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Experts recommend Klipsch R-51PM more than Kef Q150

As of 7 Mar 2024, experts prefer Klipsch R-51PM over Kef Q150, but both Speakers have solid expert endorsements.

As per this month's meta ranking, Klipsch R-51PM received 1 recommendation: from ZD Net (13 Feb 2023). By contrast, Kef Q150 received only 2 recommendations from Pitchfork (19 Nov 2020) and Gear Patrol (5 Jan 2024).

Rank Change Price Speakers
SoundGuys
ZD Net
Pitchfork
Wirecutter
T3
Gear Patrol
Rolling Stone
The Master Switch
What Hi-Fi
hifioasis.com
14
N/A $400
Klipsch R-51PM
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1
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
19
-1 $350
Kef Q150
The Kef Q150 bookshelf speakers are highly praised for their clear and detailed sound, versatile design, and compact and sleek appearance, making them a great choice for those seeking a midrange price hi-fi sound or for those who want to use them for a cinematic audio experience.
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-
11
-
-
10
-
-
-
-

Curious to see this month's entire Bookshelf Speakers ranking? It's here

About our ranking methodology

Endorsement summary:

  • On 19 Nov 2020 Pitchfork ranked Kef Q150 as #11
    Rank Speakers
    ... ...
    #11 out of 13 Kef Q150
    ... ...
  • On 5 Jan 2024 Gear Patrol ranked Kef Q150 as #10
    Rank Speakers
    ... ...
    #10 out of 12 Kef Q150
    ... ...
  • On 13 Feb 2023 ZD Net ranked Klipsch R-51PM as #1
    Rank Speakers Comment
    #1 out of 5 Klipsch R-51PM
    Best bookshelf speaker overall
    ... ... ...

After counting and adding up the 80 expert endorsements of the March rankings, Klipsch R-51PM outranks Kef Q150. This is not to say that Kef Q150 is a bad option. Like Klipsch R-51PM, it is recommended by experts, but less.

Customers like Kef Q150 a bit more

At ReviewFinder we prefer to focus on professional product reviews, because customer reviews can be disproportionately affected by unrelated factors such as delivery, specific seller listing problems, and, of course, fake reviews. With that said, below is the summary of consumer sentiment.

Kef Q150
Klipsch R-51PM
Consumer score (CS) is a normalized computed representation of customers' sentiment towards a product.
CS of 10 is similar to a 4.8 star review, CS of 0 is similar to a 2 star review.

Kef Q150, the cheaper option, tends to get more favorable reviews than Klipsch R-51PM.

As can be seen in the chart above, median best-selling speakers receives a consumer score of 9.1 (great). Both Kef Q150 and Klipsch R-51PM receive customer reviews that average out above that median threshold.

Kef Q150
In comparison:
Kef Q150 ranks #30 out of 119. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.6
Amazing
Klipsch R-51PM
In comparison:
Klipsch R-51PM ranks #44 out of 119. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.4
Amazing
Median best-selling Speakers
In comparison:
Edifier R980T ranks #60 out of 119. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.1
Great





Klipsch R-51PM is more popular than Kef Q150

It's fairly safe to say that Klipsch R-51PM are more popular speakers than Kef Q150, based on their 2,000+ reviews. Popularity is determined based on product sales. Note that older and cheaper products tend to sell more.


To consider

Customers who view Kef Q150 and Klipsch R-51PM often consider Bose 301, a pricier option with better reviews.
Table: Top compared alternatives for Kef Q150 and Klipsch R-51PM
Bose 301 $380
In comparison:
Bose 301 ranks #2 out of 119. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
10.0
Amazing
No expert recommendations Better Reviews
Triangle Borea BR03 $319
In comparison:
Triangle Borea BR03 ranks #21 out of 119. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.7
Amazing
2 expert recommendations Cheaper Better Reviews
Klipsch RP-600M $349
In comparison:
Klipsch RP-600M ranks #16 out of 119. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.9
Amazing
No expert recommendations Cheaper Better Reviews
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR $399
In comparison:
Pioneer SP-BS22-LR ranks #23 out of 119. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.6
Amazing
No expert recommendations Better Reviews
Find the best speakers in Speakers Finder
Critic Consensus Common points from expert reviews summarized.
As can be seen below, Kef Q150 is mentioned by key experts in Mar 2024, while Klipsch R-51PM is not.
Rank Change Price Speakers
SoundGuys
ZD Net
Pitchfork
Wirecutter
T3
Gear Patrol
Rolling Stone
The Master Switch
What Hi-Fi
hifioasis.com
1
- $1600
Kef LS50
The Kef LS50 bookshelf speakers are highly recommended for their exceptional sound quality, versatile frequency response, unique design, and range of connectivity options, making them suitable for a range of music genres and listening environments.
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4
-
-
7
2
-
3
1
-
2
+1 $359
Q Acoustics 3020i
The Q Acoustics 3020i bookshelf speakers offer excellent sound quality, versatility, and a modern design, making them a great option for audiophiles who prioritize accuracy and transparency in their sound system.
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-
7
2
-
9
-
4
-
5
3
New * $700
Elac Uni-Fi 2.0
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-
-
-
-
-
-
1
-
1
4
+1 Check price
Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2
The Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition bookshelf speaker delivers excellent sound performance across the frequency range, with punchy and dynamic bass, a wide frequency response, and a purposeful design, making it a great choice for music and home theater use.
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5
-
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5
7
-
9
-
-
Show all rows
Expert Reviews There are people on the Internet whose job is to review products. Below are their opinions.

Expert reviews [21]

92
Total expert reviews: 21
  • with a score: 4
  • without a score: 17
Highest score by Old Time Music
100
Average score based on 21 reviews
92
Lowest score by Digital Trends
90

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20

Expert reviews [3]

93
Total expert reviews: 3
  • with a score: 3
  • without a score: 0
Highest score by 7Review
100
Average score based on 3 reviews
93
Lowest score by Audio Direct
90

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
From Seller:
  • The Q150 proves that the best things come in small packages. A Uni-Q driver and CFD port mean it punches way above its weight.
  • Q Series bookshelf speakers excel in small spaces. KEF's Uni-Q driver array plus Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) port tech equals high resolution and big sound.
  • Read more
From Seller:
  • Powered monitor
  • Bluetooth wireless technology
  • Phono/line analog (with switch and ground screw terminal)
  • 3.5 millimeter analog Mini jack
  • USB digital
  • Read more
Video Reviews Most popular unboxing/review videos.
KEF Q150... can it get any BETTER?
Review by GR-Research
Popular! 37K views!
Play video review
KEF Q150 Bookshelf Speaker | Full Review
Play video review
KEF Q150 bookshelf speakers | Crutchfield
Review by Crutchfield
Play video review
No video reviews linked yet for Klipsch R-51PM.
From Manufacturer Manufacturer-provided product description, urls and documents.
EAN Numbers: 0637203215681, 0637203215704, 0637203216268, 0637203216510
UPC Numbers: 637203215681, 637203215704, 637203216268, 637203216510
Model Numbers: Q150, Q150B, Q150GRILLE, Q150W, Q150WA, Q150WH, SP3958BA
General Info
Number of Speakers How many bookshelf speakers are included?
2
2
Speaker Design The primary components of a bookshelf speaker are “drivers,” which are the cones that actually create the sound. These cones come in three types: tweeters, midranges (sometimes called mids), and woofe ... Show more
Two-Way
Two-Way
Physical Features
Dimensions
Loading product dimensions...
Loading product dimensions...
Weight

12 lbs
 

11 lbs
 
Indoor or Outdoor Use Can the speaker be used outdoors?
Indoor
Indoor
Cabinet
Cabinet Material The cabinet refers to the portion that surrounds and holds all of the speaker elements together - the speaker box, if you will. The most common material is wood, but you’ll also find plastic, fiberboa ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Fiberboard
Enclosure Type The type of enclosure, or cabinet, plays a key role in determining the focus of your sound. Do you prefer accurate bass or loud bass? There are two main types: acoustic suspension and bass reflex. Aco ... Show more
Bass Reflex
Bass Reflex
Sound Quality and Power
Sensitivity Measured in decibels, or dB, sensitivity measures a speaker’s ability to convert power to volume. Lower sensitivity speakers require more power from the amplifier to achieve higher volumes. Higher sen ... Show more
108 dB
107.3 dB
Frequency Response Range Given as a range in Hertz (Hz), the frequency response is a measurement of the range of sound a speaker can produce. For reference, the human ear can hear a frequency range of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (shor ... Show more
51Hz-28kHz
68Hz - 21kHz
Magnetically Shielded When sound is played through a speaker, an electromagnet is activated using the power from the amplifier to bring the driver forward, and another magnet pulls the driver back. This causes the driver t ... Show more
No
Yes
Peak Power Power handling, or peak power, is the highest wattage a speaker can accept from an amplifier before it burns out or becomes damaged. This number is given in watts. It’s recorded by measuring how loud ... Show more
100 Watts
120 Watts
Powered Speaker What you may not know about bookshelf speakers is that they don’t always work straight out of the box. To power the speakers, you often need a receiver and an amplifier. Amplifiers power the signal th ... Show more
No
Yes
Impedance Impedance is a key electrical measurement, provided in ohms. This number describes the electrical resistance provided by the speaker to the power signal sent by your amplifier. A common analogy used f ... Show more
8 Ohms
no data Know this info? Contribute!
High Resolution Audio More and more, musicians and streaming services are offering high-resolution audio playback for music files. Like a TV, your speaker has to be high-res capable to play these high-res files. True audio ... Show more
Yes
Yes
Tweeters

Tweeters produce the highest frequencies in sound, typically anything above 2,000 Hz. Usually located at the top of the speaker, tweeters come in different shapes (detailed below) and sizes. Generally speaking, the size of the tweeter is not as important as the shape. But, for some guidance, consider that a larger tweeter (measured by diameter in inches or millimeters) will likely be louder and able to disperse sound over a larger area.

Number of Tweeters
1
1
Tweeter Type Tweeters produce the highest frequencies in sound, typically anything above 2,000 Hz. Usually located at the top of the speaker, tweeters come in different shapes (detailed below) and sizes. Generally ... Show more
Dome
Horn
Tweeter Size Diameter of the Tweeter
1 inches
1 inches
Tweeter Material In addition to the shape of the tweeter, the material has a big impact on the type of sound emitted. The two most popular materials are metals (aluminum, titanium, etc.) and soft textiles (silk, cloth ... Show more
Vented aluminum dome
Aluminum LTS tweeters
Midranges

Speakers with midrange drivers (i.e., at least three-way speakers) have a distinct advantage over two-way speakers. Adding a midrange driver to the mix allows tweeters and woofers to focus on the sound waves they’re best equipped to produce—high tones and low tones respectively. More specific and focused drivers means more accurate, robust sound. Compared to the other drivers, midranges cover sounds, not surprisingly, in the middle of high/treble and low/bass tones. The human voice and most instruments fall into this range. For more sophisticated listeners, or for those who truly want the best sound reproduction, a midrange driver is crucial.

Number of Midranges
0 mids
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Woofers

The woofer is the driver that is responsible for low frequency sounds and bass - crucial for well-rounded, booming sound. It is the biggest driver in size, and is usually shaped like a cone. When reviewing different bookshelf speakers, you will often see a measurement in the product name, starting as low as 4” and ranging to 6 ½” or more. This measurement refers to the diameter of the woofer. A general rule of thumb is a bigger woofer means louder, more powerful bass. But, as with any speaker metric, this number alone doesn’t describe the loudness of the speaker and should be taken into consideration with other measurements such as sensitivity, which describes the loudness of a speaker per watt.

Number of Woofers
1
1
Woofer Size Diameter of the woofer
5.1 inches
5.2 inches
Woofer Material Woofers are built with a variety of materials, such as paper, plastic, polypropylene, Kevlar, or metal. Some are even made with more unique materials like wood. They key to quality in a woofer materia ... Show more
Aluminum Uni-Q
Copper spun magnetically shielded IMG woofer
Controls
Remote Control Does the box include a remote?
No
Yes
Button Controls Control the speaker with buttons on the device.
None
no data Know this info? Contribute!
App/Smartphone Control If the bookshelf speaker is Wi-Fi or Bluetooth-enabled (or both), you’ll likely be able to control the output through your smartphone or other device. Sometimes, this capability comes with the caveat ... Show more
No
Yes
Connections
Wi-Fi Enabled Speakers with Wi-Fi connectivity connect directly to your home Wi-Fi network to stream audio from your devices—smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc. This may require an app from the brand, such as Yamaha’s ... Show more
No
No
Bluetooth Enabled Speakers with built-in Bluetooth allow you to stream audio content directly from device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop) on the speakers. This feature behaves just like any other Bluetooth-enabled d ... Show more
No
no data Know this info? Contribute!
Wired Connections or Wireless Not to be confused with Wi-Fi-enabled speakers, wireless speaker set ups do not require a speaker wire or direct lines to other speakers and the AV receiver. Typically, these speakers require a wirele ... Show more
Yes
Yes
Speaker Wire Included Speaker wire is the connection used between speakers, amplifiers and receivers. This is a special type of wire that makes an electrical connection and transmits sound signals. You will only use this t ... Show more
No
Yes
Other Connections Bookshelf speakers commonly come with speaker wire inputs/outputs to connect your speaker to an AV receiver, which transmits the sound from your TV. In some cases, speakers may come with additional in ... Show more
no data Know this info? Contribute!
  • • Bluetooth® wireless technology
  • • Phono/Line analog (with switch and ground screw terminal)
  • • 3.5mm analog mini jack
  • • USB digital
  • • Optical digital
Additional Info
ENERGY STAR Certified For the environmentally conscious, choosing an “ENERGY STAR Certified” speaker may be important to you. Technology devices with this label are required to meet certain industry standards as it relates ... Show more
No
No
Additional Features Any other features available.
Comes with removable black cloth grille
High Efficiency Amplification
Loading price comparison chart...

Kef Q150 are a very popular option on the higher end of the price range. They're in the top 3 bestselling speakers and have dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Definitive Technology D9 or Klipsch RP-600M .

Kef Q150 were released in 2017. There are dozens of newer speakers on the market. Show newer Speakers

Kef Q150 are $86.99 more expensive than the average speakers ($263).

Klipsch R-51PM are a very popular and one of the more expensive options. They're in the top 3 bestselling speakers and have dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Edifier S1000MKII or ELAC Uni-Fi Reference 3-Way .

Klipsch R-51PM were released in 2018. There are a few newer speakers on the market. Show newer Speakers

Klipsch R-51PM are $136.99 more expensive than average speakers ($263).

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