KEF Q350 Review - Baby LS50’s?
KEF, one of the most well-known names in high-end audiophile-grade speakers, has been busy the last few years refreshing their multiple lines. They have something for almost every situation but perhaps right now are most famous for the LS50 Meta, considered by many to be a gold standard endgame speaker. The speaker we are reviewing today is the KEF Q350 which sits in the slightly cheaper Q line.
The Concept
KEF’s Q Series speakers are essentially the entry into KEF ownership, but instead of being designed from the ground up, it is actually a trickle-down product line. The technologies used inside the KEF Q350 and the other Q-designated speakers are all some liquidated techs from the infamous KEF blades and Meta’s. As you find out in this review, that makes for cohesiveness not just in the frequency response of this speaker but right through the company’s products.
People often talk about the house sound of certain companies, and with my experience with KEF at trade shows and through home testing, that is very much what happens here. These speakers sound like KEF' because they share elements of technologies found in their other speakers.
Specifications
Weight: kg(16.8lbs)
Dimensions: 358 x 210 x 306 mm
Design: 2-way bass reflex
Sensitivity: 87dB (2.83V/1m)
Frequency Response: 63Hz-28kHz (±3dB)
Maximum Output: 110dB
Amplifier Requirements: Per channel:15-120W
Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms (min.3.7 Ohms)
Build and Aesthetic Impressions
KEF makes gorgeous speakers; I think anyone that has been around HiFi for more than a month would be aware of that. The KEF Q350 fall kind of into that space as well. For the most part, the style of the 350 is similar to that of other companies. A large box with some drivers on front. Well, KEF differentiates itself due to the application of its driver technology rather than for style points, and it has led to a distinctively KEF look.
What’s missing here is that we are used to seeing the large woofer on the bottom and tweeter on the top combo. Im sure most of you are familiar with that, but KEF, on the other hand, just has one large circle in the middle of the cabinet. It takes what could have been a boring design and adds something a little iconic. I like the way these look.
The presence of slick Scandinavian design runs through them minimalist and clean is what I would call them. Yet they aren’t just a show pony designed to look good, the finishing is to a very high standard even if they don’t scream ultra-luxury in the same way the LS50 or LS60 do. Let’s call it premium.
The cabinet is just a large black (or white, depending on your chosen color) box. Constructed from thick sheets of MDF and finished in a textured overlay. The back panel shows you nothing other than a large centrally mounted bass port and cable clamps. There is nothing crazy going on, just solidly well-constructed speakers made from good quality materials.
They might not have the flair that other speakers are bringing with curve housing designs, but I think the unique look the driver gives is enough to make them feel special. As I mentioned, the review unit I have of the KEF 350 was in black, but I have seen them numerous times in the white colorway and personally think it is the more striking of the two color options.
Sound
The bass is very well composed, remaining tight on complicated and busty tracks with a progressive bass line. It actually provides ample depth in the sub-bass that will let you use them without a dedicated subwoofer if you so wish. The tightness and composure bring a bit of starkness to the way the mid-bass is presented. It comes across as aggressively detailed and texture, adding an extra dimension to the listening experience. As mentioned, the sub-bass manages to hit very low, providing what I would call adequate depth even to play back EDM and Hip Hop with high energy.
The midrange is very neutral and uncolored. It sits in that realm where midrange music sounds a little dry if used with a cold amplifier. The receptiveness of that black canvas in the midrange allows you to add your own coloration, and in testing, with various tube amp setups, it brings a pleasing level of warmth and intimacy that I thought was missing. The clarity and detail in this band are also very good, specifically the clarity. The imaging is strong, so the mids sound uncongested and free to present with no interference from the low end.
Treble, just like the mids, was greatly affected by the source. With the drier amps, I didn’t prefer the mids I actually preferred the crisp and articulate display of the highs. When you get it dialed in is smooth yet slightly forward, adding lots of spacing and energy. It has a floaty characteristic that makes them stand out as admirable neutral leaning and nonfatiguing. Yet despite this, there were times when listening to remastered Miles Davis tracks, the cymbals, trumpet, and snare were alive and so present in the room.
I think the sound performance is what I would expect for the money. It’s a very competent sounding audiophile grade speaker that stands out for its combination of realistic neutral mids and highs while having the ability to punch harder than expected in the lows.
Finally, we need to talk about cohesion. In our review of the KEF LS50 Meta (which I personally own and am extremely familiar with), cohesion was through the charts; it is by far one of the most together-sounding driver setups between the frequencies. No overlap and clear handover. The 350, surprisingly, were just as good in that regard. They are so very smooth in transitions between lows, mids, and highs that you could easily convince yourself it was a one-piece full-range driver delivering the sound rather than a tweeter and diaphragm combo.
Final Verdict
I suppose KEF can use the Q350 bookshelf speakers as somewhat of an entry drug and introduction to the company’s wares. It has so much flavor from the more expensive models in its line. The money they are charging, which as anyone will tell you, varies daily on what the marketing manager feels like they are a decent buy. They are extremely appealing if you get them on sale for anything more than $100 off the retail.
The combination of neutral tuning and cohesiveness makes it stand out, and if you are already a fan of the KEF aesthetic, you get a taste of that as well with the iconic centrally mounted drivers. For me, it’s easy to recommend; it’s a speaker that works great with any musical genre and, depending on how you pair it with an amplifier, can suit anyone's needs.
Official Website of The KEF Q350: www.kef.com
