hz n/a
Firing Direction rear rear
Suggested Break-in Period n/a allow up to a week for the temperature effects to stabilise and 15 hours of average use for the parts to attain their intended design characteristics.
Physical Specs
Height 303.0mm (11.9") 345.0mm (13.6")
Width 180.0mm (7.1") 190.0mm (7.5")
Depth 278.0mm (10.9") 324.0mm (12.8")
Weight 5.60kg (12.3lbs) 6.90kg (15.2lbs)
Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
Finish MDF/Vinyl-wrapped MDF/Vinyl
Available Colors Black, Walnut, White Black, White
Mounting Bracket No No
Recommended Stand Height 18-24" 24-26"
Grille magnetic Yes
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Biamp Inputs No Yes
Other
Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years


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