KEF Q350 Speaker Review

[panblue43]

Dry?

It depends where you listen to them when I listen to them in the pool they sound damp!

 

[panblue43]

In a pool only jbl plays

 

[crappypanther]

It's high time to understand that Q350 only sound good after equalization

 

[panblue43]

Yessir! ;-) I use my amp without tone,eq,loudness etc.A good combination not needs these..

 

[staticV3]

A good combination not needs these..

On the flip side, no combination on earth cannot be further improved with EQ and loudness.

 

[panblue43]

on mini-midi systems or on weak audio chains or with poor room acoustics maybe need the eq and other things.
My room boosts about 40 Hz,I changed my tower ls to bookshelves several years ago..
and sell my sub too.

 

[billou5767]

Q350 meta is arrive to remplace it

price 100 e more than the original , but with speaker protection

 

[Count Dacula]

How about some free replacement drivers that are not made from rice paper?

 

[lach1234]

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/pierreaubert/spinorama/develop/datas/eq/KEF%20Q350/iir-autoeq.txt

In case it’s useful to anyone, I used the above EQ (just the values above 500hz) in combination with an EQ from in-room measurements using REW (below 500hz) and have been really happy with the results. I can post the graphs later if anyone is interested. From what I can tell, the linked eq worked to correct the issues with the speakers (which then measured well in room) and the room-measured eq sorted out the lower frequencies.

 

[Jazigo]

It's mentioned here:
https://www.avsforum.com/forum/89-speakers/710918-revel-owners-thread-399.html#post56105466

I assume it originally came from Toole.

I am a big fan of KEF and owns a pair of KEF Q1 Meta (which I love). The post from avsforum was very interesting for me, so I decided to check it out myself. My local dealer of KEF hardware, was so kind to let me borrow a listing room and test between the KEF LS 50 Meta and the KEF R3 Meta (stand-in for the Revel M106).

To my surprise, the IMD was very easy to notice when I went from the LS 50 Meta to the R3 Meta. I thought that it would be a academical difference at best, but it very cleary heard. So the test from Harman was right - the two-way coaxial speaker has some IMD issues.

With that said, I would also like to add that it was also very easy to notice the extra speaker in the R3 Meta. It is cleary two elements playing sounds, that are different from each other. This can't be heard on the LS 50 Meta.

So there is a compromise here; LS 50 Meta: single point of source, more IMD - R3 Meta: Less IMD, two point of source.

I guess this is going to an unpopular opinon, but after listing trough my regular songs, I must say that I prefer the LS 50 Meta over the R3 Meta. One single point of sound is a better trade off in my book.

 

[lddo133]

The reason there is a boost in the 100-200Hz range seems to be due to the 2.5 way network. In other words, it seems to have occurred because the subwoofer's sound pressure reduction was not sufficiently designed. Or, if it is a 3 way, it seems that the sound pressure reduction in the midrange's 100-200Hz range was not properly implemented. It seems to have occurred because, since it is a cheap speaker, some of the parts necessary to maintain sufficient performance were not installed.

 

[Jazigo]

Well, you can have both in a better speaker design. There are also several other areas an improved speaker design will perform better at. Welcome to Norway if you want to have a listen.

Which speaker design are we talking about then? (Hei fra Trondheim)

 

[Jole]

As a proud member of this community and without intention to put salt on anything and anyone I would like (for ordinary people like me, not expert etc) to have after 28 pages and sometimes academic discussion few suggestions how to improve kef q350 as much as it is possible from members experiance but without diy.... Room correction ok, peq few variations with explaination where u get what u loose and option with peq and sub settings- interval not exact data because it depend on various factors.. Honestly I intended to buy these speakers but after all I was confused and gave up.

 

[Jole]

To be clear i didnt understand from discussion that this is bad speaker..considering price could not expect wonders. but for the same price probably its possible to find better with less dillema. Regards to all.

 

[staticV3]

few suggestions how to improve kef q350 as much as it is possible from members experiance but without diy

To improve the Q350, apply the following PEQ filters:

Preamp: -3.3 dB

Filter  1: ON PK Fc    36 Hz Gain +2.76 dB Q 1.05
Filter  2: ON PK Fc    69 Hz Gain +2.90 dB Q 1.07
Filter  3: ON PK Fc   125 Hz Gain -2.68 dB Q 0.78
Filter  4: ON PK Fc   739 Hz Gain -3.07 dB Q 2.99
Filter  5: ON PK Fc   879 Hz Gain +3.00 dB Q 2.96
Filter  6: ON PK Fc  3779 Hz Gain +1.39 dB Q 2.96
Filter  7: ON PK Fc  9319 Hz Gain -1.00 dB Q 2.45

These optimize the Q350's anechoic frequency response:

(dotted: stock, solid: EQed)

You can try disabling the first two filters to retain the bass notch, as depending on speaker placement that may remove unwanted bass boominess.

Then, use a measurement microphone like the UMIK-1 and measure your in-room response using the Moving Microphone Method.

Use REW's EQ feature to remove peaks in the bass response <500Hz.

E.g:


Don't boost anything and leave everything above 500Hz untouched.

Add the resulting PEQ filters to the ones above and you're done.

 

[Ellebob]

To be clear i didnt understand from discussion that this is bad speaker..considering price could not expect wonders. but for the same price probably its possible to find better with less dillema. Regards to all.

I think it is good practice to go and listen to the speakers one is considering. If possible take them home and try them in one's home where they will be used because different environments, equipment do make a difference. I have worked in this industry decades and I often see people prefer non-accurate speakers all the time. Very few will ever get a chance to blind test speakers or even level match sighted speakers. I know the research, but it hasn't always played out with what people choose.

I agree with review, I find these speakers dull, lacking dynamics. I like some of Kef's other models and we carry Kef where I work. I think they are trying to do too much with only a smaller coaxial driver. The best speakers I hear with coaxial drivers tend to be three way speakers like Genelec, Kali and Kef or have larger drivers like Mofi. This is a generalization but I find other two way speakers more dynamic. You could try a Revel M16 or some of the Ascilab for around the same price if you want something that is neutral.

Some observations of non-enthusiasts over the years. We should take some of this into consideration when giving recommendations.
Few average people spend the time to EQ beyond a bass and treble knob. MAYBE, they wil use a graphic EQ or an Auto EQ. PEQ is definitely beyond what most would do with the exception of enthusiasts. If you are on this forum you are probably an enthusiast.

At low volumes we don't hear bass as well, if not listening loud, people will pick the speaker with more bass. Again, could be done with EQ but most won't.

Research was done with people that have good hearing. We know as we age we get high frequency loss and many with hearing loss will buy a speaker with a boost in the highs. Again, could be done with EQ but most won't.

Many studies show hearing loss starting at much younger ages like 30s. Many theories, but one is the advent of ear buds. So, it might not be just older people preferring a boost on the highs when buying speakers.

 

[Jole]

You gave very nice explaination and reasonable and comprenhensive reality facts..like that you know me...and my age. I didn't have occasion to listen many speakers but in one local shop I choose elac fs 57.2 / there were no their bookshelfs popular.../and yamaha ns555 both on yamaha 1200. Yamaha had big nice sound little recessed mids maybe it should be like that.. on smal FS I had enormous space maybe to much mid but wide stage..violins, piano..on disco music from 70s but bass had no depth at all.alrhougj it survive high volumes no resonance..German production .. from 5inch for sure its not possible..than I ask to add smallest yamaha sub ..and I was surprised what I get with added sub.You have right, exactly, on small volume what is my listening case I add bass as well as highs .I don't here them anymore...I live in small room and tried to avoid too many boxes..but unfortunately it's physics as you somehow said..if one even find them they costs a lot. Regards Ellebob.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

To be clear i didnt understand from discussion that this is bad speaker..considering price could not expect wonders. but for the same price probably its possible to find better with less dillema. Regards to all.

Good speakers generate long threads. Don’t overthink. Revel and KEF both measure well.