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Bookshelf Speaker

KEF Q350 vs Klipsch R-41M

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in Bookshelf Speaker

KEF Q350

78 reviews

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Klipsch R-41M

66 reviews

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Great performance for both movies and music

Clear and detailed sound

Good value for the price

Potential for optimal performance with a subwoofer

Positive reviews from experienced audio enthusiasts

Great detail in highs and mids

Compact size

Excellent build quality

Can be a capable performer when paired with quality components

Attractive design

Not ideal for placement close to a wall due to rear port design

Some negative reviews regarding build quality and blown tweeters (isolated incidents)

None mentioned

Not ideal for those who prefer a more balanced sound with stronger bass extension

Some users find the treble to be aggressive and fatiguing

Scooped out mids may not be ideal for some listeners

Verdict

Overall, the KEF Q350 bookshelf speakers receive positive reviews for their performance and value. They are praised for their ability to handle both movies and music, with clear and detailed sound. Some reviewers recommend pairing them with a subwoofer for optimal performance. The rear port design is noted as a potential issue if placed too close to a wall. There are some negative reviews regarding the build quality and some issues with blown tweeters, but these seem to be isolated incidents. The KEF Q350 is generally considered a good buy at its retail price of $500.

Verdict

The Klipsch R-41M bookshelf speakers have received mixed reviews, with some praising their compact size and impressive detail in the highs and mids, while others criticize their aggressive and fatiguing treble and weak bass extension. Many users recommend pairing them with a subwoofer for a more immersive experience. The Klipsch reference line is known for its bright treble, which some listeners may find harsh. Overall, the R-41M speakers are considered a capable performer for their price range, especially when matched with quality components in a desktop or small to medium-sized room setup.

Reviews by Topic

Our analysis shows how reviewers feel about different topics. Please note these are not full reviews.

Sound Quality

youtube

KEF's Q350 speakers pack a punch

Looking with the company's proprietary coaxial driver in the middle and nothing else, the driver consists of a 6.5 inch aluminum offer with a one-inch...

Positive

Ok speaker, strange connectivity with Yamaha receiver

I guess the dynamic range and power of the speakers is what's expected of them at this spec and price. In terms of auditory impact, not impression, sounds like a 1990s CD before they re-mastered them. I use the Yamaha S202BL receiver, volume turn to 50 and above in order to "feel" anything. My turntable is a cheapo ION MP3 converter with built in pre-amp, maybe I need a better record player? Anyhow, what's really weird is that when connecting (via the loose copper speaker wires) to the speaker sockets on the Yamaha, the red and black go into the respective holes of the Yamaha, only ONE SIDE of EACH SPEAKER work (either only R or L)

Mids

youtube

The Kef for people who don’t like Kef | Q150 Bookshelf Speaker Review

New from Amazon for about $ 350, they go on sale for 350, quite often for that price. I think this is great. I will recommend this all day long for $ ...

Positive

Great speakers!

I have these on my desk, and I think that's a perfect application for them. Being 4" drivers they're not really suited for a large room or at the forefront of a theater system, though they would make good satellites for a surround setup. They hold up great at lower volumes and are in a fairly compact box suitable for a desk. Speaking of the box, it's definitely adequate, but not the highest quality ever

Treble

Q350 vs Q150 | The Definitive Review

Many reading this are probably in the same predicament they find themselves in when the Q150 and Q350 frequently go on sale for $300 and $500 respectively. I too found myself on that see-saw of trying to decide which to buy and if the Q350 was worth the extra $200. I scoured the internet for any comparisons or comments and found very little worthwhile info. From the bits I did gather, there seemed to be a general consensus that the Q150 had cleaner treble, but the Q350 sounded bigger, warmer, had better mids, and more bass

Looking for first real turntable

The R-41M’s are dogshit speakers… some of the worst on the market. Super aggressive and fatiguing treble, weak bass extension, scooped out mids. Get the Neumi BS5 instead. Far better and also cheaper even when the Klipsch are on sale

Negative

reddit.com/r/turntables

Design

youtube

The KEF Q350 Loudspeaker REVIEWED! - YouTube

Featuring a computational fluid dynamics port design with the port repositioned to the rear of the speaker, clarity is improved by reducing the audibi...

Positive

Great bookshelf speakers for surround sound

My plan was to wall mount the speakers closer to their original positioning using the keyhole mount on the back. This is where I found possibly the one flaw with the design of these speakers. They are rear ported, so they needed additional spacing between the speaker and the wall to allow for the rear port to have sufficient space. I placed a set of rubber feet attached by adhesive to the back of the speakers at the bottom of the back panel to get the needed clearance

Connectivity

Excellent speakers, but be weary of less-than-ideal placement

After setting them up, I toed them in toward my listening position and connected them to my Marantz NR1607 ( Marantz NR1607 Ultra HD 7.2 Channel Network A/V Surround Receiver with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi ) using 12 gauge copper speaker wire. I then went through the Marantz Audyssey MultEQ room correction wizard using the Marantz-supplied calibration microphone.

Amazing Sound For The Price

All in all they're quite nice at this price point. They fit where I need them. I used banana plugs to connect the speaker outputs - in fact I also ordered some plugs to make up my own speaker cables when I ordered the speakers. First time I've used banana plugs that I didn't have to solder

Price

youtube

KEF Q350 Review - One of the best speakers ... - YouTube

Wild Jacks. So what are we talking about today? The Kev Q350s currently priced at $700. We're going to get to that though. So if you're new here, cons...

Positive

1 surround into my small apartment office (12x12 or so) and currently have Klipsch r-41m and r-25c because I got a steal of a deal on them. ($100 for the setup new in the boxes, can't beat that).

Positive

reddit.com/r/BudgetAudiophile

Size

And the ultimate setup would be with the gigantic Q650C. But, they say, the center speaker is the most important speaker and you want the biggest speaker you can possibly afford.

Negative

reddit.com/r/hometheater

Great bookshelf speakers

Bought some new speaker wire with banana plugs to use with these speakers, the posts are compatible with 5 different means of connection (most new speakers are). The bad: the bass port is on the back, so it needs to be out further from a wall or the back of the shelf. Not a deal breaker because it’s still a small medium sized speaker, and I’m not getting much bass from them anyway. This might be the way I have it set up, I’m using a Yamaha rxv667 which I love but some of the settings are hard to get into and tweak

Bass

Decent mid/high detail but bass is overwhelming, very undefined and sloppy

I tried the foam plugs for the bass reflex port in the back and positioning in/out from the walls, but the bass remained very woolly and not tight at all. Pairing with a subwoofer and having most of the bass go to the subwoofer cleans the sound signature up a little bit but the overall sound quality lacked detail and definition. The SONY CSS5 at $78-$128 per pair outperforms this $499-$599 speaker easily in definition, detail and instrument separation.

Impressive Performers When Matched with Quality Components and Cables.

While it performs well overall, it can struggle with the lower frequencies at medium to high volumes. Of course, a lot will depend on what you're playing through them. In a desktop set-up, with near field listening, you may find them to be more than adequate, but at the core of a home theater set up, or with bass heavy music like Travis Scott's, "Highest In The Room" or "Butterfly Effect," without a subwoofer, you're going to notice the R-41M's limitations pretty quickly, especially at higher volumes. While they're reasonably capable performers by themselves (with an amplifier, of course), and much better than most active speakers in the $100-$300 range, they're not particularly neutral or consistent

Wireless Connectivity

Excellent speakers, but be weary of less-than-ideal placement

UPDATE 3/26/18: Shortly after posting this review, my Marantz NR1607 died. Amazon processed it as a return, even though I was past my 30 days (thanks Amazon). I then purchased the Denon AVR-X3300W ( https://www.amazon

r/audiophile Shopping, Setup, and Technical Help Desk Thread

I have a Sony STR-DH190 and a pair of Klipsch R-41M's. I don't like how I can't stream through Wifi and have to use Bluetooth. I'm not a fan of Bluetooth audio.

Negative

reddit.com/r/audiophile

Volume

This bookshelf can fill a room. Add a subwoofer if you want to hear things under 50 Hz. Choose the B&W606 if you want a slightly better tweeter. It's not a completely neutral speaker

I removed my Bose speakers and put them in another room and hooked these up in mid-July. The sound is like a whisper unless I turn volume up to atleast 78 to hear the music. I installed new speaker wire. Unhooked and hooked up again several times

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