In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by KEF. KEF Q350 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Q550 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q350 and KEF Q550 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q350 | KEF Q550 |
|---|
| 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 | 6.5" Aluminum | 2 x 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 63-28k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-120 watts | 15-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs | 14.55kg / 32lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.0" x 8.2" x 12.0"
358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm | 35-3/16" x 11-5/8" x 12-5/16"
894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm |
|---|
Q350 and Q550 are members of KEF's Q series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KEF Q350 and KEF Q550 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 Q350 |
KEF Q550 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 Q350 and Q550 are 2-way speakers.
KEF Q350KEF Q550
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 Q350 |
KEF Q550 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Q350 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Q550 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Q350 has a frequency range of 63-28k Hz whereas Q550 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 58Hz, the Q550 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
Q350 and Q550 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.
Q550 can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas Q350 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the Q550.
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
Q350 features Binding post type posts and Q550 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q350's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Q350 has a rear firing port whereas Q550 has a front firing ports. KEF Q550's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Q350 with its rear-firing 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 Q350's and KEF Q550's external dimensions. KEF Q350 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm (14.0 x 8.2 x 12.0inch) whereas KEF Q550 has external dimensions of 894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm (35-3/16 x 11-5/8 x 12-5/16inch).
KEF Q550 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 86mm wider, 536mm taller and 7mm deeper than KEF Q350.
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 Q350 is approximately 642.6cm2 / 99.6inch2 and base area of the KEF Q550 is approximately 926.5cm2 / 143.6inch2. The Q350 requires 31% less surface area than the Q550 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of KEF Q350?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q350:
- 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 Q550?
Here are the items that come with the Q550:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 2 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 6 Screws
- 6 Washers
- 4 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Information