In this review, we will be comparing two different type 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.
KEF Q350 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 63-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:10-120watts
- Weight:7.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 358.0" x 8.2" x 12.0"( 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm )
KEF Q550 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 58-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-130watts
- Weight:14.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 894.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q350 and KEF Q550 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Q350 and Q550 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Q350 can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q350 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 10 watts less than the Q550.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
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
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 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 loudspeaker2 Outrigger feet4 Spikes6 Screws6 Washers4 Rubber insertsHex-keyOwners ManualWarranty Information
Minimum Impedance 
Woofer Size 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Port Position 
Dolby Atmos Drivers