In this review, we will be comparing Q550 and Q750, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KEF
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q550 and KEF Q750 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
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 )
KEF Q750 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-150watts
- Weight:16.59kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 945.0" x 12-7/8" x 12-3/8"( 945.0 x 328.0 x 315.0mm )
Q550 and Q750 are members of KEF's Q series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KEF Q550 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 Q550 |
KEF Q750 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
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 Q550 and KEF Q750 compare 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 Q550 and Q750 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Q550 |
KEF Q750 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Q550 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 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
Q550 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz whereas Q750 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Q750 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q550's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Q550 and Q750 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q550 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Q750's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF Q750 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q550, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Q550 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q550 has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the Q750.
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
Q550 features Binding post type posts and Q750 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q750's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q550 and Q750 have front firing ports. front ported speakers offers more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls&surfaces compared to rear ported speakers.
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 Q550's and KEF Q750's external dimensions. 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) 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 32mm wider, 51mm taller and 2mm deeper than KEF Q550.
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 Q550 is approximately 926.5cm2 / 143.6inch2 and base area of the KEF Q750 is approximately 1033.2cm2 / 160.1inch2. The Q550 requires 10% less surface area than the Q750 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Q550 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the KEF Q750 weighs 16.59kg / 36.5lbs. This makes the Q750 14% heavier than the Q550.
Here is a comparison of how Q550 and Q750's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q550?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q550:
Floorstanding loudspeaker2 Outrigger feet4 Spikes6 Screws6 Washers4 Rubber insertsHex-keyOwners ManualWarranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF Q750?
Here are the items that come with the Q750:
Floorstanding loudspeaker2 Outrigger feet4 Spikes6 Screws6 Washers4 Rubber insertsHex-keyOwners ManualWarranty Information
 Height |
894mm
vs
945mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
926cm2
vs
1033cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
130 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.5 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
KEF Q550 |
KEF Q750 |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-130 watts |
15-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
3.8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-28k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
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 |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
894.0mm (35.2") |
945.0mm (37.2") |
| Width |
296.0mm (11.7") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Depth |
313.0mm (12.3") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
16.59kg (36.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Walnut |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |