In this review, we will be comparing MilleniaOne 1.0 and Q150, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Paradigm and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 and KEF Q150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 | KEF Q150 |
|---|
| Brand | Paradigm
Canada · founded 1982 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" S-PAL Aluminum | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 120-20k Hz | 51-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-100 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.45kg / 5.4lbs | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-3/4" x 4-9/16" x 5-3/4"
197.0 x 116.0 x 147.0mm | 11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9"
303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 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* |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
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 MilleniaOne 1.0 and Q150 are 2-way speakers.
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0KEF 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 |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
KEF Q150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
MilleniaOne 1.0 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" S-PAL Aluminum 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
MilleniaOne 1.0 has a frequency range of 120-20k 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 MilleniaOne 1.0's min frequency of 120Hz.
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
MilleniaOne 1.0 and Q150 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. MilleniaOne 1.0 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Q150's is at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q150, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 100 watts RMS, though MilleniaOne 1.0 is rated 15-100 watts and Q150 10-100 watts.
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
MilleniaOne 1.0 features Post type posts and Q150 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0's Spring post terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both MilleniaOne 1.0 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0's and KEF Q150's external dimensions. Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 has external dimensions of 197.0 x 116.0 x 147.0mm (7-3/4 x 4-9/16 x 5-3/4inch) 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 64mm wider, 106mm taller and 131mm deeper than Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF Q150 needs about 193% more floor or shelf area. KEF Q150 is 131mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF Q150 is 106mm taller.
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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is approximately 170.5cm2 / 26.4inch2 and base area of the KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The MilleniaOne 1.0 requires 66% less surface area than the Q150 which gives it a small advantage 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 Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 weighs 2.45kg / 5.4lbs and the KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs. This makes the Q150 129% heavier than the MilleniaOne 1.0.
Here is a comparison of how MilleniaOne 1.0 and Q150's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of MilleniaOne 1.0:
- Satellite loudspeaker
- Grille
- Tabletop stand
- Wall-bracket
- Owner's Manual
- Online Registration Card
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 |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
197mm
vs
303mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
170cm2
vs
500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 |
KEF Q150 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-100 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
120-20k Hz |
51-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
S-PAL Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
197.0mm (7.8") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
116.0mm (4.6") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
147.0mm (5.8") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
2.45kg (5.4lbs) |
5.60kg (12.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Die-cast aluminum |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Gloss White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
30-32" |
18-24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: KEF Q150 is the newer design, against a 2012 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KEF Q150 digs deeper - 51Hz against 120Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 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 | B | KEF Q150 is cheaper - $600 against $700, about 14% less. |
A Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 120Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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, Paradigm MilleniaOne 1.0 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.