Short answer: the ELAC DBR62. It ranks #77 of 203 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $678.97 and is still sold new; the KEF Q350 ranks #171 (rated 3.0/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The KEF Q350’s replacement, the KEF Q3 Meta, is rated 3.4/5.
The ELAC DBR62 is the better-sounding, deeper-bass pick. Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence: giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the KEF Q350. The tradeoff: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison.
What the KEF Q350 does well: CEA2034 spinorama shows a reasonably flat on-axis response with excellent directivity, aided by the coaxial Uni-Q driver. The tradeoff: Two resonances at 700Hz and 1.2kHz show up on-axis, alongside an upper-bass boost.
Buy the ELAC DBR62. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the KEF Q350 is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC DBR62 | KEF Q350 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $678.97 per pair | $699.00 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #77 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #171 of 203 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each | 29.5 lbs (13.4 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 5.25 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 | 7.12 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- ELAC DBR62 vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
- ELAC DBR62 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- ELAC DBR62 vs AsciLab C6B
- ELAC DBR62 vs Audio First Cadentia 3
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The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC DBR62: $678.97 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 (floorstanding, estimated 4.3/5) and the ELAC Debut Reference DCR52 (center, estimated 3.4/5).
Pros: Two-way design with a 6.5” woofer and 1” dome tweeter in a shallow waveguide, with the tweeter positioned close to the woofer for near-point-source coherence: giving more vertical listening leeway than typical two-ways. Notably forgiving of placement and aiming: sounds good from directly on-axis all the way to 30° of toe-out (parallel with the rear wall), making it more room-independent than many speakers this price. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70° until the tweeter starts beaming, right in the reviewer’s preferred sweet spot. A mild, wide-Q bass bump centered around 100Hz adds a bit of extra punch that the reviewer personally likes. On-axis linearity within about ±2.5dB, with a strong measured preference score of 5.3. Distortion stays below 3% at both 86dB and 96dB until around 50Hz. Vertical sweet spot of about ±10-20° works well for multi-row home theater seating. The reviewer calls it “the epitome of a good speaker” for its price, with no reservations recommending it. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.3dB.
Cons: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison. A mild hot spot around 4-5kHz can read as slight sibilance when pointed directly on-axis. Low-to-mid sensitivity (about 84.3dB) combined with a current draw that behaves like roughly 2.4 ohms between 100-200Hz means it’s best driven by a dedicated 4-ohm-capable amplifier rather than an AVR. A diffraction dip from the baffle edge is visible in measurements: typical of any standard rectangular-baffle speaker and not correctable without a much more expensive curved-baffle design. Multitone distortion testing suggests some potential midrange distortion could be audible on certain material, though the reviewer didn’t personally notice it. Minor resonances appear around 700Hz and 1-1.5kHz, possibly tied to the enclosure, port, or cone/surround edge termination, though their audible impact appears minimal. F3 of 53Hz means a subwoofer is still needed for real bass extension below about 40Hz.
Full ELAC DBR62 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 |
| Weight | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Top 3 Things You Need to Know About ELAC DBR62 Before You Buy More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website Elac DBR62
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- Audio Science Review Measurements More from Audio Science Review →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC DBR62 vs Yamaha NS-800A
- ELAC DBR62 vs Definitive Technology Demand D11
- ELAC DBR62 vs Buchardt S400 MK3
- ELAC DBR62 vs Technics SB-C700
- ELAC DBR62 vs ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UBR62
- ELAC DBR62 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra Duo V2 Ribbon
- ELAC DBR62 vs Dynaudio Contour 20i
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- See all 68 comparisons
KEF Q350: $699.00 per pair Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the KEF Q3 Meta, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5.
Same family: the KEF Q150 (smaller bookshelf, rated 3.7/5), the KEF Q250c (smaller center, rated 3.9/5) and the KEF Q650c (larger center, rated 3.7/5).
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a reasonably flat on-axis response with excellent directivity, aided by the coaxial Uni-Q driver. Vertical directivity is better than most non-coaxial two-way speakers, another benefit of the concentric design. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86dB.
Cons: Two resonances at 700Hz and 1.2kHz show up on-axis, alongside an upper-bass boost. Predicted in-room response looks a bit boomy as a result. Distortion climbs substantially in the 100Hz-1kHz range at 96dB SPL/1m, with a distinct resonance-driven peak around 900Hz-1kHz at both test levels. Discontinued.
Full KEF Q350 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.25 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.12 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 29.5 lbs (13.4 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons