Short answer: the Carmody S2000. It ranks #20 of 87 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $250; the KEF Q150 ranks #26 and costs $350, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the KEF Q150 offers: Two-way coaxial (Uni-Q) design with a 1” dome tweeter and 5.25” mid-range time-aligned in a single driver assembly, available in ported or sealed configuration. Exceptional soundstage depth, a hallmark of KEF’s coaxial designs that the reviewer says few other speakers match. Bass extension reaches into kick-drum territory, respectable for a compact bookshelf speaker. Resonances present in measurements are consistent across on- and off-axis readings, meaning they can be effectively corrected with EQ. Distortion profile is essentially the same whether run sealed or ported, since a subwoofer crossover point sits above where the differences would matter anyway. At its sale price (around $300, sometimes seen at $400), the reviewer considers it a clear step up from his previous budget favorite in this range, the Emotiva B1+, mainly due to the superior soundstage depth. Watch for: A high-frequency lift in the estimated in-room response makes it sound noticeably brighter in an untreated room than in a heavily acoustically-treated one - a real preference factor depending on your room’s furnishings. A mild dip in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal fullness somewhat. Unexplained resonances appear in measurements and persist in both sealed and ported configurations, pointing to enclosure or panel vibration rather than the port. Horizontal radiation is narrower than the reviewer generally prefers from KEF’s lineup, with directivity that widens somewhat around 1.2kHz (near a resonance) and again above about 5kHz. Compression testing at high output (102dB) shows significant nonlinearity, especially at lower frequencies - noticeably worse than a comparable Arendal bookshelf speaker costing over twice as much, which held up better until 80Hz. Not intended for loud listening without a subwoofer - the woofer will over-exert itself without a high-pass filter, and the reviewer recommends crossing over at 80-120Hz. At full retail price (around $600/pair), the value proposition is far less certain than at sale pricing.
What the Carmody S2000 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows good response between 100Hz and 3kHz with low room dependency thanks to smooth early-window reflections, plus reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth and directivity. A DIY kit built around a small woofer and tweeter with a 3kHz crossover, priced around $250 per pair before assembly labor. Watch for: Energy falls off above 3kHz with a resonance around 11kHz, and directivity errors show up around the 4-5kHz crossover region. Low 84dB efficiency and an impedance that dips below 4 ohms both call for a capable amplifier. Vertical listening angle is sensitive - move off axis and you fall into a response “ditch” that loses energy.
Buy the Carmody S2000. It ranks higher for sound quality than the KEF Q150 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q150 | Carmody S2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350 Discontinued | $250 |
| Ranked | #26 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #20 of 87 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 11.9"H x 7.1"W x 10.9"D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) | not published (DIY kit) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | below 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | ~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 130mm (5.25") aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1") vented aluminium dome tweeter | small woofer + tweeter, 3kHz crossover (DIY kit) |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each | not published (DIY kit) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | Baltic Birch plywood |
| Frequency Response | - | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-5.9dB); 80Hz - 20kHz (+/-4.1dB) (measured, Audio Science Review) |
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- Wharfedale Diamond 12.1 vs Klipsch R-41M
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- KEF Q150 vs Emotiva B1+
- KEF Q150 vs Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Q150: $350 Discontinued Amazon eBay
Pros: Two-way coaxial (Uni-Q) design with a 1” dome tweeter and 5.25” mid-range time-aligned in a single driver assembly, available in ported or sealed configuration. Exceptional soundstage depth, a hallmark of KEF’s coaxial designs that the reviewer says few other speakers match. Bass extension reaches into kick-drum territory, respectable for a compact bookshelf speaker. Resonances present in measurements are consistent across on- and off-axis readings, meaning they can be effectively corrected with EQ. Distortion profile is essentially the same whether run sealed or ported, since a subwoofer crossover point sits above where the differences would matter anyway. At its sale price (around $300, sometimes seen at $400), the reviewer considers it a clear step up from his previous budget favorite in this range, the Emotiva B1+, mainly due to the superior soundstage depth.
Cons: A high-frequency lift in the estimated in-room response makes it sound noticeably brighter in an untreated room than in a heavily acoustically-treated one - a real preference factor depending on your room’s furnishings. A mild dip in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal fullness somewhat. Unexplained resonances appear in measurements and persist in both sealed and ported configurations, pointing to enclosure or panel vibration rather than the port. Horizontal radiation is narrower than the reviewer generally prefers from KEF’s lineup, with directivity that widens somewhat around 1.2kHz (near a resonance) and again above about 5kHz. Compression testing at high output (102dB) shows significant nonlinearity, especially at lower frequencies - noticeably worse than a comparable Arendal bookshelf speaker costing over twice as much, which held up better until 80Hz. Not intended for loud listening without a subwoofer - the woofer will over-exert itself without a high-pass filter, and the reviewer recommends crossing over at 80-120Hz. At full retail price (around $600/pair), the value proposition is far less certain than at sale pricing. Discontinued.
Full KEF Q150 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.9"H x 7.1"W x 10.9"D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 130mm (5.25") aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1") vented aluminium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | ~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs / 5.6 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Kef’s Cheapest Bookshelf. Is the Q150 worth your money? More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF Q150
- GR-Research: KEF Q150… can it get any BETTER? More from GR-Research →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: 5 AWESOME SPEAKERS Under $1000 You Won’t Regret
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Budget Stereo Systems You Will Love
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for KEF Q150 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Carmody S2000: $250 eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows good response between 100Hz and 3kHz with low room dependency thanks to smooth early-window reflections, plus reasonably wide horizontal beamwidth and directivity. A DIY kit built around a small woofer and tweeter with a 3kHz crossover, priced around $250 per pair before assembly labor.
Cons: Energy falls off above 3kHz with a resonance around 11kHz, and directivity errors show up around the 4-5kHz crossover region. Low 84dB efficiency and an impedance that dips below 4 ohms both call for a capable amplifier. Vertical listening angle is sensitive - move off axis and you fall into a response “ditch” that loses energy.
Full Carmody S2000 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | not published (DIY kit) |
| Drivers | small woofer + tweeter, 3kHz crossover (DIY kit) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (+/-5.9dB); 80Hz - 20kHz (+/-4.1dB) (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | below 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | not published (DIY kit) |
| Woofer Cabinet | Baltic Birch plywood |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons