In this review, we will be comparing 5010 and Q150, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics 5010 and KEF Q150 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics 5010 | KEF Q150 |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 56-30k Hz | 51-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86.3 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-90 watts | 10-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.59kg / 12.3lbs | 5.60kg / 12.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-7/16" x 6-5/16" x 10-7/16"
266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm | 11.9" x 7.0" x 10.9"
303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Q Acoustics 5010 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* |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both 5010 and Q150 are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics 5010KEF 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 |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
KEF Q150 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
5010 features a 1" Soft-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Continuous Curved Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 Hz. 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
5010 has a frequency range of 56-30k 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 5010's min frequency of 56Hz.
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
5010 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. 5010 sensitivity is rated at 86.3 dB and the Q150's is rated at 86 dB.
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.
Q150 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas 5010 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the Q150.
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
5010 features Post type posts and Q150 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Q Acoustics 5010's Binding post terminals
KEF Q150's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010's and KEF Q150's external dimensions. Q Acoustics 5010 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 161.0 x 266.0mm (10-7/16inch x 6-5/16inch x 10-7/16inch) 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 19mm wider, 37mm taller and 12mm deeper than Q Acoustics 5010.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Q Acoustics 5010 and KEF Q150 in scale.
Comparison image of Q Acoustics 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010 is approximately 428.3cm2 / 66.4inch2 and base area of the KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2. The 5010 requires 14% 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 Q Acoustics 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010 weighs 5.59kg / 12.3lbs and the KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs. This makes the Q150 0% heavier than the 5010.
Here is a comparison of how 5010 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 Q Acoustics 5010?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 5010:
- 2x 5010 loudspeaker
- 1x Owners manual
- 2x Foam bung
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
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
266mm
vs
303mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
428cm2
vs
500cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.7 ohms
vs
3.3 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
51 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
749USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Q Acoustics 5010 |
KEF Q150 |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-90 watts |
10-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86.3 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.3 ohms |
3.7 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
56-30k Hz |
51-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Continuous Curved Cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
266.0mm (10.5") |
303.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
161.0mm (6.3") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
278.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
5.59kg (12.3lbs) |
5.60kg (12.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Relfex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF |
MDF/Vinyl-wrapped |
| Available Colors |
Holme Oak,Satin Black,Satin White,Santos Rosewood |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
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: Q Acoustics 5010 is the newer design, against a 2019 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 56Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF Q150 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (90W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Q Acoustics 5010 is easier to place; KEF Q150 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | KEF Q150 is cheaper - $600 against $749, about 20% less. |
A Q Acoustics 5010 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?
KEF Q150 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Q Acoustics 5010 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 56Hz 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.