In this review, we will be comparing R200 and Q350, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk R200 and KEF Q350 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk R200 | KEF Q350 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 51-38k Hz | 63-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-200 watts | 10-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.69kg / 19.1lbs | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14-1/8" x 7-9/16" x 13-15/16"
359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm | 14.0" x 8.2" x 12.0"
358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk R200 and KEF Q350 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* |
Polk R200 |
KEF Q350 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* 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 R200 and Q350 are 2-way speakers.
Polk R200KEF Q350
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk R200 |
KEF Q350 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R200 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. On the other hand, the Q350 features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
R200 has a frequency range of 51-38k Hz whereas Q350 has a frequency range of 63-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 51Hz, the R200 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q350's min frequency of 63Hz.
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
R200 and Q350 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R200 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Q350's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF Q350 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R200, 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.
R200 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Q350 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R200.
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
R200 features Post type posts and Q350 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q350's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R200 and Q350 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.
Polk R200 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 Polk R200's and KEF Q350's external dimensions. Polk R200 has external dimensions of 359.0 x 193.0 x 355.0mm (14-1/8 x 7-9/16 x 13-15/16inch) whereas KEF Q350 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0mm (14.0 x 8.2 x 12.0inch).
KEF Q350 is 1mm shorter and 49mm less deeper than Polk R200 but it is also 17mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk R200 and KEF Q350 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk R200 and KEF Q350 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 Polk R200 is approximately 685.2cm2 / 106.2inch2 and base area of the KEF Q350 is approximately 642.6cm2 / 99.6inch2. The R200 requires 7% more surface area than the Q350 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Polk R200 and KEF Q350 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 Polk R200 weighs 8.69kg / 19.1lbs and the KEF Q350 weighs 7.60kg / 16.7lbs. This makes the R200 14% heavier than the Q350.
Here is a comparison of how R200 and Q350's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk R200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R200:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
What's in the Box of KEF Q350?
Here are the items that come with the Q350:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.8 ohms
vs
3.7 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
749USD
vs
750USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
358mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
642cm2
vs
685cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Reserve R200 |
KEF Q350 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 watts |
10-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
51-38k Hz |
63-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
3000Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
193.0mm (7.6") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
355.0mm (14") |
306.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
8.69kg (19.1lbs) |
7.60kg (16.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
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: Polk R200 is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk R200 digs deeper - 51Hz against 63Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Polk R200 takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk R200 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($749 vs $750 a pair). |
A Polk R200 B KEF Q350
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?
Polk R200 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 63Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead.
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.