KEF Q150 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by KEF. It was released in March 2019. It features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer.
Q150 features KEF's Uni-Q technology where its 1inch tweeter is placed in the acoustic center of the 5-1/4inch woofer. With the help of this unique design, sound comes from a single point of source making the ideal listening position (aka sweet spot) of this speaker much larger.
The speaker has a frequency range of 51-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. KEF Q150 has an MSRP of 600$ per pair but can often be found around 300$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the KEF Q150 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Average |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
KEF later replaced Q150 with Q1 Meta. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these speakers:
Compare KEF Q150 vs KEF Q1 Meta
KEF Q150 Lifestyle
KEF's Q Series of Loudspeakers
Q150 is a member of KEF's Q series of Passive speakers. The Q Series is KEF's long-running affordable range, built around the Uni-Q concentric driver. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 7 KEF Q models compared »
KEF Q Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the KEF Q150 Speaker
KEF Q150 has a Frequency response range of 51-28k Hz and Power Range of 10-100 watts. With a minimum frequency of 51 Hz, Q150 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how Q150's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the KEF Q150?
KEF Q150's Aluminum Woofer
KEF Q150's vented aluminum Dome Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the KEF Q150?
The crossover frequency of the Q150 is set to 2500Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
KEF Q150's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.7 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so KEF Q150 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, KEF Q150 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the KEF Q150 plays in your room →
Minimum Impedance of the KEF Q150
Even though the nominal impedance of the Q150 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to KEF is 3.7 ohms KEF Q150 so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.
What amplifier does the KEF Q150 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
19–100 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $750, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Q150 features Post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
KEF Q150 Back View
KEF Q150's Post terminals
KEF Q150 External Dimensions and Weight
KEF Q150 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 11.9 x 7.0 x 10.9inch (303.0 x 180.0 x 278.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of KEF Q150 is approximately 500.4cm2 / 77.6inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of KEF Q150, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
KEF Q150 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the KEF Q150 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
KEF Q150 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe KEF Q150 weighs 5.60kg / 12.3lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Q150's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $750
KEF Q150 on a Stand
How does the KEF Q150 compare to the KEF Q350?
One of the natural alternative to the KEF Q150 is the Q350 which is located one step higher in KEF's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of KEF Q150 and KEF Q350 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of KEF Q150 vs Q350 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
KEF Q150 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF/Vinyl-wrapped finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
KEF Q150 comes with 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on.
It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
KEF Q150 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe. Q150 comes with
2 Foam port plugs so if you don't have any choice but place the speakers too close to the walls or other surfaces, you can use these plugs in order to avoid boomy or too much bass.
KEF Q150 Port
Available colors
KEF Q150 is available in Black, Walnut and White.
Wall Mounting
Q150 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the KEF Q150 come with a Grille?
Q150 comes with magnetic grilles in Black color choices. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the Q150 is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
KEF Q150 with Grille
What's in the Box of KEF Q150?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q150:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Warranty Registration Card
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the KEF Q150.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the KEF Q150, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for KEF Q150
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the KEF Q150 speaker:
Official Brochure for KEF Q150
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the KEF Q150 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for KEF Q150
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.
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