KEF Q500 Floorstanding Speakers Black (Pair)
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KEF Q500 Floorstanding Speakers Black (Pair)
- Brand: Unbranded
Description
The LF/MF drivers feature very light aluminium cones for better and faster response while KEF have used a unique surround that they call Z-Flex that allows for better sound dispersion from the tweeter as well as better power from the drivers. In the higher price ranges, the differences were not so night and day, with the R500's having the edge there. It may help that the R500's have a different driver arrangement, helping to tighten the stereo image up. Also unfair there is that the CM8's where not placed on spikes etc so that could have improved the bass response. The major difference between the floorstanding models within the Q Series is the overall size of the drivers and the subsequent amount of air and sonic detail that they can push and reproduce. The drivers within the Q500 are 135mm (5.25"), which allows the speaker to move vast amounts of air, while retaining an exceptional level of precision. The Q500 utilizes a crossover frequency of 2500 Hz, ensuring a smooth transition between the woofer and tweeter frequencies. The tweeter is made of aluminum, contributing to the overall durability and performance of the speaker. Built to deliver powerful audio, it has an output power of 130 W. Has anyone got any experiences with the CM8 and the way they sound with plinth/spikes vs none, and compared to the KEF R500's ? I have to say that the CM8's are a bit more room friendly in size, but the R500's better sound stage, would make placement more flexible and forgiving perhaps.
I own the Q100 for more than a year, and it has grown on me. Initially the sound was not that clean ,it seemed a bit muddled, but over time it has changed . I dont know if it is break in or such, but it took a preety long time to sound it best. We connected a pair of Q500 speakers to our Onkyo av receiver and positioned the speakers so they can have some breathing space around them. After manually calibrating them to be in balance with the rest of the system we were ready for our movie testing. Movies Just wanted to share my experience with this unnoticed beauties. Hoping to add some good quality source to enrich the experience. The Q500 is very articulate; perhaps one of the most articulate loudspeakers I have ever listened to. Its clarity and presentation of detail, including what I might call selectivity (i.e., its ability to reproduce low-level information accurately in the presence of high-level signals close in frequency), exceeded my expectations. It creates a very believable soundstage despite various different placement schemes (though with the expected obvious and subtle differences), making it room-friendly. Though its sensitivity is specified as 87dB, the Q500 is easy to drive with as little as a 15-watt amplifier. Keeping the volume level in mind, no matter which recording I listened to, be it acoustic jazz, chamber music, and all but the most over-compressed sources, I found my attention immediately drawn to the distinctive and compelling sound. With the simple addition of a control to adjust the output level(s) of the Uni-Q driver to more closely match that of the woofer (or the listener’s tastes), this speaker has the potential to compete with many others, so exceptional is its quality and performance in most respects. In any estimation, the Q500 offers a noteworthy value for overall quality at its price point. Those who appreciate a very articulate sonic presentation should give them a listen. SPECS & PRICING I wasn't sure what to expect from these small speakers when they sat next to my floorstanders but I connected them up to my Marantz PM6004 and Marantz CD63 KI. Initially I wasn't impressed until I turned the volume up a bit. Sitting down and relaxing with various music I found these speakers very open but with a real punch to the bass. In fact it's the bass punch and definition as well as the clarity and detail, which is similar to my Q500's but on a small scale, that makes me smile with these speakers.
KEF Q500 Floorstanding speakers
The decision to go with passive bass radiators rather than reflex ports is an unusual one, that promises, in theory at least, better control. The Q700s are happiest out in free space, though, and toed-in towards the listener slightly. The KFE Q550 comes with complete bolt-on plinths that offer excellent stability. The spikes on the plinths stretch out to provide the level of stability possible from such a slender speaker. It helps in reducing the effects of vibration from loud music as the speaker is likely to stay in its position. The critically acclaimed Q Series from KEF has won a vast number of awards and exists to showcase KEF's design philosophy of reproducing a quality of sound that's indistinguishable from the actual live event. KEF achieve this phenomenal result by combining intelligent engineering constructs with imaginative design concepts. The Q Series provides a truly immersive sound response, complete with three dimensional imagery of a richness and clarity normally found in flagship loudspeaker models from lesser brands. Prices valid in stores (all including VAT) until close of business on 27th November 2023. (Some of these web prices are cheaper than in-store, so please mention that you've seen these offers online.) The heart and soul of the loudspeaker series is the Uni-Q array, which provides the mid and high frequencies. The current version of the array resulted from engineering development during the company’s recent Concept Blade program. In brief, the Uni-Q array places both the midrange and tweeter drivers concentrically within the same mechanical structure to form a single acoustic source that’s coherent in position, directivity, and time. This is in contrast to the old “whizzer cone” drivers, which placed the tweeter in front of the lower-frequency driver, and not at the same acoustic point. Moreover, the manufacturer states that this alignment of the midrange (which provides many of the spatial clues in stereo listening) and the tweeter improves the tonal balance characteristics and broadens the listening area rather than limiting it to a sweet spot.
Internally, these drivers make use of sub divided enclosures. Each driver has its own space and its own port. The upper driver and the Uni-Q unit have fairly equally sized enclosures while the lower driver – which acts as the bass unit has a larger space with a diagonal section squared off at the rear of the cabinet. The cabinet is then extensively braced using technology and modelling from the more complex models. The result is a fairly stout feeling piece of engineering that has a decent solidity to the touch. The KEF Q550 floorstanding speaker has limited connectivity options because of its passive design. This means that there is no built-in amplifier, and it is impossible for you to have a Bluetooth or wi-fi connectivity setup with this speaker. All speakers have their merits. I also believe that the KEF's may be a little easier in placement , as far as distance apart and to the listener, proximity to walls, toe in or not etc... I've had both B&W's and KEF's before. The B&W's have always been great for long listening sessions, the KEF's a bit more engaging. I collected the Q700´s yesterday and immediately set about setting them up. I went straight in for a Bi-Amp on them. After selecting the correct settings on my Onkyo 508 for Bi-amping I tried them out. So I was searching for a floostanding speaker and auditioned in various stores at least the following: Monitor Audio BX5, RX6. Dali Zensor 5/7, Icon6 mk2, Rega rs3, Epos epic?, some Dynaudio, some Elac, some cheap Boston Acoustics, some System Audio and some Amphion and finally Kef Q500. All around or under 1000€.
The KEF’s party piece is the creation of a stereo image. Any matched pair of speakers should generate a sense of a complete space of sound in front of you with the performers arranged within it – or in the case of many modern recordings, how the engineer feels you should perceive the musicians. Most speakers do a solid job in this regard but the R500 is absolutely exceptional. Listening to the stunning recording of Spaces by Nils Frahm, the KEF is so utterly self-explanatory in the way it positions the piano, the stage and the audience, that your mind simply stops questioning what it hears and focusses on the music instead. No matter what type of music are you playing, the KEF Q550, always shows that it is versatile and an all-rounder speaker.
- Fruugo ID: 258392218-563234582
- EAN: 764486781913
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