In this review, we will be comparing Premier 200B and Q150, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Paradigm and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm 200B and KEF Q150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Paradigm 200B | KEF Q150 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 51-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-130 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.18kg / 18lbs | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-7/16" x 7-13/16" x 12-7/8"
342.0 x 199.0 x 328.0mm | 11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9"
303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Paradigm 200B 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 200B |
KEF Q150 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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Drivers
Both Premier 200B and Q150 are 2-way speakers.
Paradigm 200BKEF 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 200B |
KEF Q150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Premier 200B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene 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
Premier 200B has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Q150 has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the Q150 can go slightly deeper then the Premier 200B's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Premier 200B and Q150 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Premier 200B sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Q150's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Paradigm 200B 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.
Premier 200B can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas Q150 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Premier 200B.
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
Premier 200B 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 Premier 200B 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 200B's and KEF Q150's external dimensions. Paradigm 200B has external dimensions of 342.0 x 199.0 x 328.0mm (13-7/16 x 7-13/16 x 12-7/8inch) whereas KEF Q150 has external dimensions of 303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm (11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch).
Paradigm 200B is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 39mm taller and 50mm deeper than KEF Q150.
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 200B is approximately 652.7cm2 / 101.2inch2 and base area of the KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The Premier 200B requires 30% more surface area than the Q150 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 Paradigm 200B weighs 8.18kg / 18lbs and the KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs. This makes the Premier 200B 46% heavier than the Q150.
Here is a comparison of how Premier 200B 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 200B?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Premier 200B:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- 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
 Max Input Power |
130 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
303mm
vs
342mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
500cm2
vs
652cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Premier 200B |
KEF Q150 |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-130 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
51-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon-Infused Polypropylene |
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 |
342.0mm (13.5") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
199.0mm (7.8") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
328.0mm (12.9") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
8.18kg (18lbs) |
5.60kg (12.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Gloss white,Espresso,Black |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - Paradigm 200B costs roughly 1.7x what KEF Q150 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 |
B |
KEF Q150 digs deeper - 51Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Paradigm 200B is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
A |
Paradigm 200B takes more power (130W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
KEF Q150 is easier to place; Paradigm 200B is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Paradigm 200B sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
KEF Q150 is cheaper - $600 against $1,000, about 40% less; arguably a different class. |
A Paradigm 200B
B KEF Q150
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Paradigm 200B is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 40% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - KEF Q150 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Paradigm 200B appeals to you. Match it to your room: we rate Paradigm 200B the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and KEF Q150 for near-field listening and a small room. In a large or open-plan room, Paradigm 200B has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF Q150 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.