Short answer: the Klipsch RP-500M II. It ranks #27 of 179 bookshelf speakers by sound quality (rated 4.0/5) at $389.99 and is still sold new; the KEF Q150 ranks #48 (rated 3.7/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. The KEF Q150’s replacement, the KEF Q1 Meta, is rated 3.6/5 at $399.99.
The KEF Q150 is the deeper-bass option. Compact bookshelf speakers with a tweeter set in the center of the woofer, usable ported or sealed and easy to correct with EQ. Its bass reaches about 51Hz before falling 3dB, against 67Hz for the Klipsch RP-500M II. 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.
The case for the Klipsch RP-500M II: Clear, detailed bookshelf speakers with a horn tweeter, precise imaging and a much cleaner midrange than the first version. The tradeoff: Klipsch’s quoted sensitivity (around 92-93dB) uses an unconventional in-room-based rating rather than the standard anechoic measurement; on an anechoic basis it measures closer to about 85dB, in line with typical bookshelf speakers this size, so it isn’t the outlier in efficiency the spec sheet implies.
Buy the Klipsch RP-500M II. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the KEF Q150 is discontinued.
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Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the KEF Q150 reaches 44 Hz (10 dB down) against 53 Hz for the Klipsch RP-500M II, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Klipsch RP-500M II scores 7.8 against 7.1 for the KEF Q150 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q150 | Klipsch RP-500M II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $350 per pair Discontinued | $389.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #48 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #27 of 179 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 11.9”H x 7.1”W x 10.9”D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) | 13.6”H x 6.8”W x 10.6”D (344.4 x 173 x 270.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | ~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 130mm (5.25”) aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1”) vented aluminium dome tweeter | 5.25” Cerametallic™ cone woofer with Faraday rings, 1” LTS Titanium diaphragm tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® horn |
| Weight | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each | 13 lbs (5.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.86 | 5.22 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 | 7.84 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1530Hz |
Where the Ratings Come From
- KEF Q150: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and GR-Research.
- Klipsch RP-500M II: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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