In this review, we will be comparing Q550 and SE 6000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Paradigm. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q550 and Paradigm SE 6000F 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 )
Paradigm SE 6000F Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5.5" Midrange
- 3 x 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer
- 5.5" Midrange
- 53-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-100watts
- Weight:20.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1051.0" x 8-15/16" x 14-3/16"( 1051.0 x 228.0 x 361.0mm )
What size room are the KEF Q550 and Paradigm SE 6000F 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 |
Paradigm SE 6000F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Paradigm SE 6000F 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Q550 is a 2-way design whereas the SE 6000F 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.
| Driver |
KEF Q550 |
Paradigm SE 6000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
3 x 5.5-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 SE 6000F features a 1" Tweeter , a 5.5" Midrange and 3 x 5.5" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Q550 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz whereas SE 6000F has a frequency range of 53-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the SE 6000F 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 SE 6000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q550 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the SE 6000F's is at 93 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Paradigm SE 6000F 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 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas SE 6000F has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 30 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
Q550 features Post type posts and SE 6000F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE 6000F's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Q550 has a front firing port whereas SE 6000F has a rear firing ports. KEF Q550's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Paradigm SE 6000F 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 Q550's and Paradigm SE 6000F'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 Paradigm SE 6000F has external dimensions of 1051.0 x 228.0 x 361.0mm ( 41-3/8 x 8-15/16 x 14-3/16inch) .
KEF Q550 is 157mm shorter and 48mm less deeper than Paradigm SE 6000F but it is also 68mm wider.
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 Paradigm SE 6000F is approximately 823.1cm2 / 127.6inch2. The Q550 requires 13% more surface area than the SE 6000F which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Paradigm SE 6000F weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the SE 6000F 37% heavier than the Q550.
Here is a comparison of how Q550 and SE 6000F'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 Paradigm SE 6000F?
Here are the items that come with the SE 6000F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Unboxing Instructions