KEF Q150 vs KEF Q750 Comparison

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KEF Q150

Passive Bookshelf | 51-28k Hz

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KEF Q750

Passive Floor-standing | 48-28k Hz

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KEF Q150

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KEF Q750

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KEF Q150

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KEF Q750

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KEF Q150 vs KEF Q750 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by KEF. KEF Q150 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Q750 is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF Q150 and KEF Q750 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	KEF Q150	KEF Q750
Brand	KEF United Kingdom · founded 1961	KEF United Kingdom · founded 1961
Design	2-way	2-way
Uni-Q driver	11th Generation Uni-Q	11th Generation Uni-Q
Tweeter	1" Dome	1" Dome
Woofer	5.25" Aluminum	2 x 6.5" Aluminum
Frequency response	51-28k Hz	48-28k Hz
Sensitivity	86 dB	88 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Power range	10-100 watts	15-150 watts
Weight	5.60kg / 12.3lbs	16.59kg / 36.5lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9" 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm	37-3/16" x 12-7/8" x 12-3/8" 945.0 x 328.0 x 315.0mm

Q150 and Q750 are members of KEF's Q series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

KEF Q Series History

Model	Body	Frequency	Sensitivity	Impedance	Woofer
KEF Q150	Bookshelf	51-28k Hz	86 dB	8Ω	1 x 5.25"
KEF Q350	Bookshelf	63-28k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	1 x 6.5"
KEF Q950	Floor-standing	44-28k Hz	91 dB	8Ω	2 x 8.0"
KEF Q550	Floor-standing	58-28k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	2 x 5.25"
KEF Q750	Floor-standing	48-28k Hz	88 dB	8Ω	2 x 6.5"
KEF Q650c	Center Channel	64-28k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	2 x 6.5"
KEF Q250c	Center Channel	68-28k Hz	87 dB	8Ω	1 x 5.25"

What size room are the KEF Q150 and KEF Q750 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*	KEF Q150	KEF Q750
Near-field	Average	Bad
Small Room	Good	Poor
Mid-size Room	Average	Good
Large Room	Poor	Good
Very Large Room	Bad	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 Q150 and Q750 are 2-way speakers.

KEF Q150

KEF Q750

TweeterWoofer

Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.

Driver	KEF Q150	KEF Q750
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 5.25-inch	2 x 6.5-inch

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, the Q750 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.

Frequency Response

Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz whereas Q750 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Q750 can go slightly deeper then the Q150's min frequency of 51Hz.

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

Q150

Q750

Min

Average

Median

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

Q150 and Q750 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q150 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Q750's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF Q750 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Q150

Q750

Min

Average

Median

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.

Q750 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Q150 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q750.

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.

Amplifier - change this

Distance

Playing as

KEF Q150

KEF Q750

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Q150 features Binding post type posts and Q750 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF Q150's Post terminals

KEF Q750's Binding post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Q150 has a rear firing port whereas Q750 has a front firing ports. KEF Q750's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Q150 with its rear-firing port.

KEF Q150 Port

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 KEF Q150's and KEF Q750'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 KEF Q750 has external dimensions of 945.0 x 328.0 x 315.0mm (37-3/16 x 12-7/8 x 12-3/8inch).

KEF Q750 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 148mm wider, 642mm taller and 37mm deeper than KEF Q150.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Q150 and KEF Q750 in scale.

Comparison image of KEF Q150 and KEF Q750 Size and External Dimensions

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 KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm² / 77.6inch² and base area of the KEF Q750 is approximately 1033.2cm² / 160.1inch². The Q150 requires 52% less surface area than the Q750 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of KEF Q150?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q150:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
2 Foam port plugs
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
Owner's Manual
Warranty Registration Card

What's in the Box of KEF Q750?

Here are the items that come with the Q750:

Floorstanding loudspeaker
2 Outrigger feet
4 Spikes
6 Screws
6 Washers
4 Rubber inserts
Hex-key
Owners Manual
Warranty Information

Reasons to choose KEF Q150 over KEF Q750

Height	303mm vs 945mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	500cm² vs 1033cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	600USD vs 1800USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose KEF Q750 over KEF Q150

Max Input Power	150 watts vs 100 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Sensitivity	88 dB vs 86 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Minimum Impedance	3.8 ohms vs 3.7 ohms	Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches	Larger woofer
Number of Woofers	2 vs 1	More woofers
Low Frequency Response	48 Hz vs 51 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Port Position	Front vs Rear	Gives more flexibility placing close to walls
Passive Radiator	2 x 6.25-inch vs None	Increases the bass performance
Dolby Atmos Drivers	Optional vs No	Dolby Atmos Compatibility

KEF Q150 vs KEF Q750 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	KEF Q150	KEF Q750
Brand	KEF	KEF
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Floor-standing speaker
Power Range	10-100 watts	15-150 watts
Sensitivity	86 dB	88 dB
Impedance	8 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.7 ohms	3.8 ohms
Frequency Response	51-28k Hz	48-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	2
Woofer Size	5.25"	6.5"
Woofer Composition	Aluminum	Aluminum
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Dome	Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	No
Crossover Frequency	2500Hz	2500Hz
Firing Direction	rear	front
Physical Specs
Height	303.0mm (11.9")	945.0mm (37.2")
Width	180.0mm (7.1")	328.0mm (12.9")
Depth	278.0mm (10.9")	315.0mm (12.4")
Weight	5.60kg (12.3lbs)	16.59kg (36.5lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Passive Radiator
Finish	MDF/Vinyl-wrapped	MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
Available Colors	Black, Walnut, White	Walnut
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	18-24"	n/a
Grille	Yes	n/a
Moisture Resistancy	No	No
Connections
Biamp Inputs	No	No
Other
Parts Warranty	5 Years	5 Years
Labor Warranty	5 Years	5 Years

Verdict

Siblings in KEF's Q series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.

Area	Better	Why
Bass	B	KEF Q750 digs deeper - 48Hz against 51Hz. A subwoofer would even that out.
Amplifier needs	B	KEF Q750 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
Headroom	B	KEF Q750 takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room.
Size	depends	KEF Q150 is easier to place; KEF Q750 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Type	depends	A Passive Bookshelf against a Passive Floor-standing - a different job rather than a better one.
Cabinet	depends	Ported vs Passive Radiator.
Expandability	B	KEF Q750: Atmos drivers.
Price	A	KEF Q150 is cheaper - $600 against $1,800, about 67% less; arguably a different class.

A KEF Q150 B KEF Q750
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?

The usual trade-off: KEF Q750 measures better, KEF Q150 costs about about 3x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate KEF Q150 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Q750 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, KEF Q750 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF Q150 is the easier speaker to get right.

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.