In this review, we will be comparing YU Passive 5.25-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 5.25-inch and KEF Q150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch | KEF Q150 |
|---|
| Brand | Kanto
Canada · founded 2007 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" kevlar | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 51-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.7" x 6.9" x 8.1"
272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm | 11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9"
303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-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 5.25-inch |
KEF Q150 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 YU Passive 5.25-inch and Q150 are 2-way speakers.
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inchKEF Q150
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
KEF Q150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
YU Passive 5.25-inch features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" 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 5.25-inch has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the YU Passive 5.25-inch can go slightly deeper then the Q150's min frequency of 51Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
YU Passive 5.25-inch is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Q150 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. YU Passive 5.25-inch sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Q150's is rated at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
YU Passive 5.25-inch features Post type posts and Q150 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q150's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both YU Passive 5.25-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
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 Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch's and KEF Q150's external dimensions. Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch has external dimensions of 272.0 x 175.0 x 205.0mm (10.7 x 6.9 x 8.1inch) 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 5mm wider, 31mm taller and 73mm deeper than Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch and KEF Q150 in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-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 5.25-inch is approximately 358.8cm2 / 55.6inch2 and base area of the KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The YU Passive 5.25-inch requires 28% less surface area than the Q150 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-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 5.25-inch weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs. This makes the Q150 40% heavier than the YU Passive 5.25-inch.
Here is a comparison of how YU Passive 5.25-inch and Q150's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch
What's in the Box of Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of YU Passive 5.25-inch:
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
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
272mm
vs
303mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
358cm2
vs
500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch |
KEF Q150 |
| Brand |
Kanto |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
51-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
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 |
272.0mm (10.7") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
175.0mm (6.9") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
205.0mm (8.1") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - KEF Q150 costs roughly 2.5x what Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 51Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF Q150 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch is easier to place; KEF Q150 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF Q150 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch is cheaper - $240 against $600, about 60% less; arguably a different class. |
A Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch B KEF Q150
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, KEF Q150 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Kanto YU Passive 5.25-inch is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.