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@@SeanVedell The Cinema Series is legit. I largely preferred my old Monitor Series Paradigms over their Reference and even Signature Series back in the day.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I took out a pair of Paradigm Micros and hooked them up to my Arylic A50 instead of the Kanto Passives and I was blown away at how good they sounded compared to the Kantos, which are almost twice as big. They really delivered at moderate to medium-high volume levels. Totally impressed.
@@SeanVedell The Paradigms are likely more forward or energetic in the upper midrange/treble which will no doubt lend a sense of added detail/clarity. Nothing against the YU Passives, they're just hot as tilted upwards as you approach the tweeter.
Getting rid of my klipsch RF 82 II for the KEF Q950s was music to my ears. The klipsch were great for home theater but for 2ch music they were harsh and fatiguing. Even after stepping up to a tube pre amp and a good quality 200 watt power amp I was still finding the klipsch overbearing. After a few hours listening to the Q950s at magnolia I decided to give them a try at home. For 2ch music the KEFs were a breath of fresh air. No more harsh in your face sound stage. The KEFs are laid back in the best possible ways. Supper wide and deep sound stage. Vocals seam to come from behind the speakers. Paired with the Schiit freya pre amp the holographic imaging is nothing short of spectacular. Some of the best money I have ever spent.
Hi David, just a quick question. I’m actually considering the KEF 950 over the Klipsch RP8000 II. The usage will be 80% movies and 20% music, do you think the 950s can handle movies as good as klipsch speakers? Thanks.
@@KristiWright Mashed and gravy here but only because I’m in Canada and Mac’n’Cheese isn’t a holiday side option here. I do, however, have a year to start my lobbying efforts!!
I've owned the 750s about 2 months now. Some notes: 1. Everything you stated about their spatial ability to fill a room is true. If I turn my 650 center channel off sometimes I can't tell that I did. 2. Total setup is 2 750s, 1 650, 2 350s and 4 q50a. I went with 6.5 inch drivers all around on the 5.1 portion so I had uniform sound in the room, rather than a super large front area creating most of the sound in the room. This is something to consider if you want both 2 channel music and home theater, which I did. 3. The 750s need a sub, they won't do as much bass as the 950s, with a sub the 750s are incredible. I paired these with a Martin Logan 1100x, actually with 2 for my HT. A non ported tight sounding sub would work best IMO. The ML pairs with the Kefs seamlessly. Very happy with the system overall for both 2 channel and HT.
Hi Zen. I'm building the same HT setup as you (except for the subwoofer) but I was wondering what speaker cables do you use? My AVR is a Denon AVC-X3700H.
I had written off the Akers, but put them back on my list. Debating Q950 or maybe even R7. How loud do you play yours? I at times will jam to 90db plus music and when I auditioned the Choras they sounded hollow and the cabinets were resonating. The Focal 936s sounded too homey, how is the bass on the Kefs?
I got the little brother Q550. You are right about the mid range being a little more than dead neutral. Personally I love it, it softens harsh recordings. There’s no subtlety what so ever to reproduce complex passages. Perfect. Engineering done sensibly to produce sound properly is what KEF is about. My sonic needs are sorted for ever. Wish they made headphones.
Great review! It led me to the Q950. I have a Yamaha 501 and choose the Q950 because I knew I could upgrade my speakers without losing the 501. The Q950 91db sensitivity makes them a perfect match. It's a perfectly balanced speaker with plenty of bass. No need for a subwoofer! I have the volume knob at a third and am easily hitting a crystal clear 80db. The treble is detailed but not harsh. The sound stage is the largest I've ever experienced. I'm 20ft away and it's like I'm standing in front of them😊.
You’re spot on with this review! I listened to these when I was looking for an affordable speaker I could use, but wound up purchasing the Q350 due to small room size. I hope you’ll have a chance to review the r series and/or the reference series. I love my r3’s!
I had shortlisted the Kef Q350 for our narrow but long room 2nd hi fi / & blu ray. I had seen highly rated reviews for the Mission QX2 launched nearly 5 years back - discontinued but some clearance stock around in black Then this September the MK 2 were launched & early reviews are very positive - so I have just got those in White. We only have a Marantz PM 6005 ( 45 watts 8ohm /60 into 4 ohm )amp Many other speakers I looked at, commentators said benefit from more watts & retail more than the amp
I've been running kef q series for quite a few years on my home theater, and the best description I can use is... They sound big, broad, but "real". A dropped plate , for instance, sounds like it would in your house. Not overly dynamic, just, natural. It makes watching for a long while very comfortable.
I have the Q950 and LOVE them. I would love to see a comparison between the Q750 and the Q950. I also have a pair of R700 that I think blow the Q series away. Would love to see a review of those from an audiophile's standpoint as well!
@@wildcorn12790 He means at which frequency you have your crossover set to have the signal go to your subwoofers. Me thinks you have quite a journey ahead of you to make your system sound best.
It just occurred to me that this guy must be computer generated. Where do you find a guy with no grey hair, is allowed to have an early 20s beard, nicer looking than me (which isn't that hard), endless supply of audio equipment and a woman that supports him. NOT
"Colin, come in here -- quick!" "...(sigh) What is it, Myron?" "I made another new speaker! It's got ... (*checks notes) ... it's got a 6-1/2" bass driver, and it's also got TWO passive radiators!" "...So, lots of bass, I guess?" "Oh my, yes! It goes all the way down TO FORTY-EIGHT HERTZ!!!"
All kef are really great. The q series is very very nice and the r series is magical and the kef ls50s are the best near field speakers I truly love soo much.
Great review. Totgally agree with everything. Q950 however is my pick. I think that's the only speakers needed for most people whether for music or a movie.
How do you feel about the Q950? And how do you think they compare to the Klipsch 8000f II for movies? I have the klipsch rp800f and matching Center and I’m thinking of upgrading to one of the previous mentioned speakers. I have a denon avr with Emotiva xpa7 amp with a 12” SVS sub
Kef is my favorite speaker brand. I didn't even know who kef was a few years ago. I heard ls50's then a pair of older q series I purchased and fell in love. I now have kef R5's and to me no speaker compared I had several pair of klipsch and none compared to kef at all.
Although I would hardly ever put a KEF speaker in my shortlist as I levitate towards livelier sounding gear (Klipsch/Focal), one must admit that what these people do in terms of design and build quality is admirable. I mean, as much as I love the Klipsch sound, they should start to experiment with more fun designs and move away from simple black boxes on their non-heritage lineup.
KEF is a much easier brand to live with than Klipsch. This is especially true if you have someone in the house that hates the ugly Klipsch boxes. KEF get an acceptable endorsement from people that focus on style and design...Klipsch not so much.
Focal Chora and Aria's sound is everything, but not livelier sounding.. :) These little Q750s are so much better! Clean , neutral , best buy speakers !
A very well balanced review. Good work here Andrew. KEF have used ABR designs since the famous computer designed 104 of the 1960s. These Q750 show that expertise, in the use of not one but two ABRs. The lower one is tuned by a shelf with a large port, between the active unit and the lower ABR that allows it to handle low bass waves. The upper ABR atop the active unit is tuned to handle higher bass waves. It seems that this splitting of the bass from the rear of the active unit has allowed KEF to get a more exact tuning of the overall bass loading, resulting in a well balanced sound. I use mine in a smallish living room that had shown it did not get the best out of a pair of Focal Aria 936s. These Q750 proved to be a better match and I'm really pleased with them. I run a Marantz PM7000N network integrated amp and use a variety of sources: CDs, Vinyl, streaming and FM radio.
Hey Andrew just saw this video post I just video reviewed the Q350s and for the pricepoint Geez i am impressed ! The upper bass is boosted though imho Also the mid treble has been Tamed more of a mature sound over the older Q-series . I ran 11 amps with the Q350 and My Doge 10 mk2b tube integrated amp sounds great with the Q350 and Both my new age and Vintage Marantzs ( 8006/2270 ) sounded Good also not great but Good !
I just purchased the q750 got them on sale $1150 CAD for the pair can't wait to try them out and this is my first time buying expensive speakers so I think I made the right choice.
Very interesting review as always. I’ve heard the q750…really enjoyed the sound and agree with your findings. I also listened to R3 bookshelf…very impressive indeed, and stunning visually. If you get chance, they’re well worth reviewing.
You explain it in the real way audio fans want. The magazines are crap now. Looked at whathifi magazine in the shops yesterday it was so dull I went through it in less then 5 minutes.
Completely agree. You can read through one of their reviews in about a minute. The fact their awards often have repeat winners, despite all the new gear you see online, shows how most manufacturers don’t see them as relevant anymore. I’m from the UK and it’s a shame as for a long time it was the only option, but they really need to move with the times, otherwise I can see them going the way of the Dodo in a few years.
@@doifeellucky Loads of new gear and they seem to get all the gimmicks instead. I thought the gimmick hifi were for t3 and stuff magazines. Their avr head to head has been piss poor and they never review marantz avr. From low to high end the group tests have half the stuff missing.
When I was looking for speakers I went to a audio shop and booked a rehersal. I choosed few brands of speakers and there was Kef750 too. Kefs just took my socks off. There was no comparison on any set of speakers I listen to that day. Imagin and soundstage was like a magic, I felt like someone try to tricked me. After that I wen't back home and start doing some research about them. What I find out is that before them was Q700 series and was much better build. 700 was heavier, more stiff, double ported and overall more off a deal. With Q750 kef simply try to save some costs to make more income, simple as that. So I start looking for Q700 on the aftermarket and soon found in excellent condition a pair for about 700$. I paired them with onkyo A5VL and love this duet. For less then 1000$ I manage to get solid system, that suits most of my needs. Every time O put vinyl on my turntable or stream music trough built in dac in my Onkyo it puts a smile on my face. Kefs are great speakers. I'm glad you finally talked about them. Thank you for that.
I used to have KEF Q550, then I visited a local audio shop to audition Q750, R5, R7 side by side and decide to sell my Q550 right away. Q series sounded good, but once I'm able to compare to R series side by side (with just speaker cables swap) there was no going back. R series has so much more dynamic, bass, and 3D sound stage, and less harsh highs.
I agree about the harshness in the highs on the 550, i also have em, but for me it's actually better slightly off axis, then it really goes away. Also a subwoofer helps heaps, as you don't have the tendency to drive them too hard to compensate for the lack of bass.
Andrew, great review. I’ve been living with the Q750 6 months and I agree! Amazing. But I encourage you to add the plinth and then use Isoacoustic Gaia Speaker feet. You have not yet heard the full potential of the Q750 until you add this tweak. I assure!
I really enjoyed watching the video. Personally, I prefer the Monitor Audio Bronze500 to the Q750, but for the Q950 and the Silver series of Monitor Audio, it 's really hard for me. I would love to check out the Bronze500. thank you
About the grills.... Better to make them an extra instead of making people pay for them who do not want them (their cost will obviously be built into the total cost).
I listened to the kef 950 with the marantz cinema 50 at Best Buy magnolia and found it the best combination out of all the speakers and receivers they had there. Incredible imagining. I’ve never heard fleetwood mac “never going back” sound better. I’m planning to buy the marantz receiver now.
@@Kami84 yea. His ears may just be geared to vintage super warm dated tones. Cinema 50 is insane. Great received. My favorite I’ve listened to. Without an amplifier it’s nice. With an amplifier it’s ridiculously amazing. Great receiver.
I have the Q550 paired with kef kube 10 inche and marentz pm7000n. What a sound this got me as my first hi fi sound is incredible. I found the kef lack up ther so ad some trebble and voilà.
Personally I'd rather have the R3 for $1700 on sale today but even off sale. I'd wager they don't have the harshness to the treble and they have same driver arrangement minus the passive radiators. Although I'm leaning towards the Paradigm Founders series which is also a coaxial speaker for their center channels.
Great to hear, I bought the Q750s 6 months ago, they are still in the box due to covid delays on getting my Onkyo TX-NR7100 and construction of my media room, it was the look of the walnut finish the sold my wife on them, and the warmer, rounded tone sold me.
I have these and I have to say I agree. The sound stage is awesome for two channel audio. For home theatre use I just feel completely enveloped and I start to grin. Just great speakers all around.
I have owned the Q750s for a year now. They are my first serious Hifi speaker and I compared them against the Oberon 7 at my local dealer. (now I have some experience with some DIY projects which makes conparisions hard) My girlfriend and I favored these because they present music in a very balanced way, nothing stands out negatively and the midrange is very clear. But I do sometimes add a subwoofer for some music that digs deeper. Certainly no speaker for bassheads, but what you get is clean with enough weight. But for low volume listening, I prefer adding bass via tone controls or activate loudness. They need some juice to come to life
Monitor Audio Bronze 500 - 100% , kef for weird music lovers, KEF manufacturers have created such an outstanding sound concept that after listening to music on them (after speakers from other manufacturers) for about half an hour, you turn off the music and catch yourself thinking that you don’t really want to listen to it further. In the new R meta series, something began to reach the manufacturer, judging by the changes in sound). In general, if you want to come after work and listen to music for 1 hour at a reasonable volume, be delighted with the high crystal frequencies, the precise attack of bass compositions, the panorama of the mid frequencies - do not take Kef. Do you want to listen to music in the background for hours, not paying attention to the content, select the right wires for the acoustics, the right amplifier (in fact, you don’t need to), hang out on audiophile forums - all this because the sound of expensive speakers will subconsciously seem inexpressive to you (can only be cured by turning up the volume and equalizer) and not as juicy as it should be - buy Kef(does not apply to all their acoustics).
Great video as always Andrew and Kristi, love this channel! QOTD answer: 20 years ago I opted for the Polk RTi series over their (cough cough overpriced) top line counterparts and am so glad I did. The RTi’s are awesome. Happy Thanksgiving to you both!
Just got a set of these to give a go, and having had the ls50 originals 3 times and the ls50 meta i have to say yes, its not even a comparison. Q750 is a very good smooth speaker especially for smaller to medium rooms. The only thing the ls50 may take the win on is imaging and for nearfield/desktop use. Other than that the q750 is a much better speaker. I love the outriggers on these and easy adjustable leveling spikes, i got no problem with those, i dig it. Overall the bass sounds like it goes much lower than stated in specs and good quality bass, top end is very good, not bright, full bodied warmer (but still detailed) sound, a polite speaker not a rock and roller keep in mind, but can still get as loud as you need to and the bass is very good. The black by far looks the best to me anyway, hope that helps some decide.
Both the LS50 and the LS50 meta don't hold a candle to the Kef R3, IMHO. *Maybe* paired with a really good Subwoofer like an Arendal or the SVS 2000 (my room is 60m2). Not sure though. But I was very impressed with the Kef R3 and hope to listen to the R3 meta soon. I compare to my current Kef Q55.1's - seriously good speakers. The Kef R3 is in that same class but half the size. I still have to listen to the Kef Q750 but unfortunately, due to, ah, the WAF, floorstanders are no longer an option.
Hi Andrew, I'm currently looking for new speakers for my Yamaha R-N803D stereo receiver. I have listened to Heco Aurora 700 and KEF Q750 on my receiver and I liked KEF more. I will also have a chance to listen to KEF R3. Would you rather choose Q750 floorstanders or R3 standmounts? My room is 20 square meters. Or maybe my receiver will be a bottleneck for R3s?
I've had these for about a year now, and what stands out to me is how easy they've been to live with, both in design and sound. Visually, they add to the space without appearing loud or gaudy; sonically, they're versatile enough for everything you'd need without becoming fatiguing. They're clean and controlled enough for analytical listening, without being clinical and sterile like my studio monitors, but are equally at home with videos games or movies. I'm never left wanting for another system. Kef also puts them on sale periodically for 1500/pair, which is overall a phenomenal value for the performance you're getting. If you're coming from a lower tier of home theater though, be prepared for the size of the center channel. If your TV isn't wall mounted, you might have a tough time finding a space for it that works. TLDR: they do everything well enough that I forget I have them most of the time. Everything I watch, play or listen to is translated as it should be, so my only focus is on enjoying content, rather than thinking about the boxes it's coming out of.
Hi Andrew is there a probability you would review edifier s3000pro or Swan m300mkII or other of their products ? Just wondering for active speakers and your opinion
Thanks for reviewing them. Your comments are spot on. I have recently purchased entire Kef gear for my HT ( q 350, 150, 650 and 4 q50a) with 2 svs sb 1000 pros. Specially impressed with their details and larger than size sound.
Regarding the QOTD: For me it was the KEF LS50s in gloss white with the blue woofer. 5 years ago I made my first plunge into the 2 channel audio world and was blown away at the KEF's ability to image, I didn't even know it was possible so it was KEF that really opened my mind to something "more". And you all are right, they just make beautiful speakers that you want to look at. Fun video, thanks Andrew!
I am on the fence for Martin Logan foundation 2 or Polk r700 . BUT I wander if kef will come soon with an updated q950 (hopefully with TWO active 8inch).
Because of this review I picked up a used set of kef q950's (the bigger brother to the q750's.) These bad boys need a big amp to get them going, but they sound fantastic.
Nice review ! I have heard them as well and I have to tell that these speakers have a nice, surprisingly deep bass and a nice treble response while the mids take a step back. So it is a tad V-shaped. The base is a bit warm though. The mids and treble are very detailed. I can only recommend them. Indeed, they are no tall speakers.
What size room did you have these in? My living room is 11ft wide by 15ft long with 8ft ceilings. I can’t decide between these and the Q950’s. Mostly movies 90 percent and music 10 percent with an SVS sub.
kef was the first speaker brand that i was looking into. but the lack of grills left me scratching my head and the build quality was a bit disappointing considering its pricey pricepoint. during my research phase, ive found a lot of owners complaining the vinyl wrap getting torn especially from the corner. the bass drivers can also easily get deformed if pressed a bit hard which will be permanently and highly visible. but agree that 3d imaging and soundstage of kefs is second to none. i like how the low-end is rendered as well.
I wonder if anyone noticed the speakers behind Andrew when talking. Look like the focal aria k series anniversary editions. If so, I’m very excited for that review!
Another good review 👍 I would suggest the JBL HDI series for review; I have the big boy 3800’s 🔊🔊🔊 JBL is a fascinating sound comparison to Klipsch - JBL seems to sound like a mid hall experience, while Klipsch is absolutely front row and in your face. Don’t get me wrong, the JBL’s have amazing clarity, detail, and powerful bass, but don’t quite have the same sonic impact of the Cornwalls for example.
The Kef q speakers have always been bangers still running my main speakers as original q55 from the 90's can honestly say haven't heard any speakers that made me wan to change.
I’ve just bought a pair of R11’ ( for 2 channel music) 💥💥👍🏻👍🏻..awaiting delivery of Q650c to go alongside : LS50 Meta, Q50a , SVS SB 100 Pro ( for 5.1 cinema)
I was just looking at upgrading to some floor standers from the KEF LS50 W2s. Looking between the KEF R11, Focal Aria 936 and the Concept 500s. Now I see those Focals in the background. Can’t wait to see that review!
In the case of Kef at this moment in my opinion all of their speakers are very good and they for every type of music. I had 3 models of them but now I have only a pair of dipoles in my surround system. I wanted to buy the LS 50 but I had not budget for an amplifier who could drive them. Greetings, Ludo
Hi Andrew, I really enjoy watching your reviews, thanks. I don’t own Q750 but I heard them. They sound exiting but a little bit muddy or maybe cloudy. I liked their sound signature and I am looking for something similar but clearer. How do they compare to R5 or R7? (unfortunately I don’t have an opportunity to listen to them).
I've been in love with these speakers for quite a while.. How does the bass compare to the Q 3050s? I own the 3050s, but I love the looks of the KEFs and the sounstage and overall sound seems to be superior.
Two thumbs up for some audiophiles have kids/pets and speakers should come with grills. Sometimes I only want Klipsch because of how easy the drool wipes off that copper.
I had the earlier version of these and didn't care for them until I hooked them up to a Rotel A12. After that they came alive. Great detail combined with a fast punchy mid-bass you could feel was the ticket. I miss that setup.
My experience exactly with soundstage with HT. Just massive in my room. It's like I have front heights and wides. Love them. As for the outriggers, I think they're very nice. Much nicer than my old Klipsch Rf62s.
Kef did a crazy good Dolby atmos R series room at the 2020 bristol HiFi show. Second best system I’ve ever heard. If you do the R series, ask for the £20k setup
Andrew/Kristi you guys have done Klipsch, KEF, Yamo, Focal, JBL & KLH floorstanders but haven't done Goldenear 😕. Any plans to take a look at the Triton series?
Nice review. I have a pair of Kef iQ3 that is older but I think iQ series is the equivalent at that time and, in my opnion with a more atractive design and shape. What coul dbe great is if you have the possibility to compare the Kef Q750 with the Tannoy Revolution XT8F that I think is a very interesting tower speaker.
