KEF Q550 is a 2-way Passive Radiator Floor-standing speaker by KEF. It was released in May 2017. It features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer. Q550 also employs 2 x 5.25-inch passive radiators. The speaker has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 87 dB. KEF Q550 has an MSRP of 1400$ per pair.
Q550 also gives the user optional Dolby Atmos capability by equipping the unit with upward-firing Dolby Atmos drivers.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the KEF Q550 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 | Bad |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
KEF Q550 Speaker Structure
KEF's Q Series of Loudspeakers
Q550 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 Q550 Speaker
KEF Q550 has a Frequency response range of 58-28k Hz and Power Range of 15-130 watts. With a minimum frequency of 58 Hz, Q550 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 Q550's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the KEF Q550?
KEF Q550's Aluminum Woofer
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 1500$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Floor-standing speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the KEF Q550's 58Hz:
KEF Q550's vented aluminum Dome Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the KEF Q550?
The crossover frequency of the Q550 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 Q550's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms but can go down to as low as
3.5 ohms, and has a sensitivity of
87 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so KEF Q550 is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 87 dB, KEF Q550 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 Q550 plays in your room →
Minimum Impedance of the KEF Q550
Even though the nominal impedance of the Q550 is 8 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to KEF is 3.5 ohms KEF Q550 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 Q550 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
15–130 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $1,500, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
Q550 features Binding post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
KEF Q550 External Dimensions and Weight
KEF Q550 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 35-3/16 x 11-5/8 x 12-5/16inch (894.0 x 296.0 x 313.0mm ).
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 Q550 is approximately 926.5cm2 / 143.6inch2.
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe KEF Q550 weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how Q550's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Weight
Floor-standing Speakers under $1500
How does the KEF Q550 compare to the KEF Q750?
One of the natural alternative to the KEF Q550 is the Q750 which is located one step higher in KEF's Passive Floor-standing selection.
Check the Detailed Comparison of KEF Q550 vs Q750 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
KEF Q550 has a
Passive Radiator type cabinet and a MDF/Wood-grain vinyl finish.
Speaker Feet
KEF Q550 comes with the parts below 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 Q550 is a front-firing port speaker, which gives you more flexibility compared to rear firing speakers when you need to place it close against a wall or other surfaces.
Available colors
KEF Q550 is available in Walnut.
KEF Q550 with Grille
What's in the Box of KEF Q550?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q550:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 2 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 6 Screws
- 6 Washers
- 4 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Information
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the KEF Q550.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the KEF Q550, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for KEF Q550
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the KEF Q550 speaker:
Official Brochure for KEF Q550
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the KEF Q550 speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for KEF Q550
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.