Short answer: the Parts Express C-Note for a predictable budget monitor, the KEF Q150 for coaxial sound. The C-Note’s waveguide tweeter gives it a flat midrange and good directivity near the crossover, but bass is reduced and a resonance peak around 700Hz shows in the measurements. The Q150’s Uni-Q assembly time-aligns a 1” dome to a 5.25” mid, yet its in-room response lifts at the top, so it sounds brighter in an untreated room.
Buy the Parts Express C-Note, since the KEF Q150 is discontinued and only worth hunting down used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Parts Express C-Note | KEF Q150 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.98 per pair | $350 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #27 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #26 of 92 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 90Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - the reviewer explicitly flagged this measurement as unreliable below 70Hz, so no -10dB figure is given | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Dayton Audio DSA135-8 5” woofer, Dayton ND25FW-4 1” soft dome tweeter (waveguide-loaded) | 130mm (5.25”) aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1”) vented aluminium dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 11H x 7.5W x 9.5D in (unfinished MDF flat-pack) | 11.9”H x 7.1”W x 10.9”D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz +/-3dB (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | ~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 60W RMS / 120W max | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.07 (spinorama.org) | 4.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.78 (spinorama.org) | 7.06 |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | - | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
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- KEF LS50 Meta vs KEF Q150
- KEF Q150 vs Ascend Acoustics Luna V2 Mini-Monitor Ribbon
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The Two Speakers In Full
Parts Express C-Note: $159.98 per pair Parts Express eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a reasonably flat response in the critical midrange with good directivity control near the crossover point, courtesy of a waveguide-integrated tweeter. High power handling let it play very loud in a large room with no sign of bottoming out: unusual for a $160 pair. The MDF cabinet felt stout in hand despite the unfinished, DIY flat-pack construction. Measured bass extension of 90Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
Cons: Reduced bass output and a resonance peak around 700Hz both show up clearly in the measurements; worst-case distortion above 1kHz sits about 40dB below listening level. Ships as unfinished MDF flat-pack cabinets, requiring assembly and finishing (gluing, painting or veneering) before use.
Full Parts Express C-Note review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 90Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - the reviewer explicitly flagged this measurement as unreliable below 70Hz, so no -10dB figure is given |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | Yes |
| Dimensions | 11H x 7.5W x 9.5D in (unfinished MDF flat-pack) |
| Drivers | Dayton Audio DSA135-8 5” woofer, Dayton ND25FW-4 1” soft dome tweeter (waveguide-loaded) |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz - 20kHz +/-3dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 60W RMS / 120W max |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.07 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.78 (spinorama.org) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KEF Q150: $350 per pair Discontinued Amazon eBay
Newer model: the KEF Q1 Meta, ranked lower, rated 3.6/5.
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. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11.9”H x 7.1”W x 10.9”D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.06 |
| 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)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons