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KEF Q350 Bookshelf Speaker Review

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Aesthetics and Build Quality:

Aesthetically you have got to love the stylish yet simplistic look of the Q350, they have a very refined look and build quality that will impress anyone who sees them. The Uni-Q driver array looks superb and the cabinets are well finished, feeling solid and heavy.

KEF Q350

Setup:

Ideally you want to place the Q350 40cm or further away from any walls, they are rear ported and quite sensitive to placement, however they do come with foam port bungs in case you don’t have that much breathing room. Toeing them in slightly helps focus the centre image, however due to their design the off axis response is very good.

Sound:

Sound wise the midrange is definitely the standout part of the frequency response, grabbing your attention with plenty of energy and a lifelike presentation. It does an impressive job of sounding well integrated, yet cleanly separated from the lows and highs. The lows are punchy and surprisingly full, the port bungs will help you tune the low end to your preference, as fully open might be a little too full for some.

Extension is always going to be a little limited, however when listening to music I have never found it to be lacking. The highs have enough sparkle to prevent the Q350 from sounding too dark, and they bring out a good amount of air and detail in recordings. For a metal dome tweeter, the Q350 do not have a particularly sharp top end, which is good for relaxing and longer listening sessions, but it does mean they are a little safe sounding. The Q350 sound best when playing at slightly higher volumes, they just don’t sound very engaging at lower volumes.

Conclusion:

The Q350‘s have a good grip on the music, they do however lean towards a more refined and smooth sound than being overly punchy and energetic. This can work wonders depending on the music you listen to, and they are certainly not lacking when it comes to detail retrieval. When positioned properly they portray a very convincing stereo image, and the great off-axis response is welcome when you have people over.

 

Aesthetics: 5/5

Sound: 4/5

Build Quality: 4/5

Value: 4/5

Klipsch R-51M Review

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Aesthetics and Build Quality:

The R-51M are not your typical black box that sits in a corner, take the grills off and you will find their signature spun-copper mid-bass cone along with their Tractrix horn waveguide for the tweeter. All this is housed in an MDF cabinet with wood grain vinyl wrap for a modern yet classy finish, these will definitely attract some attention in your system.

These are well built, the MDF cabinets feel sturdy and on the back you have proper binding plugs which support 4mm banana plugs. The vinyl wrap is applied well without any obvious flaws and they feel and look great for the price. There are no fancy materials here, just well-designed drivers in a rigid cabinet, no complaints from me though.

Setup:

The R-51M are rear ported so do sound best when pulled a little away from the rear wall, however with their horn waveguide the sweet spot is a little wider than normal. They still sound best when toed in, as the sound becomes more detailed and focussed. These are relatively small, which means they will fit on a cabinet or bookshelf well, however as with most speakers of this size they sound best when placed on dedicated stands.

With a Sensitivity of 93dB @ 2.83V/1M these are pretty easy to drive, with your typical 50wpc integrated amp doing a fine job of powering these, alternatively you could use one of the cheaper class-d amps to good effect.

Sound:

From their size, you would expect the R-51M to sound small and a little lean, but you’ll be in for a surprise. They don’t have bottomless extension of larger floorstanders or subs, but they can sure pump out a hefty low end with bundles of energy. Providing they are well placed, the lows will be full without bloat, the lows are punchy and dynamic with stated low frequency extension of 62Hz +/-3dB which in room will sound a bit lower. Perfect for most music genres, however they do favour more energetic music.

The midrange comes across well separated from the lows and with a good amount of clarity on show. They don’t become overwhelming or shouty, however they cut through with a snappy response that wants you to pay attention. The presentation isn’t laid back or warm, these are not a speaker for playing at low levels in the background. This snappy response helps with layering within the midrange, keeping everything well focussed and separated.

The top end is very open, detailed and quite up front. They are not up-front to the point of being harsh, but they are always present in the mix. Snares are particularly prominent, adding great attack to the sound. That horn waveguide really helps focus the upper frequencies and extension is never an issue up top. The R-51M have a liveliness that is similar to how you would hear a live recording rather than a studio one, which will appeal to quite a few people.

Overall they have a good balanced between the frequencies with a full yet punchy low end, open and detailed midrange and energetic treble. These are a pair of speakers that demand your attention when listening to them, and like to be enjoyed at slightly higher volume levels. Match them with the right equipment and you have a very enjoyable system if you favour energy over a smoother sound.

 

Conclusion:

The R-51M are an excellent speaker for the price, with a highly addictive and energetic sound that is sure to get your feet tapping. This does come at the expense of a little refinement, but this slightly rough around the edges sound is more akin to a live performance than a studio one.

 

Aesthetics: 4.5/5

Sound: 4.5/5

Build Quality: 4/5

Value: 4/5

Mission QX-2 Bookshelf Speaker Review

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Aesthetics and Build Quality:

Mission have gone for a modern look with the QX-2 and they stand out amongst the more conventional boxy bookshelf speakers out there. Aluminium plates on the top and bottom, rounded corners and the signature tweeter on the bottom design is sure to turn some heads. These will fit really well in most spaces, and they come in a few different colours to match your décor.

Build quality is excellent, the aluminium plates on the top and bottom add weight to the main construction which is vinyl wrapped. The fit and finish of all components is great, there is one pair of binding posts so you cannot bi-wire these. The design has been carefully thought out to increase mass, reduce resonance and provide the best sound possibly whilst looking great doing so.

Setup:

The QX-2 are rear ported so they do like to have a bit of breathing space, sounding their best when positioned slightly away from a rear wall. They are also quite heavy and are best set on a set of dedicated stands.

With a power rating of 25-100w and a sensitivity of 88dB (2.00v @ 1m) they are not the most demanding of speakers however, the nominal impedance is 8Ohm but they do dip to 3.6Ohms so having a good amplifier will help them sound their best. A sub £500 integrated amp would be the perfect place to start with these.

Sound:

For their size, the QX-2 really do know how to get your feet tapping and yet there is a great sense of control and refinement that sticks with you. Sporting a 15cm mid/bass driver the QX-2 are more than capable of pumping out enough low end to satisfy most users, however it is the quality that really shines here. Kick drums sound real, with the perfect balance between hitting hard, yet with the right about of body to back it up. If you are using these in a home theatre setup, you might want to add a sub, but in a normal multi-use 2 channel system they are more than capable of filling a small to medium size room. The lows are controlled and refined, yet have plenty of get up and go when called for, an impressive feat for a speaker of this size.

The midrange has a silky smooth, and effortless quality to it, although I wouldn’t call them the most neutral here. There is a little hint of warmth to the midrange that renders them effortless yet at the same time they are not missing out on technical details. Vocals come across with a more organic tone to them, whilst guitars have excellent placement within the soundstage. Much like the low end, there is plenty of energy here but without presenting itself in an overly enthusiastic way. Micro-detail might not be their strong point, but the sheer fun of these makes me not worry too much about that.

The interesting looking ring dome tweeter does an impressive job of offering up a very open and detailed top end yet steering clear of becoming sharp and fatiguing. They don’t quite have the sheer brilliance or energy of some metal dome tweeters, but they offer up a very refined and smooth top end that really blends well with the rest of the sound of the QX-2. The extension is effortless and they never sound strained or rolled off, adding a real sense of space to the soundstage.

Imaging is very accurate and the sound staging is excellent with a very spacious sound for a small pair of speakers.

Conclusion:

The QX-2 strike the perfect balance between being engaging yet refined, these are sure to appeal to plenty of listeners with their easy to like sound. Careful placement will ensure you get the best out of these, they are exceptionally clean yet always well controlled and refined and a pure joy to listen to. If you are looking for a pair of sub £500 bookshelf speakers, these should be high up on your list of models to try out.

 

Aesthetics: 5/5

Sound: 4.5/5

Build Quality: 5/5

Value: 5/5