Skip to main content

British speaker maker KEF turns up the sound quality with 8th-gen Q series

kef announces 8th generation q series new
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Acclaimed British speaker manufacturer KEF announced the eighth iteration of its Q series loudspeakers, giving longtime fans of the brand increases in overall fidelity to look forward to.

The company revealed new versions of the Q150 and Q350 bookshelf speakers, the Q550, Q750 and Q950 floorstanding speakers, and the Q650c center speaker, each designed to outperform the previous generation.

Recommended Videos

The new version of the speakers will showcase numerous tweaks and enhancements to the seventh- generation Q series, all geared around increasing the overall sound quality of each speaker in the line. Perhaps the most notable all-around improvement is the addition of a revamped version of the company’s famed Uni-Q driver array, with a newly engineered tweeter loading tube the the company says will enhance the speakers’ performance in the lower treble range. The line will also show off improvements to bass drivers, which KEF claims will create punchier bass even at high volumes.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

In addition to those overall improvements, each segment of the line gets targeted changes. The improved KEF bookshelf line will feature a new computational fluid dynamic port (CFD) design on the rear of the speaker, which was added to increase the overall clarity, and the the floorstanding and center channel speakers will all have a closed-box midrange cabinet, for a cleaner response.

The Q series will start at $550 for a pair of the Q150 bookshelf speakers, and run up to $900 each for the Q950 floorstanding speakers. Given the company’s five decades in the business and longstanding place at the forefront of high-fidelity speaker design, many will be excited about the new generation.

Very few high-end speaker designers produce great-sounding products as consistently as the England-based, Asian-owned company, which has designed numerous products that we have greatly enjoyed over the years. From high-end bookshelf speakers to the smaller Egg, the company consistently delivers fantastic sound, earning our Editor’s Choice badge on multiple occasions.

Those looking for specific information about each speaker in the revamped Q series are encouraged to visit the company’s website.

Parker Hall
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Parker Hall is a writer and musician from Portland, OR. He is a graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin…
GoldenEar Speakers joins Paradigm, MartinLogan, and Anthem
GoldenEar T66

After the news last month that Bose had acquired the McIntosh Group, we have another interesting shift in the premium audio world. PML Sound International -- the parent company of storied audio brands Paradigm, MartinLogan, and Anthem -- has welcomed GoldenEar Speakers into the fold. It was just under five years ago when it was announced that GoldenEar had been bought by The Quest Group, the owner of AudioQuest and DragonFly, upon the retirement of GoldenEar co-founder Sandy Gross.

Starting January 1, GoldenEar will be known as GoldenEar Studio Inc. PML has announced the operations will pause for the month of January to ensure a smooth transition. During that time, GoldenEar orders will not be processed or fulfilled, with operations resuming on February 3. PML has also assured that "existing warranties and service support will be honored, and they will continue to receive the same level of product quality and customer service when business resumes."

Read more
Here’s how Apple’s AirPods Pro hearing assistance stacks up to professional results
Apple's hearing test in iOS 18.1.

Apple made waves when it announced that its AirPods Pro 2, when combined with iOS 18.1, could fulfill the role of OTC hearing aids. Given that OTC hearing aids can often run as much as $1,500, it seemed too good to be true that the same hearing benefits could be had for just $249 or less. Better yet, given the popularity of Apple's wireless earbuds, there's an excellent chance that those who could benefit already own them (if you live in a country where Apple's hearing aid feature has been approved).

So how good are the AirPods Pro 2 as OTC hearing aids?

Read more
The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is the perfect stocking stuffer, and it’s on sale
A promo image of the Amazon Fire TV Stick HD.

If you’re struggling to come up with last-minute gift ideas, an Amazon Fire TV Stick makes for a great stocking stuffer, and it won’t break the bank. And while these streaming devices are pretty cheap, to begin with, the following offer makes buying one all the more appealing:

For a limited time, when you purchase the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K through Amazon or Best Buy, you’ll only pay $28. At full price, this model sells for $50. We tested this tried and true streamer all the way back in 2020, and reviewer Ryan Waniata said, “Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K offers killer features at a great price.”

Read more