The Product Analyst: April 2021

Friday, April 30, 2021

KEF Q550 Review (2021) — Is this Compact Floorstanding Speaker Worth It?

The KEF Q550 features the same monochromatic exterior that blends in with most living rooms. What the Q550 has that other models lack is a lighter body, wider frequency range, and Uni-Q Driver Array – but does this justify the price? Our team took part in a KEF Q550 review to ensure this tower speaker won’t put your money down the drain.

Pros

Cons

Design

KEF speakers are smaller and more compact when compared to other brands, but that doesn’t impact the number of bonus capabilities and audio enhancements incorporated into the device.

The tower speaker is lightweight for its size at only 32 pounds, but the high-quality construction and components come together to create a decent piece of equipment. There are 3 different finishes to choose from, the satin black, the walnut wood, and the white to fit in seamlessly into your room design.

KEF Q550 Features

Power Rating of KEF Q550

You may be wondering how much power the KEF Q550 can offer as it is smaller than most brands. Our experts are here to put your concerns to rest because the tower speakers offer a 400 max output and a 200 RMS. It is incredibly impressive given its small structure.

Sound Quality

KEF products possess the brand’s hallmark Uni-Q Driver Array. For this model, KEF places the aluminum dome tweeter inside the midrange driver so the two blend seamlessly for a unified output.

Our experts say the effects of the Uni-Q Driver Array were very noticeable, with every audio detail enhanced for a more realistic and 3D sound. You also have the low-frequency woofer and the help of 2 bass radiators for more pronounced bass.

Frequency Response: KEF Q550

The frequency response in a floorstanding speaker outlines what range of sound spectrum the unit can deliver. In general, our experts say the wider the range, the better. The KEF Q550 has a frequency response of 58Hz to 28kHz, which was more than enough to handle different genres of movies and music.

Driver

The KEF Q550 features aluminum drivers. The tweeter, the midrange, and the woofer all possess an aluminum cone. This offers rigidity but is flexible enough to accommodate the sound vibrations.

Impedance and Sensitivity

The impedance is measured in ohms, and the most common rating for this feature is 4, 6, or 8 ohms. Our experts recommend a higher impedance for better sound quality. The KEF Q550 has an 8-ohm impedance rating and a sensitivity of 87 dB.

Performance

The Uni-Q Driver Array provides balanced sound to anywhere in the room. It doesn’t matter where you are sitting or where you place the speakers, you will always experience optimized sound with this device.

Connectivity: KEF Q550

The KEF Q550 connects to your system and an external amplifier with an auxiliary 3.5mm cable. It’s possible to convert it into a Bluetooth [1] speaker if you find a compatible conversion kit. The length of the cable will be the final indicator of where you can position the speaker.

Setup: KEF Q550

The Uni-Q Driver Array is the best choice for a flexible setup. During the KEF Q550 review, our team found it easy to find the right spot where you can get an improved sound. However, the limiting factor was the cable connection, so make sure to find longer cables.

Price

The KEF Q550 speakers are sold separately. Getting a pair is twice the price of only one speaker. Nevertheless, our experts feel that they are worth the money. The Uni-Q Driver Array is a big reason for our team’s conclusion, but they were a little discouraged by the lack of a grille. However, you can choose to purchase a magnetic grille separately.

The KEF Q550 floor standing speakers come with the standard 5-year labor and 5-year parts warranties. KEF also offers a 60-day moneyback guarantee to sweeten the deal.

KEF Q550 Review Conclusion

Our team’s KEF Q550 review has reached a unanimous conclusion. The Uni-Q Driver Array with auxiliary bass radiators for the woofer made a significant difference to our audio content. The exterior design is also attractive and easy to integrate into your system. The additional feet will protect your floors from scratch or damage.

The post KEF Q550 Review (2021) — Is this Compact Floorstanding Speaker Worth It? appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/kef-q550-review/

Thursday, April 29, 2021

What is the Best Slim Floor Standing Speaker? (2021) — Sleek Models to Slide in Your Home Theater

Floor standing speakers are superb additions to your home theater systems because they elevate the overall audio quality. However, most of them are bulky, making them unideal for people with compact living areas.

Luckily, there are speakers designed for this purpose. After testing several speaker brands, our experts listed the best slim floor standing speakers that will fit into your limited space perfectly.

Best Overall

Yamaha NS-F210BL Bass-Reflex

Best for Build Quality

Polk Audio T50

Best Bass Quality

Q Acoustics 3050i

Yamaha delivers impressive bass sounds via its 8-inch woofer and aluminum tweeter driver. It has a high sensitivity level that’s powerful enough to fill the room.

This floor-standing speaker is constructed with high-quality MDF wood to eliminate resonance, maintain its balance on the floor, and offer long-lasting use.

With its Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer and high-frequency drivers, this speaker creates a crisp, loud sound with minimal distortion and resonance.

Check Today’s Price

Best Overall

Yamaha NS-F210BL Bass-Reflex

Yamaha delivers impressive bass sounds via its 8-inch woofer and aluminum tweeter driver. It has a high sensitivity level that’s powerful enough to fill the room.

Check Today’s Price

Best for Build Quality

Polk Audio T50

This floor-standing speaker is constructed with high-quality MDF wood to eliminate resonance, maintain its balance on the floor, and offer long-lasting use.

Check Today’s Price

Best Bass Quality

Q Acoustics 3050i

With its Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer and high-frequency drivers, this speaker creates a crisp, loud sound with minimal distortion and resonance.

Check Today’s Price

Reviews of the Best Slim Floor Standing Speakers

1. Yamaha NS-F210BL Base Reflex Floor Standing Speaker

If you want a floor standing speaker that offers fantastic bass sounds, our audio team recommends the Yamaha NS-F210BL Bass-Reflex. This floor-standing speaker is one of the best speakers available in the market in terms of bass quality.

Its construction is unique and classically built, with some sleek black finish. Plus, the speaker’s design is modern, ergonomic, and lightweight, so carrying it won’t be an issue.

Though the speaker lacks a wide frequency response, it still produces crisp sounds that fill the room, thanks to its sensitivity and aluminum tweeter. Also, this speaker has an 8-inch woofer that produces impressive bass output for your listening pleasure.

Pros

Cons

2. Polk Audio T50 Home Theater Floor Standing Speakers

The best floor-standing speakers come in an appealing compact design and is sturdily built to withstand pressure and last long.

Polk Audio T50 has a 1-inch dome tweeter that offers clear sound treble and dynamism that betters most of its competitors. Plus, the 6.5-inch drivers provide an excellent bass quality that’s appealing to the ears. The sound produced is so clear that you won’t need a subwoofer.

Additionally, this floor standing speaker has a good frequency range with a low 6 ohms impedance and a peak power of 150W that ensures the music is loud and undistorted.

Pros

Cons

3. Q Acoustics 3050i

The Q Acoustics 3050i is one exceptional floor standing speaker that you can conveniently slide into your home theater setup.

The speaker has a build quality that will stand the test of time and prevent sound resonance. Our experts were impressed with its sound output, as the sound was crisp and powerful in a small-sized room, thanks to the Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer.

This two-way reflex speaker also produces great bass sounds, although they are not super deep unless connected to a stereo amplifier or a subwoofer.

With a 91dB sensitivity level and a 6-ohm impedance, this speaker can get very loud with less distortion[1].

For a range of loud and powerful speakers, you can check the top-performing floorstanding speakers under 5000 here.

Pros

Cons

Slim Floor Standing Speakers Buyer’s Guide

As a newbie, it’s challenging to make an on-the-spot decision regarding purchasing the best slim floor standing speaker. This guide will explain some factors that you should consider when searching for one.

Design and Size

When it comes to design and aesthetics, buyers’ preferences differ. Most floor-standing speakers come in different designs, so you must choose the one that best appeals to you and your home. It may take space unlike seamlessly installed high-quality in-ceiling speakers.

Like the design, floor standing speakers come in various sizes. Although there are several slim floor-standing speakers, you should look for one that’s massive enough to fill your space.

Sound Quality

Frequency response and sensitivity sum up a speaker’s sound quality. A speaker with a more extensive range of frequency response will have a more exact and detailed sound than those with a narrow frequency range.

Sensitivity also affects sound quality. The higher the speaker’s power conversion into volume, the louder it gets.

Setup

When buying a floor-standing speaker, identify the wiring type, as it’s one of the crucial things that affect a speaker’s setup.

Some speakers are Bi-amped, while others are Bi-wired. Bi-amped speakers come with two separate cable sets connected to different amplifiers. On the other hand, Bi-wired speakers have two groups connected to a single output on the amplifier.

Other speaker options that are easy and straightforward to set-up are the high-grade Rockville speakers which you can find here.

Active and Passive Slim Floor Standing Speakers

When buying a floor-standing speaker, you need to determine if it’s active or passive. Active speakers including JBL LSR308 and Yamaha HS8 have an in-built amplifier. That means you won’t have to buy a separate amplifier to plug your speakers into, which is cost-effective.

Passive speakers, on the other hand, don’t come with an in-built amplifier. You’ll need to purchase an external amplifier.

Subwoofer

Most floor-standing speakers come with an in-built subwoofer, although the bass quality differs. A speaker’s subwoofer that reaches a very low frequency will produce a higher bass level than those that don’t.

If you intend to buy a speaker for its bass quality, you should go for ones that come with a dedicated subwoofer and two drivers.

Price

Slim floor standing speakers also differ in cost. The various features and design affect the price of a speaker. Our experts advise that you purchase the speaker with the best features and design that fits your budget.

If you are still considering other brands of floorstanding speakers, you can check our review of Klipsch R-625FA here.

Our Top Pick for a Slim Floor Standing Speaker: Yamaha NS-F210BL Bass-Reflex

After examining its features and qualities, our experts deem Yamaha NS-F210BL Bass-Reflex as the best slim floor standing speaker.

The speaker’s bass quality is fantastic, and it’s uniquely constructed to withstand resonance, resulting in a more transparent treble sound.

Also, the speaker is ergonomic and lightweight, making it portable to carry. More importantly, its sensitivity level is high and loud enough to fill the room.

If you are lookin of quality and affordable speakers, read our review of high-quality budget floorstanding speakers here.

The post What is the Best Slim Floor Standing Speaker? (2021) — Sleek Models to Slide in Your Home Theater appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/best-slim-floor-standing-speakers/

Klipsch R-625FA Review (2021) — Floorstanding Speaker for Surround Sound

The innovative design of the Klipsch R-625FA with an integrated elevation channel on top of the speaker is what attracts most users. However, does this extra detail make a difference, or are you paying a premium for no reason? Our team made this Klipsch R-625FA review to provide you information on whether the product is a worthy purchase or just money down the drain.

Pros

Cons

Design

Although it’s technically one speaker, our experts love how the Klipsch R-625FA is like getting two products for the price. It has an integrated height channel on top of the speaker, rarely seen in these styles. This addition specifically brings Dolby Atmos to your living room.

The top channel reflects and bounces sound off the acoustics of your ceiling more effectively. This will bring you a theater surround sound experience with a single device.

Features of the Klipsch R-625FA

Sound Quality: Klipsch R-625FA

The Klipsch R-625FA features all the hallmarks of the brand, including linear travel suspension titanium tweeters, copper-spun woofers, and of course, the Tractrix Horn Technology. With these additions and the height channel on top, our experts were impressed by this comprehensive Klipsch R-625FA review.

Get ready to experience balanced and accurate audio with dampened distortions and vibrations for clarity, as well.

Frequency Response: Klipsch R-625FA

Our team tested the floorstanding speaker with movies and music of different genres. They concluded that the frequency response between 38Hz to 21kHz on the Klipsch R-625FA very eloquently relayed all the notes on the sound spectrum with impeccable precision.

Impedance and Sensitivity

The 8-ohm impedance is pretty standard for floorstanding speakers and still allows the Klipsch R-625FA to reach the maximum output without much resistance. As for the sensitivity, our team always recommends around 90 dB as a baseline, and the Klipsch R-625FA offers 96dB sensitivity creating encompassing audio.

Drivers: Klipsch R-625FA

With the Klipsch R-625FA floorstanding speaker, you get one titanium linear travel suspension tweeter, dual copper-spun IMG woofers. There is also an elevated channel on the top, and the brand’s coveted Tractrix Horn Technology is present throughout the speaker.

Power

The max power output of the Klipsch R-625FA is 400 watts, with the RMS at 100 watts. It doesn’t offer as much power as some other models, but the R-625FA has the heightened Dolby Atmos channel on top to make up for it.

Performance

After playing different content, each of our team members was thoroughly impressed by the performance of this tower speaker. The Dolby Atmos channel made a very noticeable difference in the sound quality.

There was an element about the sound that filled the hollow spaces of the soundstage. The functions of all the other brand-specific technologies also helped to create an unmatched audio experience.

Setup: Klipsch R-625FA

The Klipsch R-625FA is decent but smaller than others, so our team recommends setting up the tower speakers in medium to large-sized rooms. Due to the addition of the top channel, we suggest placing these speakers in a room with decently tall ceilings.

The low ceiling would compress the sound and muffle the potential of the extra Dolby Atmos channel. Audiophiles need to allow a fair amount of room for the audio signals to be propelled around the room and reflected off the walls. We also suggest placing the speakers at the front of the room and avoiding tight corners.

Connectivity: Klipsch R-625FA

The wired connection is a pretty standard one, and the speakers need to plug into a power source to operate. The design of the Klipsch R-625FA makes it unsuitable for specific locations. Our team suggests maximizing the placement flexibility by purchasing longer cables.

Price and Warranty

The Klipsch R-625FA is considered affordable compared to other Klipsch’s product lines. Our experts were surprised by this because of the surround sound potential the R-625FA provides.

Like with most expensive electronic devices, you get a warranty [1] with your purchase. The Klipsch R-625FA is eligible for a 5-year labor warranty and a 5-year parts warranty.

Klipsch R-625FA Review Conclusion

After individual Klipsch RF-625FA reviews, our team later pooled their results together and formed a unified conclusion. These floorstanding speakers do an excellent job creating a full-fledged home theater experience, especially if purchased in pairs. The price is reasonable, and the 5-year warranties will keep you covered for any maintenance down the line.

The post Klipsch R-625FA Review (2021) — Floorstanding Speaker for Surround Sound appeared first on The Product Analyst.

from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/klipsch-r-625fa-review/