I call this a real good review. I like it when you tall us what equipment you are using and what music you are listening to when doing a review. Do more like this please.
Your reviews are fantastic, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I’m 28 and looking to buy my first budget audiophile setup and your videos are helping me determine what road to go down.
I own both the LS-50 AND Klipsch RP-600M. This review is eminently perceptive. It truly conveys the experience of the two KEFs. And, yes, the smaller KEF really fits audibly better in smaller rooms.
@@mykeldg I distinctly prefer the KEF LS-50. Reasons: (1) wider, deeper sound stage.(2) wider frequency coverage, from deeper bass to higher treble. (3) Smoother even tonality without emphasis, nor suckout. (4) focused image definition and placement. (5) NO false chestiness on male baritone voice. (6) Overall Quality Per Dollar is uncommonly high. The Klipsch is lovable, and only slightly less distinguished in direct comparison.
I picked up a pair of these about 3 years ago. They were a demo speaker so got them for around 750 cdn. Agree totally with your review, Steve. Mine are in a small room and I do run them with a sub. I am a firm believer in the concentric driver design. I would say that when you combine good responsive drivers in that way, the imaging that comes from that, just enhances the whole experience. If you play them loud or low, the details just come through, because of the preciseness of the imaging. I run mine with an old Denon 2805 receiver and have no complaints at all. I thought of upgrading to LS 50's for a while but did not see any real point to it. In a small room these speakers will keep you happy. Nice to see them get a little love.
As an update, I recently added the Cambridge AXA 35 amp to my system. I wasn't expecting big changes to sound quality, but I was wrong. The sound stage was huge compared to the Denon AV. The Cambridge had plenty of power for the KEF's in my small room. And the musicality and spacious detail of the sound, blew me away. I also noticed a significant change in bass control and detail as you noted. I was forced to pull my old turrntable out and get back to playing my old albums again. The slightly warm sound of the Cambridge is a perfect match for the KEF's I think. A great combination for 2 channel music listening and difficult to beat at twice the price, I would say. These are definitely scaleable speakers that respond well to the source equipment. A highly recommended pairing from me.
I have just bought a pair of KEF Q550s. I compared them in the shop to some KEF Q350s, I own some old KEF Q bookshelf speakers; and i didn't notice much of improvement with the Q350s. Then i listed to the Q550s, and I was very impressed with the sound. The base is very good. They sound even better at home than in the listening room. Here in the UK there is a 20 percent discount on the KEF Q range at the moment. If you live in the UK it is worth going to a hifi shop to have a listen. They say to get the discount you need to trade in some speakers, but they didn't want them when it came to it
Thanks Steve! Mine arrived today , paid $1007 direct from Kef canada with free shipping, I'm blown away , my q 350 are back in their box after 2.5 years on 28 inch stands, had q150's for the year prior to that and lots of Paradigms prior to that. Cheers!
Love the q series. I’ve had the older q700s for the last 5 years, and as I’ve upgraded my amps and sources recently they’ve really excelled in performance! Give them at least 4 feat from the back vall vith just a minor to in and pair them with a really good amp ( I use the Primare i30) and they will really come to life. I’m going to enjoy them for another 6 months before upgrading to the Kef R3s. There is no way back now! Audiophiliac for life😅 Thank U for this lovely channel Steve!
Here in Canada at vision.ca Q750 pair $1100. That's screaming deal if you're American. Going tomorrow hear them out, maybe too much for my home theater room 20 x 12 x 7. With dual subs SVS-SB2000. Would get the Q550 sold out.
Its so beautiful in the pictures. I love the fact that it can be placed close to a wall. I also like that its not a jumpy on your face sound as thats what i like . The best part being the good price .
Hey Steve, I really enjoy your videos. What I enjoy most about them is your descriptive portrayal of each speaker with its source (amplification, artist and medium). You always see the best in each speaker, just like somebody positive who see's the best in somebody else. Great Job!!! Keep it up!!!
Had them since may, fantastic, had 350's prior them 150's, prior to that, all kinds, Paradigm, polk, my first great Infinity QA's in 1979.. Kef Canada and Visions are sold out of these for months all the other Q's are still available. New line seems great, but are rear ported, I live in a small apartment so don't want a port firing at my center wall. Piano is fantastic, I was a cathedral chorister along time ago and have done the Allegri high C solo. Oh and I got them in white.
Great review, thanks Steve. I love the refined sound of my LS50s but since they're 86db sensitivity, they require lots of amplifier power to "wake up", ( unlike the Klipsch, no doubt ). Something to consider for budgeting for system resources. With two REL subs they make for a very clear, and big sound but at a price. Yes I love reggae/dub on this system! I can see the attraction of the 550 option :-)
Passive Radiators are one of three principles for tuning the bass in the "Reflex" method. The reflex concept is to have a "plug" of mass resonating in comparison to the larger cabinet air volume. The two synchronised resonances end up producing the desired final bass response. Different from a sealed box, or a transmission line.
I fully agree with KEF's decision not to muck up the back of the speaker with all kinds of different binding posts. Having been an audio file for over 40 years, and watching & Reading not only you but everyone else I can get my hands on,multiple binding posts are used by very very few people, and I have yet to hear anyone make a stance that says they must be present on a speaker. Why raise the cost and complexity of a speaker when you don't have to? I'm a speaker designer as well, and I have found that the K.I.S.S. principal really thrives in audio.
Nice overview Steve , I picked up the JBL studio 580s for a review and pop the hood on them and i was blown away ! I compared the Klispch RP 6.5 woofer to the jBl studio 6.5 woofer on video and the JBL totally dominated the Klispch , But the JBL 580s are normally 1500.00US but now on sale for under 700.00US The 580s flew under the radar !
Steve, thanks for the intro to the Q-550. What I would really love to know (and I wish you could /would ask Andrew Jones and others) is why most speaker manufacturers ALL seem to make the exact same size floor standers. They are all tall, skinny speakers. Why?? Is it because they sound best? I think not. Is it a trendy thing? Maybe...? Is it a 'WAF' thing? Is it what consumers demand? And why do 'hi-end' companies give us crappy vinyl wraps instead of real veneer? Of course...to cut costs and make more profit. My bad. But I honestly expect better from a company like KEF. Not so much on a pair of JBL. But it is driving me nuts that all these companies are designing the same tall, skinny boxes. What happened to originality? Thanks Steve.
What's wrong with skinny speakers? Narrow baffles always sound better. They certainly look better in any room. They can also sound amazing as proven in my experience with the PSB Image 4T towers. They kick ass all day and always leave me completely satisfied.
I listened this serie with the Blade 2. The Q serie still sounded great. Very holographic. With the Canton there was a really big drop in soundquality going from the Top speakers to the more affordable floorspeakers.
It's always about kef Klipsch it's nice to see that you put JBL also in here very few people review audition or talk about them I want to listen to them they were a Powerhouse in the 80s and 70s so it's good that you like them I am dying to listen to them
After watched this review I bought a pair of used Q550. It does lack sub bass, but mid bass and up are very quick, punchy and very satisfying for vocal & Jazz music. I also bought a used Rel T/9i sub to fill in the sub bass area and give more overall body to the music. Q550 is a great budget setup with a musical sub.
There's two use cases for bi-wiring 1. You want to use your own crossfeed setup which is guaranteed to mess your sound up 2. You want to use separate amplifiers. This makes sense when you want to use a tube amp for your tweeter and a solid state for your bass speaker.
Here's my experience with the Q550s. I had a pair of the q350s and thought they were great. But I decided to "upgrade" to the 550's. In a nutshell, I was disappointed with the 550's for one reason. And that was the bass. For whatever reason, I could not get the same level of bass, deep bass and mid bass, as I could with the 350's. It was shocking. I even contacted KEF and they couldn't understand it either. I gave them plenty of time to break in so I don't think that was the issue. But they do have a beautiful midrange and and the highs are great also. So I ended up returning them and buying a pair of PSB Alpha T20 speakers. The bass was back with the T20's! Then, a couple of weeks ago, I saw that the Q350's were on sale for only $499. So I bought a pair. My second pair. Bought them in white this time. And as good as the T20's are, and they are really good, I still prefer the Q350's. Smooth, cohesive, with a great midrange and bass.
I read review but don't hear much expensive speakers as I get inferiority complex for my speakers 😢, But most of my not so expensive speakers held their own 😊. I love my collection.
Fantastic review!!! You may have found the speakers I’ve been looking for!!! I need speakers that performs well when placed within 2 ft. from the back wall!!! I’ll definitely look into these!!! Thank you so much!!! ☮️🖖🏽
Good review! Now that you have reviewed the Navis, would you rather buy the Navis system or Q550 with a 1000$ amp (CA80, Rotel A11 or similar)? Price would be about the same. But which one would sound better (airy, detailed..) for acoustic music, jazz in a mid size living room?
I read a lot of people stating that bi-amping a speaker doesn't improve sound. So, going from 50 watts to 100 watts to a speaker doesn't improve sound? I find this hard to believe. My receiver is 120 watts per channel. Bi-amping, I have 240 watts per speaker. I noticed a difference immediately. And, I'll bet people saying this are the same ones claiming speaker wire makes a difference in sound.
Hi Steve, just wondering when you where doinng the review on the Forte's did you play any Raggae music with them? If so was the bass over powering or muddy? I listen to a lot of Raggea and had some of the two peice pro. 200 watt Klipsch LaScala's , o boy did they sound good. Thanks....
If the 550's are similar to my 950's the can be very amp sensitive. I have the Outlaw RR 2160 and with the KEFs it was not good but what surprised me was with a freshened 1960 stock configuration Dynakit ST-70 tube amp and the Elekit TU 8500 pre they sound outstanding. I thought I had made a mistake buying the KEF's until hearing them with tubes. The Outlaw now runs a minty pair of Infinite Slope 1.8's which is another great match. Best of both worlds.
Hi Steve what are your feelings about add on super tweeters are they a gimmick ore are they a good investment yours Ian and what does every body els think about them 🎶🤔
I've got some ancient KEF q55.2's I just cant get rid of, almost 2 decades old though, and I'm finding the bass quite "boomy" and droney, not all all punchy or tight. Sat in front of them I can hardly hear the bass, but as soon as I gput my ear into a corner of room, by a cupboard or alcove, the bass is chest and earth-shaking and loud. I do like a lot of bass, and have a small room with only a 90w RMS av receiver (onkyo tx-sr508). Is this effect likely because they are rear ported (mid range are front ported)? Will the the q350 or even q550 be bassy or loud enough? Would the q750 still have much tighter bass than my q55? Also considering getting some used r series or B&W. Nowhere to test them in UK :(
I’m wondering, since the LS50 and the Q550 are pretty much the same price, what are you losing by going for the bigger speaker? Is there anything? I’m talking sound here, not the finish and look, which is definitely better on the LS50. I believe the Uni-Q drivers are different in materials.
Which speaker would you get if you had to choose between Q Acoustics 3050i and KEF Q550 ? I know they are not similar in price but let’s put the price aside. Which one would you go for ?
Hello Steve. I was about to order a pair of q750 with Yamaha Rn803 integrated stereo amp with 145 Watts per channel. Will that be a good combination? It is going to be my first stereo system. Additionally will I need a sub for a full range experience?
So it is the Q150 on steroids? This one or the ELAC Unify UB5?? Worth upgrade if I have the ELAC on a lunch room with a 300W/channel AMP the Pioneer LX52?
Thank you for this very nice review! I have older kefs, Iq50 and iq90 with emotiva amps and I can totally relate to the laid back smooth sound of kef. But now since I listen to acoustic/folk but also heavy rock, I want to try the Klipsch 😅 Thanks again and I will look into the live Judy Collins album!
Anyone have much idea on best pairing with amplifier/receiver? Wondering if this would work well with my vintage sansui receiver, only 20 watts per channel..
myplaguesify They are very different sounding speakers!klipsch RP 600 it’s all about dynamics, life, fun and Energy. The KEF is none of those things, but it is refined, open, images is better.
I find the "schMI-wiring" to be more.....how should I put this......"schMusical". Don't you agree? 👽🖖 Also, what record was that you were talking about. Andrew "who?" KEF Q550 - "...it's a NICE speaker..." Ringing Endorsement Meter: 0.2 🤪
Steve, I'd love to see you do a blind test of analogue versus digital from the same master on whatever. You sound very confident as if it is obvious what the traits are of each are (to the ear). Personally I think it has more to do with the mixing process what results. I am afraid you are misrepresenting the nature of the beast often times when it comes to analogue versus digital, as if analogue contains some special sauce to sound more natural. NB: As Richard Dawkins would say, I only care what is true, not what you think. IMO, your perception is more one of imagination rather than reality. :D Cheers.
LeafMan Prophecies Hi 👋. If you allow me to share my experience. I bought and decided to keep the kef q950 with Schiit electronics. Mids and highs are subdued as Steve pointed out with the q550 which actually is good for me because I can listen for long hours. Bass is adequate but it’s not quick on some tracks . I heard the smaller kefs in the q series have better bass “speed” . I did not like the older klipsh at all due to being too bright but I seriously considered the RP series .
@@delvalle9256 Hi Del. Im running Klipsch RP8000f for few months on Yamaha AS-801 and i like it exept that on some tracks on high volume sound is a bit harsh its attacking my ear that i dont want to listen anymore. I still dont know is that the speakers itself or my room because i pluged in my old speakers that i used to enjoy listen to and they sound harsh to so could b my room accoustics.
Steve, you keep reiterating the idea that classical music listeners don't require the "oomph", power, energy, "jump factor" that listeners to rock music require. That "refined" and "laid back" are sufficient for classical. I completely disagree. Classical music requires at least as much "jump factor", "oomph", etc., as the most hard hitting, head slamming rock music but it also requires the speakers (and the rest of the system) to do refinement, delicacy and nuance too. Your characterization of classical music as "laid back" is highly stereotyped and reflects a lack of experience with the broad scope of what that genre includes.
Ha! .. Listen to the Planets from Holst or some of Stravinsky's music and you know how important dynamics are in Classical music. Steve tends to generalize at times but it's all done in good spirit.
Tend to agree here....likely an issue with trying to generalise...however, like so many genres there's depth and breadth unknown to the causal listeners who likely are only familiar with either the most commercial or a smaller segment within the genre. Which makes me think.....such generalisations, especially in relation to speakers, when the reviewer may know little about music (not saying that's Steve, I'm talking non specifically), makes one realise the need to go decide for yourself. Also terminology may mean something to one person, with a slightly different take by another. Eish.....but it's still great to hear what others think.....we don't need to all agree to respect what others may think!!
My take would be “no,” the Klipsch is NOT “rock only”. I think what Steve is saying is that if you generally listen to rock & roll more than symphonic/acoustic/unamplified music, the KEF is a better choice, because it plays with the subtle nuances of that sort of music a bit more adeptly - and the lively, visceral “kick” of heavily amplified bass and guitars is better served by Klipsch speakers. (I mean, what’s the advantage of Klipsch over KEF if your music doesn’t primarily rock and roll, right?) But I have no doubt the Klipsch sounds good with the acoustic stuff, too. Just not AS good, if you’re listening carefully.
Richard -Klipschorn corner horns and the Klipsch La Scala are purportedly designed for classical music reproduction. Should we conclude that the newer smaller Klipsch designs are the ones that are more for rock music? Meaning they are unsubtle in their sound production?
Adrian S I suspect that, in practice, the differences are not that significant. The mere fact of discussing them probably makes them seem more important than they really are, lol.
You are an amazing example of an audio file. I have three pairs of calf speakers Q 55Q 75 and the reference three with the hyper tweeter on top big cat fan and b&w subwoofer. Keep up the good work your videos are fantastic- camby1967 o. IG
Hi Steve, really enjoy your clear honest posts. Much appreciated. I'm on the hunt for best speakers for opera, classical. Especially opera at volume without distortion. Thanks again for your posts. Cheers
I call this a real good review. I like it when you tall us what equipment you are using and what music you are listening to when doing a review. Do more like this please.
The dude didn’t even had the speakers. You see not one picture in this video of the Q550 that you can’t find on the internet.
Your reviews are fantastic, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. I’m 28 and looking to buy my first budget audiophile setup and your videos are helping me determine what road to go down.
I own both the LS-50 AND Klipsch RP-600M. This review is eminently perceptive. It truly conveys the experience of the two KEFs. And, yes, the smaller KEF really fits audibly better in smaller rooms.
Steve has credibility huh. He has a great track record.
Carlos Bauzá which one between the ls50 and rp600m did you end up much preferring?
@@mykeldg I distinctly prefer the KEF LS-50. Reasons: (1) wider, deeper sound stage.(2) wider frequency coverage, from deeper bass to higher treble. (3) Smoother even tonality without emphasis, nor suckout. (4) focused image definition and placement. (5) NO false chestiness on male baritone voice. (6) Overall Quality Per Dollar is uncommonly high. The Klipsch is lovable, and only slightly less distinguished in direct comparison.
Carlos Bauzá awesome thanks! Looks like i will stick with my kefs.
I picked up a pair of these about 3 years ago. They were a demo speaker so got them for around 750 cdn. Agree totally with your review, Steve. Mine are in a small room and I do run them with a sub. I am a firm believer in the concentric driver design. I would say that when you combine good responsive drivers in that way, the imaging that comes from that, just enhances the whole experience. If you play them loud or low, the details just come through, because of the preciseness of the imaging. I run mine with an old Denon 2805 receiver and have no complaints at all. I thought of upgrading to LS 50's for a while but did not see any real point to it. In a small room these speakers will keep you happy. Nice to see them get a little love.
As an update, I recently added the Cambridge AXA 35 amp to my system. I wasn't expecting big changes to sound quality, but I was wrong. The sound stage was huge compared to the Denon AV. The Cambridge had plenty of power for the KEF's in my small room. And the musicality and spacious detail of the sound, blew me away. I also noticed a significant change in bass control and detail as you noted. I was forced to pull my old turrntable out and get back to playing my old albums again. The slightly warm sound of the Cambridge is a perfect match for the KEF's I think. A great combination for 2 channel music listening and difficult to beat at twice the price, I would say.
These are definitely scaleable speakers that respond well to the source equipment. A highly recommended pairing from me.
I have just bought a pair of KEF Q550s. I compared them in the shop to some KEF Q350s, I own some old KEF Q bookshelf speakers; and i didn't notice much of improvement with the Q350s. Then i listed to the Q550s, and I was very impressed with the sound. The base is very good. They sound even better at home than in the listening room. Here in the UK there is a 20 percent discount on the KEF Q range at the moment. If you live in the UK it is worth going to a hifi shop to have a listen. They say to get the discount you need to trade in some speakers, but they didn't want them when it came to it
Thanks Steve! Mine arrived today , paid $1007 direct from Kef canada with free shipping, I'm blown away , my q 350 are back in their box after 2.5 years on 28 inch stands, had q150's for the year prior to that and lots of Paradigms prior to that. Cheers!
Love the q series. I’ve had the older q700s for the last 5 years, and as I’ve upgraded my amps and sources recently they’ve really excelled in performance! Give them at least 4 feat from the back vall vith just a minor to in and pair them with a really good amp ( I use the Primare i30) and they will really come to life. I’m going to enjoy them for another 6 months before upgrading to the Kef R3s. There is no way back now! Audiophiliac for life😅
Thank U for this lovely channel Steve!
Here in Canada at vision.ca Q750 pair $1100. That's screaming deal if you're American. Going tomorrow hear them out, maybe too much for my home theater room 20 x 12 x 7. With dual subs SVS-SB2000. Would get the Q550 sold out.
Thanks for the two part series. I always enjoy listening
Its so beautiful in the pictures. I love the fact that it can be placed close to a wall. I also like that its not a jumpy on your face sound as thats what i like . The best part being the good price .
Hey Steve, I really enjoy your videos. What I enjoy most about them is your descriptive portrayal of each speaker with its source (amplification, artist and medium). You always see the best in each speaker, just like somebody positive who see's the best in somebody else. Great Job!!! Keep it up!!!
Had them since may, fantastic, had 350's prior them 150's, prior to that, all kinds, Paradigm, polk, my first great Infinity QA's in 1979.. Kef Canada and Visions are sold out of these for months all the other Q's are still available. New line seems great, but are rear ported, I live in a small apartment so don't want a port firing at my center wall. Piano is fantastic, I was a cathedral chorister along time ago and have done the Allegri high C solo. Oh and I got them in white.
Great video Steve! I like when you compare with other speakers. Thanks for your good work.
Great review, thanks Steve.
I love the refined sound of my LS50s but since they're 86db sensitivity, they require lots of amplifier power to "wake up", ( unlike the Klipsch, no doubt ). Something to consider for budgeting for system resources.
With two REL subs they make for a very clear, and big sound but at a price.
Yes I love reggae/dub on this system!
I can see the attraction of the 550 option :-)
Passive Radiators are one of three principles for tuning the bass in the "Reflex" method. The reflex concept is to have a "plug" of mass resonating in comparison to the larger cabinet air volume. The two synchronised resonances end up producing the desired final bass response. Different from a sealed box, or a transmission line.
I fully agree with KEF's decision not to muck up the back of the speaker with all kinds of different binding posts. Having been an audio file for over 40 years, and watching & Reading not only you but everyone else I can get my hands on,multiple binding posts are used by very very few people, and I have yet to hear anyone make a stance that says they must be present on a speaker. Why raise the cost and complexity of a speaker when you don't have to? I'm a speaker designer as well, and I have found that the K.I.S.S. principal really thrives in audio.
One word: dsp
You are so right!
Thanks Steve for comparing with the Klipsch RP5000f.
love the review. like the comparisons and music used gives us some sense of what you were hearing. Thanks
Nice overview Steve , I picked up the JBL studio 580s for a review and pop the hood on them and i was blown away ! I compared the Klispch RP 6.5 woofer to the jBl studio 6.5 woofer on video and the JBL totally dominated the Klispch , But the JBL 580s are normally 1500.00US but now on sale for under 700.00US The 580s flew under the radar !
Steve, thanks for the intro to the Q-550. What I would really love to know (and I wish you could /would ask Andrew Jones and others) is why most speaker manufacturers ALL seem to make the exact same size floor standers. They are all tall, skinny speakers. Why?? Is it because they sound best? I think not. Is it a trendy thing? Maybe...? Is it a 'WAF' thing? Is it what consumers demand? And why do 'hi-end' companies give us crappy vinyl wraps instead of real veneer? Of course...to cut costs and make more profit. My bad. But I honestly expect better from a company like KEF. Not so much on a pair of JBL. But it is driving me nuts that all these companies are designing the same tall, skinny boxes. What happened to originality? Thanks Steve.
What's wrong with skinny speakers? Narrow baffles always sound better. They certainly look better in any room. They can also sound amazing as proven in my experience with the PSB Image 4T towers. They kick ass all day and always leave me completely satisfied.
I listened this serie with the Blade 2. The Q serie still sounded great. Very holographic.
With the Canton there was a really big drop in soundquality going from the Top speakers to the more affordable floorspeakers.
Steve your the best,love your reviews.
It's always about kef Klipsch it's nice to see that you put JBL also in here very few people review audition or talk about them I want to listen to them they were a Powerhouse in the 80s and 70s so it's good that you like them I am dying to listen to them
Your codpiece storage unit in the ceiling corner looks practical.
After watched this review I bought a pair of used Q550. It does lack sub bass, but mid bass and up are very quick, punchy and very satisfying for vocal & Jazz music. I also bought a used Rel T/9i sub to fill in the sub bass area and give more overall body to the music. Q550 is a great budget setup with a musical sub.
What amp do you feed them with & how do you like the rel pairing?
Please review about q 950...i have a plan to upgrade my front speaker..my preference is klipsch rp8000f or q950
Steve, I'm wondering if you ever reviewed Bedini's CD Ultra Clarifier? I had one, and it really worked, regardless of what the skeptics say.
Steve- you have a Michael Green acoustic pillow up there in the back corner....that's a classic tweak from the 1990's 👍
You mention bi-wiring in your review. Anh chance you could do a future video on bi-wiring?
There's two use cases for bi-wiring
1. You want to use your own crossfeed setup which is guaranteed to mess your sound up
2. You want to use separate amplifiers. This makes sense when you want to use a tube amp for your tweeter and a solid state for your bass speaker.
@@JohnTwo1 I thought bi wiring was two cables to the same amp and biamping was the thing you described?
@@JohnTwo1 ooh that's interesting but won't that cause an inconsistency in power ?
@@EndstyleGG yes you are correct, you need a bi wire speaker to do bi amping.
@@Audfile yes you need two different volume controls
These or the Evo 4.3 or Polk R600? Vocals are important as I will be using for some TV but mostly for 2 channel listening.
lol... When I see the mess in Steves Flat, I am convinced that I am a true audiophile. I have the same Messie environment at home as the Audiophiliac!
Here's my experience with the Q550s. I had a pair of the q350s and thought they were great. But I decided to "upgrade" to the 550's. In a nutshell, I was disappointed with the 550's for one reason. And that was the bass. For whatever reason, I could not get the same level of bass, deep bass and mid bass, as I could with the 350's. It was shocking. I even contacted KEF and they couldn't understand it either. I gave them plenty of time to break in so I don't think that was the issue. But they do have a beautiful midrange and and the highs are great also. So I ended up returning them and buying a pair of PSB Alpha T20 speakers. The bass was back with the T20's! Then, a couple of weeks ago, I saw that the Q350's were on sale for only $499. So I bought a pair. My second pair. Bought them in white this time. And as good as the T20's are, and they are really good, I still prefer the Q350's. Smooth, cohesive, with a great midrange and bass.
Could be the Amp? Maybe the towers need a little more oomph
I read review but don't hear much expensive speakers as I get inferiority complex for my speakers 😢, But most of my not so expensive speakers held their own 😊. I love my collection.
Fantastic review!!! You may have found the speakers I’ve been looking for!!! I need speakers that performs well when placed within 2 ft. from the back wall!!! I’ll definitely look into these!!! Thank you so much!!! ☮️🖖🏽
I'd love to see a tour of your house!
Good review! Now that you have reviewed the Navis, would you rather buy the Navis system or Q550 with a 1000$ amp (CA80, Rotel A11 or similar)? Price would be about the same. But which one would sound better (airy, detailed..) for acoustic music, jazz in a mid size living room?
Great review. Any plans to review one of KEF’s R Series speakers? Such reviews seem few and far between.
I read a lot of people stating that bi-amping a speaker doesn't improve sound. So, going from 50 watts to 100 watts to a speaker doesn't improve sound? I find this hard to believe. My receiver is 120 watts per channel. Bi-amping, I have 240 watts per speaker. I noticed a difference immediately. And, I'll bet people saying this are the same ones claiming speaker wire makes a difference in sound.
what's the difference between a "passive radiator" and "bass" driver? Thanks for not answering any questions 🙂
GIK Bass traps work WONDERS for those that are stuck with speakers placed next to wall.
Hi Steve, just wondering when you where doinng the review on the Forte's did you play any Raggae music with them? If so was the bass over powering or muddy? I listen to a lot of Raggea and had some of the two peice pro. 200 watt Klipsch LaScala's , o boy did they sound good. Thanks....
If the 550's are similar to my 950's the can be very amp sensitive. I have the Outlaw RR 2160 and with the KEFs it was not good but what surprised me was with a freshened 1960 stock configuration Dynakit ST-70 tube amp and the Elekit TU 8500 pre they sound outstanding. I thought I had made a mistake buying the KEF's until hearing them with tubes. The Outlaw now runs a minty pair of Infinite Slope 1.8's which is another great match. Best of both worlds.
After living with the KEF 950's for a couple of years there were kicked to the curb by a vintage pair of Time Window 1A's.
Hello Steve: How do you think the KEF Q550, or Q750 compare to the KLH Kendall ?
Hi Steve what are your feelings about add on super tweeters are they a gimmick ore are they a good investment yours Ian and what does every body els think about them 🎶🤔
Have you compared to Dali Oberon 5? price is similar.
For techno music, would you recommend these or the Klipsch RP-6000F?
I've got some ancient KEF q55.2's I just cant get rid of, almost 2 decades old though, and I'm finding the bass quite "boomy" and droney, not all all punchy or tight. Sat in front of them I can hardly hear the bass, but as soon as I gput my ear into a corner of room, by a cupboard or alcove, the bass is chest and earth-shaking and loud. I do like a lot of bass, and have a small room with only a 90w RMS av receiver (onkyo tx-sr508). Is this effect likely because they are rear ported (mid range are front ported)?
Will the the q350 or even q550 be bassy or loud enough?
Would the q750 still have much tighter bass than my q55?
Also considering getting some used r series or B&W.
Nowhere to test them in UK
:(
I’m wondering, since the LS50 and the Q550 are pretty much the same price, what are you losing by going for the bigger speaker? Is there anything? I’m talking sound here, not the finish and look, which is definitely better on the LS50. I believe the Uni-Q drivers are different in materials.
LS50 has more detail and depth of soundstage. Q550 has more dynamics and goes deeper. LS50 is smaller room only, Q550 goes up to medium sized rooms.
@@mrpositronia The Q550 has more than enough detail and depth of soundstage as well. The LS50 is a loser next to this speaker.
@@wa2368 Floorstanding speakers always require a lot more space behind them for proper soundstage and imaging.
how low can be the sale price ? I read online it can be available for
$399 when on sale, is that true? If yes, I can wait to buy
My small tower fav is the totem arro great for the price
Which speaker would you get if you had to choose between Q Acoustics 3050i and KEF Q550 ? I know they are not similar in price but let’s put the price aside. Which one would you go for ?
Hello Steve. I was about to order a pair of q750 with Yamaha Rn803 integrated stereo amp with 145 Watts per channel. Will that be a good combination?
It is going to be my first stereo system. Additionally will I need a sub for a full range experience?
I just grabbed the Q 750 $1198.00 CDN pair.
Would love to see a review.
are the q550 great for vocals and acoustic music? would you prefer this or q350 (which were incredible)?
So it is the Q150 on steroids? This one or the ELAC Unify UB5?? Worth upgrade if I have the ELAC on a lunch room with a 300W/channel AMP the Pioneer LX52?
I own q950 I love them
Thank you! I’m about to buy a set - but curious. I am able to get a q700 or q550. Any thoughts?
I want to ask you a question which one you think is better on sound imaging the bookshelf speakers or the floor standing speakers?🤔🦉
Do you think the Denon PMA-600NE would be a good match with these speakers for a small 10x11 room? Thanks
Going jump on the Q750 at $1100. Pair here in Canada. Can see a better deal?
Polk LSIM 705s if you want a smoother sounding speaker , But like KeF they like good power!
Do you think it is compatible with the Yamaha RX-A1080 receiver?
Hey Steve have you reviewed any speakers that are designed to go very close to a wall, for example Linn Kan speakers? Thanks
Shooting an 11 minutes video in 17 minutes. You are a very efficient RUclipsr.
Have you listened to Tannoy Revolution XT6F and how does it compare to KEF?
Compared to RP600M + subwoofer?
Thank you for this very nice review! I have older kefs, Iq50 and iq90 with emotiva amps and I can totally relate to the laid back smooth sound of kef. But now since I listen to acoustic/folk but also heavy rock, I want to try the Klipsch 😅 Thanks again and I will look into the live Judy Collins album!
Will you be reviewing the R Series?
Anyone have much idea on best pairing with amplifier/receiver? Wondering if this would work well with my vintage sansui receiver, only 20 watts per channel..
"Audiophiliac"...
Am I the only one that said it "together class"?
Q550 @ $550 each on Amazon. Is it visceral or cerebal? Based on review, I am guessing more on the cerebral side.
5 seconds without a copyright strike.
kef q550 vs kef 750?
Please!
Are the R5’s appreciably better?
Better than Q Acoustics 3050is?
Sorry for a dumb question. I am buying Q550 as my first audiophile setup. Please advise what wiring gauge should I buy for them
Can you please review ELAC Debut Reference Floorstanding Speaker DFR52 when you get a chance. Thanks!!!
Steve! Any interest in hearing viewers music? Got a vinyl I'd send your way.
Take that as a big N-O cuz
kef rp600 or the kef ls50?
myplaguesify They are very different sounding speakers!klipsch RP 600 it’s all about dynamics, life, fun and Energy. The KEF is none of those things, but it is refined, open, images is better.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thanks Steve,what i think you mean is that they are both great just a matter of preference.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac To ask you in your face, which one would you choose?
I find the "schMI-wiring" to be more.....how should I put this......"schMusical". Don't you agree? 👽🖖 Also, what record was that you were talking about. Andrew "who?"
KEF Q550 - "...it's a NICE speaker..." Ringing Endorsement Meter: 0.2 🤪
Cheaped out,that puppy needs 3 active woofers.
Comparing to my Q500? Anyone has any experience?
Steve, I'd love to see you do a blind test of analogue versus digital from the same master on whatever. You sound very confident as if it is obvious what the traits are of each are (to the ear). Personally I think it has more to do with the mixing process what results. I am afraid you are misrepresenting the nature of the beast often times when it comes to analogue versus digital, as if analogue contains some special sauce to sound more natural.
NB: As Richard Dawkins would say, I only care what is true, not what you think.
IMO, your perception is more one of imagination rather than reality. :D
Cheers.
sould i trade my klipsch rp8000f for kef q950?
LeafMan Prophecies Hi 👋. If you allow me to share my experience. I bought and decided to keep the kef q950 with Schiit electronics. Mids and highs are subdued as Steve pointed out with the q550 which actually is good for me because I can listen for long hours. Bass is adequate but it’s not quick on some tracks . I heard the smaller kefs in the q series have better bass “speed” . I did not like the older klipsh at all due to being too bright but I seriously considered the RP series .
@@delvalle9256 Hi Del. Im running Klipsch RP8000f for few months on Yamaha AS-801 and i like it exept that on some tracks on high volume sound is a bit harsh its attacking my ear that i dont want to listen anymore. I still dont know is that the speakers itself or my room because i pluged in my old speakers that i used to enjoy listen to and they sound harsh to so could b my room accoustics.
LeafMan Prophecies I would try an equalizer . Audiophiles hate EQs. I use a Schiit Loki , 4 band ,,simple to use and it works for me.
Steve, you keep reiterating the idea that classical music listeners don't require the "oomph", power, energy, "jump factor" that listeners to rock music require. That "refined" and "laid back" are sufficient for classical. I completely disagree. Classical music requires at least as much "jump factor", "oomph", etc., as the most hard hitting, head slamming rock music but it also requires the speakers (and the rest of the system) to do refinement, delicacy and nuance too. Your characterization of classical music as "laid back" is highly stereotyped and reflects a lack of experience with the broad scope of what that genre includes.
Agreed. Rachmaninoff piano concertos are the first works that come to mind when energy and oomph is required. Nothing laid back there.
Ha! .. Listen to the Planets from Holst or some of Stravinsky's music and you know how important dynamics are in Classical music.
Steve tends to generalize at times but it's all done in good spirit.
You know I always thought my Klipsch speakers did well with classical for that very reason.
Tend to agree here....likely an issue with trying to generalise...however, like so many genres there's depth and breadth unknown to the causal listeners who likely are only familiar with either the most commercial or a smaller segment within the genre.
Which makes me think.....such generalisations, especially in relation to speakers, when the reviewer may know little about music (not saying that's Steve, I'm talking non specifically), makes one realise the need to go decide for yourself.
Also terminology may mean something to one person, with a slightly different take by another.
Eish.....but it's still great to hear what others think.....we don't need to all agree to respect what others may think!!
Just listen to the overture to Verdi's Nabucco if you think that classical music doesn't require substantial reserve power.
Klipsch for rock only then?
My take would be “no,” the Klipsch is NOT “rock only”. I think what Steve is saying is that if you generally listen to rock & roll more than symphonic/acoustic/unamplified music, the KEF is a better choice, because it plays with the subtle nuances of that sort of music a bit more adeptly - and the lively, visceral “kick” of heavily amplified bass and guitars is better served by Klipsch speakers. (I mean, what’s the advantage of Klipsch over KEF if your music doesn’t primarily rock and roll, right?) But I have no doubt the Klipsch sounds good with the acoustic stuff, too. Just not AS good, if you’re listening carefully.
Richard -Klipschorn corner horns and the Klipsch La Scala are purportedly designed for classical music reproduction. Should we conclude that the newer smaller Klipsch designs are the ones that are more for rock music? Meaning they are unsubtle in their sound production?
Adrian S I suspect that, in practice, the differences are not that significant. The mere fact of discussing them probably makes them seem more important than they really are, lol.
Richard - Haha. BUT we audiophiliacs hang our hats on the intense discussion of “minor” differences.
Klipsch more exciting/dynamically alive than the dynamically constipated and excitement challenged KEF for a FRACTION of the price.
You are an amazing example of an audio file. I have three pairs of calf speakers Q 55Q 75 and the reference three with the hyper tweeter on top big cat fan and b&w subwoofer. Keep up the good work your videos are fantastic- camby1967 o. IG
I found the q550 for 800€ FFFFFFF
payed 830 euros for 2
The Hell!!!!??????.... Can we hear the shit!? Damn.
Hi Steve, really enjoy your clear honest posts. Much appreciated. I'm on the hunt for best speakers for opera, classical. Especially opera at volume without distortion. Thanks again for your posts. Cheers
I'd love to see those in a comparison test with Focal Chrous 726 Towers.