KEF Q150 Bookshelf Loudspeaker: Wide Dispersion, Realistic Detail, Focused Imaging, Point-Source Clarity, Modest Cost

Enjoy high-end sound for a price as sweet as this speaker's large sweet spot with the KEF Q150. The outstanding bookshelf loudspeaker brims with trickle-down technology from the British manufacturer's storied Blade models, while its convincing soundstaging comes courtesy of a Uni-Q array that locates a one-inch tweeter directly at the center of a 5.25-inch aluminum midrange/bass cone. All told, the proprietary design fuels a point-source speaker notable for its wide dispersion, realistic detail, and focused imaging.

Whether you favor hard, air-guitar-evoking rock 'n' roll or the subtleties of an intimate piano trio, the grille-free Q150 soars smoothly up to 28kHz and demonstrates that frequencies as low as 51Hz can feel satisfyingly deep. Such audiophile-grade acumen and versatility help make it ideal for music lovers and home-theater enthusiasts. And since it weighs just slightly more than 12 pounds and measures a modest 11.92 x 7.08 x 10.94 inches (HWD), Q150 can fit practically anywhere you want quality sonics. However compact Q150 might be, KEF didn't shirk on the build.

In addition to housing a damped tweeter loading tube taken from the company's acclaimed Reference Series, Q150 sports a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) port that eliminates chuffing and reduces low-frequency compression. You'll hear tight bass that conveys tonality you might expect from a more expensive model. Engineers also used Finite Element Analysis (FEA) to increase Q150's MDF strength and further lessen resonances. As a result, you'll hear more of the essential elements of your favorite albums and soundtracks through Q150 and fewer colorations caused by cabinetry.

Let's review: Crisp, clean, clear sound, elegant form factor, proven technology, modest cost. Factor in KEF's five-year manufacturer warranty and Music Direct's 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, and it seems time you arranged for a risk-free audition in your own home.

"Offering warm body, rich detail, and crystal clarity, KEF's unassuming Q150s are a stellar way to get hi-fi sound at a midrange price."
—Digital Trends

"The KEF Q150 bookshelf speakers are absolute powerhouses in this price range. No, they're not the best-sounding speakers of all time, and if you have deep pockets you can do better, but only if you spend a whole lot more. Otherwise, if you have a budget of around $600, these are the speakers you should get."
—Business Insider

"Sit Anywhere" Uni-Q Sound

At the heart of the evolved Q Series is the Uni-Q driver array. KEF's signature innovation places the tweeter in the acoustic center of the midrange cone, bringing the acoustic ideal of a single point source closer than ever to realization. The result is a more detailed, more accurate three-dimensional sound image dispersed more evenly throughout the room than possible with a conventional speaker. Uni-Q's ultra-wide dispersion is further enhanced by KEF's "tangerine" waveguide over the tweeter dome.

KEF Q Series Uni-Q Driver

With the addition of the damped tweeter loading tube providing a gentle termination of sound produced from the back of the tweeter, lower treble performance is improved dramatically and a new low-distortion inductor on the crossover provides cleaner bass. To optimize the resolution and purity of the Q Series bookshelf speakers, the Uni-Q driver has been repositioned to the center of the cabinet to reduce unwanted internal resonance and adds refinement to their sonic clarity and detail.

CFD-Designed Port

Featuring a Computational Fluid Dyanmics (CFD) port design with the port repositioned to the rear of the speaker, clarity is improved by reducing the audibility of the midrange leakage through the port. The geometry of the ports have been tuned to minimize turbulence at higher levels resulting in a reduction in port noise and less LF compression.