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Kanto YU Passive 4-inch vs KEF Q150 Comparison

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Kanto YU Passive 4-inch

Passive Bookshelf | 60-20k Hz

Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
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KEF Q150

Passive Bookshelf | 51-28k Hz

KEF Q150
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Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Kanto YU Passive 4-i...
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KEF Q150 KEF Q150
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Kanto YU Passive 4-i...
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KEF Q150
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Kanto YU Passive 4-inch vs KEF Q150 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing YU Passive 4-inch and Q150, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Kanto and KEF.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and KEF Q150 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Kanto YU Passive 4-inch Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Kevlar Woofer
  • 60-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Weight:2.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.0" x 5.5" x 7.5"( 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm )

KEF Q150 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
  • 51-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:10-100watts
  • Weight:5.60kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 303.0" x 7.0" x 10.9"( 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm )

What size room are the Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and KEF Q150 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* Kanto YU Passive 4-inch KEF Q150
Near-field Good Average
Small Room Good Good
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Poor Poor
Very Large Room No way 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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and KEF Q150 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 YU Passive 4-inch and Q150 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Kanto YU Passive 4-inch KEF Q150
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 4-inch 1 x 5.25-inch

YU Passive 4-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the Q150 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.

Frequency Response

YU Passive 4-inch has a frequency range of 60-20k Hz whereas Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Q150 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the YU Passive 4-inch's min frequency of 60Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

YU Passive 4-inch
Q150
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
KEF Q150
Min
Average
Max

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

YU Passive 4-inch is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Q150 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the YU Passive 4-inch can provide this impedance level.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

YU Passive 4-inch
Q150
Min
Average
Max

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

YU Passive 4-inch features Post type posts and Q150 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF Q150 Terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both YU Passive 4-inch and Q150 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.

If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.

KEF Q150  Port
KEF Q150 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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch's and KEF Q150's external dimensions. Kanto YU Passive 4-inch has external dimensions of 220.0 x 140.0 x 190.0mm ( 8.7 x 5.5 x 7.5inch) whereas KEF Q150 has external dimensions of 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ( 11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch) .

KEF Q150 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 40mm wider, 83mm taller and 88mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 4-inch.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and KEF Q150 in scale.

Kanto YU Passive 4-inch vs KEF Q150 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and KEF Q150 Size and External Dimensions

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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch is approximately 266.0cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The YU Passive 4-inch requires 47% less surface area than the Q150 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Kanto YU Passive 4-inch vs KEF Q150 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch and KEF Q150 on a Media Console
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 Kanto YU Passive 4-inch weighs 2.50kg / 5.5lbs and the KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs. This makes the Q150 124% heavier than the YU Passive 4-inch.

Here is a comparison of how YU Passive 4-inch and Q150's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Kanto YU Passive 4-inch
KEF Q150
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 4-inch?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU Passive 4-inch:
  • 8 x Rubber Feet
  • Manual
  • What's in the Box of KEF Q150?

    Here are the items that come with the Q150:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Owner's Manual
  • Warranty Registration Card

  • Reasons to choose Kanto YU Passive 4-inch over KEF Q150
    Height 220mm vs 303mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 266cm2 vs 500cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 200USD vs 600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose KEF Q150 over Kanto YU Passive 4-inch

    Max Input Power 100 watts vs 70 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 5.25 inches vs 4 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 51 Hz vs 60 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 28k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Kanto YU Passive 4-inch vs KEF Q150 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Kanto YU Passive 4-inch KEF Q150
    Brand Kanto KEF
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Sensitivity 86 dB 86 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance n/a 3.7 ohms
    Frequency Response 60-20k Hz 51-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 4" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Kevlar Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material n/a Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Soft-Dome Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Crossover Frequency n/a 2500Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 220.0mm (8.7") 303.0mm (11.9")
    Width 140.0mm (5.5") 180.0mm (7.1")
    Depth 190.0mm (7.5") 278.0mm (10.9")
    Weight 2.50kg (5.5lbs) 5.60kg (12.3lbs)
    Enclosure bass reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a MDF/Vinyl-wrapped
    Available Colors Black,White Black, Walnut, White
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height n/a 18-24"
    Grille n/a Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs n/a No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 2 years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 2 years 5 Years

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