In this review, we will be comparing Q950 and R600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q950 and Polk R600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Q950 and Polk R600 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q950 and Polk R600 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 Q950 and R600 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
KEF Q950 |
Polk R600 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 8.0-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Q950 features a 1.5" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz. On the other hand, the R600 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
Q950 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz whereas R600 has a frequency range of 43-38k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 43Hz, the R600 can go slightly deeper then the Q950's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
Q950 and R600 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q950 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R600's is at 87.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KEF Q950 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R600, 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.
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
Q950 features Post type posts and R600 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Q950 has a front firing port whereas R600 has a bottom firing ports. KEF Q950's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk R600 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 Q950's and Polk R600's external dimensions. KEF Q950 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 362.0 x 315.0mm ( 43-15/16 x 14-1/4 x 12-3/8inch) whereas Polk R600 has external dimensions of 1063.8 x 280.7 x 381.6mm ( 41.9 x 11 x 15inch) .
Polk R600 is 81.3mm narrower and 53.2mm shorter than KEF Q950 but it is also 66.6mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Q950 and Polk R600 in scale.
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 Q950 is approximately 1140.3cm2 / 176.7inch2 and base area of the Polk R600 is approximately 1071.2cm2 / 166.0inch2. The Q950 requires 6% more surface area than the R600 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 Q950 weighs 20.68kg / 45.5lbs and the Polk R600 weighs 21.50kg / 47.3lbs. This makes the R600 4% heavier than the Q950.
Here is a comparison of how Q950 and R600'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 Q950?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q950:
Floorstanding loudspeaker2 Outrigger feet4 Spikes6 Screws6 Washers4 Rubber insertsHex-keyOwners ManualWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk R600?
Here are the items that come with the R600:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
Grille
Hex-key
Owner's Manual
Online Registration
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8.0 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Passive Radiator |
2 x 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
43 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
1063mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1071cm2 (280x381mm)
vs
1140cm2 (362x315mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1698USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
KEF Q950 |
Polk Audio Reserve R600 |
Brand |
KEF |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
15-200 watts |
25-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
91 dB |
87.5 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
4 ohms |
Frequency Response |
44-28k Hz |
43-38k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
8.0" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.5" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2200Hz |
2700Hz |
Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1063.8mm (41.9") |
Width |
362.0mm (14.3") |
280.7mm (11.1") |
Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
381.6mm (15") |
Weight |
20.68kg (45.5lbs) |
21.50kg (47.3lbs) |
Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black, Walnut, White |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |