KEF Q350 48,000

If there’s one overriding theme with the KEF Q350s, it’s refinement. One of the designers' key aims was to achieve a cleaner, more sophisticated presentation – both sonic and physical – than that of the speakers' predecessors.

These stand mounters offer stunning sound and elegant looks at a competitive price – a cocktail of qualities that sees them challenging at the top of their class.

Bang up to date

The first thing you’ll notice is the clean, modern design. These speakers look sleek and minimal. Apart from the logo at the top, the fascia is completely devoid of anything to distract you from the main event: KEF’s iconic Uni-Q driver.

What looks like a single driver is actually a 25mm vented aluminium dome tweeter sitting in the throat of a 16.5cm aluminium mid/bass driver. This single point-source arrangement is designed to improve integration between the drivers and the way sound is dispersed. The distinctive waveguide on the tweeter helps distribute sound evenly.

The latest evolution of the Uni-Q driver features a damped tweeter-loading tube to soak up unwanted activity from the back of the dome. It’s designed to improve the quality of the high frequencies. The Uni-Q driver now sits right in the middle of the cabinet to help reduce internal standing waves and improve clarity.

The port has been moved to the back of the speaker. KEF claims this ensures any midrange leakage of noise is less audible. The port has also been redesigned to reduce noise and distortion for deeper, cleaner bass performance.