In this review, we will be comparing Concord and Q550, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Concord and KEF Q550 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KLH Concord Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 28-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 225watts
- Weight:20.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1026.0" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"( 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm )
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 )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Concord 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 Concord and Q550 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KLH Concord |
KEF Q550 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer . 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
Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz whereas Q550 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord 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
Concord and Q550 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Concord sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Q550's is at 87 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the KLH Concord 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.
Concord can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concord has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 130 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
Concord features Binding post type posts and Q550 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
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 KLH Concord's and KEF Q550's external dimensions. KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) 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 132mm shorter and 67mm less deeper than KLH Concord but it is also 84mm 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 KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2 and base area of the KEF Q550 is approximately 926.5cm2 / 143.6inch2. The Concord requires 13% less surface area than the Q550 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.