In this review, we will be comparing Q150 and EVO4.2, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q150 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q150 | Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 11th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Aluminum | 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-28k Hz | 54-22k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-100 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs | 13.40kg / 29.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9"
303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm | 17.9" x 9.8" x 13.7"
455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF Q150 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Q150 is a 2-way design whereas the EVO4.2 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
KEF Q150Wharfedale EVO4.2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.18x2.36-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 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 EVO4.2 features a 1.18x2.36" AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz whereas EVO4.2 has a frequency range of 54-22k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Q150 can go slightly deeper then the EVO4.2's min frequency of 54Hz.
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
Q150 and EVO4.2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q150 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the EVO4.2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale EVO4.2 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
EVO4.2 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Q150 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the EVO4.2.
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
EVO4.2 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q150 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q150's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Q150 has a rear firing port whereas EVO4.2 has a bottom firing ports. Wharfedale EVO4.2's bottom-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 Wharfedale EVO4.2'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 Wharfedale EVO4.2 has external dimensions of 455.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm (17.9 x 9.8 x 13.7inch).
Wharfedale EVO4.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 70mm wider, 152mm taller and 72mm deeper than KEF Q150.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Q150 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF Q150 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 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 Wharfedale EVO4.2 is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2. The Q150 requires 43% less surface area than the EVO4.2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of KEF Q150 and Wharfedale EVO4.2 on a Media Console
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 KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs and the Wharfedale EVO4.2 weighs 13.40kg / 29.5lbs. This makes the EVO4.2 139% heavier than the Q150.
Here is a comparison of how Q150 and EVO4.2'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 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 Wharfedale EVO4.2?
Here are the items that come with the EVO4.2:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
303mm
vs
455mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
875cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 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 |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
KEF Q150 |
Wharfedale EVO4.2 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
10-100 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51-28k Hz |
54-22k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.18x2.36" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
AMT (Ribbon) |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
303.0mm (11.9") |
455.0mm (17.9") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
250.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
278.0mm (10.9") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
5.60kg (12.3lbs) |
13.40kg (29.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Walnut,Black,White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
18-24" |
18-22" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale EVO4.2 costs roughly 2x what KEF Q150 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KEF Q150 digs deeper - 51Hz against 54Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale EVO4.2 is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 120W). |
| Size | depends | KEF Q150 is easier to place; Wharfedale EVO4.2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale EVO4.2: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | KEF Q150 is cheaper - $600 against $1,199, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF Q150 B Wharfedale EVO4.2
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?
Wharfedale EVO4.2 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 100% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - KEF Q150 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale EVO4.2 appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate KEF Q150 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Wharfedale EVO4.2 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, Wharfedale EVO4.2 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.