Short answer: the KEF Q350, because the B&W 805S’s directivity collapses through the crossover region. The B&W plays very loud with well-controlled bass distortion, but its spinorama shows directivity breaking down badly from around 1kHz to 3kHz, a flaw the reviewer called “clearly flawed execution” that leaves vocals recessed. The KEF’s Uni-Q is reasonably flat on-axis with excellent directivity, marred by resonances at 700Hz and 1.2kHz and an upper-bass boost.
Buy the KEF Q350 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the AsciLab C6B instead.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q350 | B&W 805S | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 per pair Discontinued | $2,500 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #109 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #114 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + 165mm woofer | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” woven Kevlar cone mid/bass |
| Weight | 29.5 lbs (13.4 kg) | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (358.0 x 210.0 x 306.0 mm) | 16.5H x 9.4W x 13.8D in |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.25 (spinorama.org) | 4.12 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.12 (spinorama.org) | 6.07 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 49Hz - 22kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 50-120W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for KEF Q350:
- KEF Q350 vs AsciLab C6B
- KEF Q350 vs KEF R3 Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs KEF Q350
- KEF Q350 vs MoFi SourcePoint 8
- Wharfedale Linton 85 vs KEF Q350
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Q350: $699.00 per pair Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the KEF Q3 Meta, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5.
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
B&W 805S: $2,500 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the B&W 805 D4. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
Pros: Bass and dynamic performance are strong for the cabinet size, playing very loud with well-controlled bass distortion. Horizontal beamwidth stays reasonably smooth through -6dB. Build quality has enough of a “quality feel” that the reviewer said it kept the speaker from the lowest possible rating. Measured bass extension of 46.9Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.5dB.
Cons: CEA2034 spinorama shows directivity breaking down badly starting around 1kHz and staying poor to 3kHz: a wide crossover-region flaw the reviewer called “clearly flawed execution” that leaves vocals sounding recessed and masked without EQ correction. A high 4kHz crossover point appears to leave the tweeter’s small sub-enclosure resonating audibly during playback. Discontinued, superseded by the 805 Diamond/805 D4 series.
Full B&W 805S review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35.6Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46.9Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5H x 9.4W x 13.8D in |
| Drivers | 1” aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5” woven Kevlar cone mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 49Hz - 22kHz +/-3dB (-6dB at 42Hz and 50kHz) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum) |
| Power Handling | 50-120W |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.12 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.07 |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons