Short answer: the Revel M105 for neutrality, the KEF Q150 for placement flexibility. The Q150’s two-way Uni-Q coaxial design time-aligns a 1” dome tweeter and a 5.25” mid-range and can run ported or sealed, but a high-frequency lift in its estimated in-room response makes it sound brighter in an untreated room, a real preference factor. The M105 is essentially flat on-axis with a smooth listening window and clean decay.
Buy the Revel M105 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 Philharmonic Ceramic Mini instead.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel M105 | KEF Q150 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,500 per pair Discontinued | $350 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #13 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #26 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49.8Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | ~85dB (300Hz-3kHz on-axis, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, low minimum | 8 ohms nominal, about 4.7 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 44kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminum cone woofer, 1” aluminum tweeter with acoustic lens waveguide | 130mm (5.25”) aluminium Uni-Q woofer, 25mm (1”) vented aluminium dome tweeter |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7 kg) each | 12.3 lbs (5.6 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 14”H x 7.9”W x 9.8”D (355.6 x 200.7 x 248.9 mm) | 11.9”H x 7.1”W x 10.9”D (303 x 180 x 278 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.76 | 4.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.18 | 7.06 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Revel M105 compares with other leading options:
- Ascend Sierra 1 v2 vs Revel M105
- KEF LS50 Meta vs Revel M105
- Arendal 1961 Monitor vs Revel M105
- Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G vs Revel M105
- Revel M105 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel M105: $1,500 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows an essentially flat on-axis response with only a small 5kHz peak, a smooth listening window, and clean waterfall decay. Wide horizontal dispersion gives flexibility with toe-in. The reviewer called it reference-quality performance with minor EQ correction applied. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85dB.
Cons: Low nominal impedance demands a capable amplifier that can handle low-impedance loads. Bass distortion runs high in the 80-250Hz range from woofer displacement, and maximum output is limited compared to larger designs. Discontinued.
Full Revel M105 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 49.8Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14”H x 7.9”W x 9.8”D (355.6 x 200.7 x 248.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminum cone woofer, 1” aluminum tweeter with acoustic lens waveguide |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 44kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, low minimum |
| Sensitivity | 85dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.76 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.18 |
| Weight | 15.4 lbs (7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Revel M105 vs Monitor Audio Silver 50 7G
- Revel M105 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
- Revel M105 vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- Revel M105 vs Wharfedale Super Denton
- Revel M105 vs Wharfedale Diamond 12.1
- Revel M105 vs KEF LS50 Meta
- Revel M105 vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- Revel M105 vs Wharfedale Diamond 220
- See all 25 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