In this review, we will be comparing Q650c and Q250c, two Passive Center Channel speakers by KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q650c and KEF Q250c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q650c | KEF Q250c |
|---|
| 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 | 2 x 6.5" aluminum | 5.25" aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 64-28k Hz | 68-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-150 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.64kg / 30lbs | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-5/16" x 24-13/16" x 11-15/16"
212.0 x 631.0 x 304.0mm | 7-1/8" x 20-11/16" x 8-1/2"
181.0 x 526.0 x 216.0mm |
|---|
Q650c and Q250c are members of KEF's Q series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KEF Q650c and KEF Q250c 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 Q650c |
KEF Q250c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Q650c and Q250c are 2-way speakers.
KEF Q650cKEF Q250c
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 Q650c |
KEF Q250c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Q650c features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Q250c features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Q650c has a frequency range of 64-28k Hz whereas Q250c has a frequency range of 68-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 64Hz, the Q650c can go slightly deeper then the Q250c's min frequency of 68Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Q650c and Q250c have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Q650c can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Q250c has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q650c.
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
Q650c features Binding post type posts and Q250c has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q650c's Binding post terminals
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 Q650c's and KEF Q250c's external dimensions. KEF Q650c has external dimensions of 212.0 x 631.0 x 304.0mm (8-5/16 x 24-13/16 x 11-15/16inch) whereas KEF Q250c has external dimensions of 181.0 x 526.0 x 216.0mm (7-1/8 x 20-11/16 x 8-1/2inch).
KEF Q650c is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 105mm wider, 31mm taller and 88mm deeper than KEF Q250c.
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 Q650c is approximately 1918.2cm2 / 297.3inch2 and base area of the KEF Q250c is approximately 1136.2cm2 / 176.1inch2. The Q650c requires 69% more surface area than the Q250c 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 Q650c weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs and the KEF Q250c weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs. This makes the Q650c 82% heavier than the Q250c.
Here is a comparison of how Q650c and Q250c's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q650c?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q650c:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF Q250c?
Here are the items that come with the Q250c:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.2 ohms
vs
3.4 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
64 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
181mm
vs
212mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1136cm2
vs
1918cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Q650c |
KEF Q250c |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
15-150 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
64-28k Hz |
68-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| 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 |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
212.0mm (8.3") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Width |
631.0mm (24.8") |
526.0mm (20.7") |
| Depth |
304.0mm (12") |
216.0mm (8.5") |
| Weight |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Satin White, Satin Black, Walnut |
Satin White, Satin Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
optional |
optional |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in KEF's Q series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KEF Q650c digs deeper - 64Hz against 68Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | KEF Q650c takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF Q250c is easier to place; KEF Q650c is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | KEF Q250c is cheaper - $600 against $750, about 20% less. |
A KEF Q650c B KEF Q250c
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?
The usual trade-off: KEF Q650c measures better, KEF Q250c costs about about 25% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate KEF Q650c the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF Q250c for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, KEF Q650c has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF Q250c 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.