KEF Q750 is the second largest Q series floor-standing speaker, they are solid performers and an ideal speaker choice for both your music and movie playback needs. Like the rest of the Q series models, the Q750 has received accolades over the years and even became a reference floorstander for some of the discerning reviewers in the industry. What makes them so highly praised, I wonder.
That is a good question to ask especially if you are planning to get a matching amplifier for your KEF Q750 speakers. By finding out their strengths and limitations (if any), as well as their sound characteristics, we will be able to determine the best matching amps we can go for. So without further ado, let’s find out more about this pair of talented floor-standing speakers.
Table of Contents
Sound Characteristics and Limitations of KEF Q750
The overall size of KEF Q750 is just slightly larger than Q550, and since it doesn’t have any bass ports, it does make it easier to fit inside a mid-sized room but should be even more suitable for a large-sized room. We also expect the Q750 to move more air and have better bass output than Q550, just by looking at their drive units. The KEF Q750 has the signature 165mm (6.5 inch) Uni-Q driver array with a 25mm (1 inch) vented aluminum dome tweeter right in the middle. Below the iconic Uni-Q driver, spots a 165mm (6.5 inch) aluminum bass driver and followed by two matching ABR (Auxiliary Bass Radiator). Got a good feeling we will be in for a treat.
The KEF Q750 speaker sensitivity is only 88dB which we usually expect to be higher for a floor-standing speaker of this size. The amplifier power requirements start from just 15 Watts (max at 150Watts), unless you are going for Class A power amplifiers, you will require powerful amps in order to drive them to their fullest potential. And also the Q750 frequency response of 48Hz-28kHz (±3dB) shows that they are capable of reproducing deep bass, the more we should get high power output amplifiers and especially if you are not going to integrate a subwoofer. The aesthetic look of KEF Q750 and its choice of colors make it look minimalistic and modern, it will definitely look great in any house and there will be a lot of amplifiers that will blend in well with these speakers.
More Details at Amazon – KEF Q750 Floorstanding Speaker
The very first thing we notice is how lively it actually sounded, the fluidity of the music delivery, it is clean and refined. The KEF Q750 effortlessly moves the air in the room and creates a huge soundstage, that is filled with musical details. The stereo imaging forms a three-dimensional performance where we can easily pin-point each instrument and the vocal sounds so natural but without much warmth to it. The highs are detailed and crisp, can be a little harsh for listeners who are used to warm sounding systems. The additional layer of texture feels like the performers are right in front of you, giving you a holographic performance.
The transparent sound quality of the KEF Q750 is really astounding, every cymbal hits are accurate and detailed. The percussion sound reproduction is impactful and rich as well. It is also capable of reproducing deep bass where the floor-standing speakers easily vibrate our sofa. The midrange reproduction is equally impressive, it has fullness but not exaggerated, it will be better if is a bit more sweet sounding. When it comes to movies, the KEF Q750 is impressive as well. In a 2.0 home theater setup, once you are in the sweet spot and inside the sound field, the rear surround effects are accurately placed. Such as a loud banging of a door behind you, or the background screams of zombies are really entertaining. The surround effects may not be as prominent as the 5.1 setups but it sure is immersive. The stereo imaging of KEF Q750 is certainly top class in this price range.
It may not sound as musical as some other higher-priced speakers but also the Q750 is not as clinical sounding as studio monitors. The KEF Q750 is really one of or perhaps the best all-rounder floor-standing speakers at this price range. You will not go wrong in using them as the left and right main speakers in a stereo setup or home theater setup. We just need to find the right amplifiers for them and avoid bright-sounding amps since the KEF Q750 are quite bright-sounding themselves. To use a subwoofer is entirely optional unless you want a more prominent subterranean bass response. With these details, we can now start listing out the best amplifiers to match with the KEF Q750 speakers.
KEF Q750 Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2.5-way bass-reflex
- Drive Units:
- Uni-Q Driver Array: 1 inch (25 mm) vented aluminum dome tweeter, 6.5 inch (165 mm) aluminum cone
- Bass Driver: 165mm (6.5 inch) aluminum bass driver, 2x 165mm (6.5 inch) aluminum ABR
- Frequency Response (±3dB): 48Hz-28kHz
- Frequency Range Free Field (-6dB): 42Hz
- Amplifier Requirements: 15-150 Watts
- Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms (min. 3.8 Ohms)
- Sensitivity (2.83V/1m): 88dB
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 977mm x 323mm x 310mm (with Plinth) | (38.4″ x 12.7″ x 12.2″)
- Weight: 16.5kg (36.4lbs)
Best Amplifiers to match with KEF Q750
The Cambridge Audio CXA81 is an integrated amplifier that packs enough power to make the KEF Q750 shine. The CXA81 has garnered many accolades over the years and was even the best stereo amplifier recently. The bold and forward presentation will charge up your music listening experience, with impeccable timing that will engage you right in an instant. This impressive amplifier doesn’t just pump out powerful sound, there is richness in the overall sound reproduction as well. It is an insightful amp that digs out details and it is recommended to have a listen before you start to seriously consider.
More Info at Amazon – Cambridge Audio CXA81 Stereo Two-Channel Amplifier
The Rega Elex-R are exceptional amplifiers that are really hard to resist not to fall in love with them. The timing and the snappy attacks create a truly entertaining music listening experience. The energy coming from the Rega Elex-R and the liveliness of the KEF Q750 speakers delivers an expressive music delivery. If only the Elex-R has a little more power output. The sound characteristics are quite similar to Q750, just that the amplifier sounds a little less bright. If you audition them together and you don’t find the treble harsh then you most definitely will enjoy this exciting HiFi setup.
More Info at Amazon – Rega Elex-R Integrated Amplifier
Going for Parasound HiFi separates will be a great choice, as they match well with KEF Q750 floor standing speakers. You can opt for the Parasound NewClassic 2125 v.2 power amplifier which has more than enough clean power to drive the KEF Q750 with ease. For the Pre-amp section, you might want to check out Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre, it has a built-in DAC and other features such as an 80Hz low pass subwoofer output, and more. HiFi separates typically reproduce better sound quality than an integrated amplifier at a similar price range, especially when you are going for mono power amplifiers but this will start to get really expensive.
More Details at Amazon – Parasound 2125 125-Watt THX Ultra2 Two-Channel Amplifier
More Information at Amazon – Parasound NewClassic 200 Pre Preamplifier
As mentioned earlier, going for HiFi separates can get expensive very fast and this is why some audiophiles still prefer integrated amplifiers as it will also save them a lot of space. Sticking with Parasound, since they have been used as amps for KEF speakers at HiFi shows. You might want to check out their entry-level integrated amps, the Parasound NewClassic 200 Integrated but if you are really serious about sound quality and budget is not an issue. You might want to audition the Parasound HINT 6 Halo Integrated Amplifier, as this integrated amp uses High bias class A/AB operation power amplifiers.
More Details at Amazon – Parasound HINT 6 Halo Integrated Amplifier
For home cinema use, the Denon AVRs are a more popular choice for the KEF Q750 floorstanders. The Denon AV receivers are already one of the top brands when it comes to setting up your home theater system so you can be assured of their sound quality. Their AV receivers also use Audyssey a state-of-the-art room correction technology that will further enhance your home cinema experience. You should audition Denon AVR-X4700H, it is highly rated by owners and has sufficient power output to drive the KEF Q750. Not to mention, it has the latest 8K/60Hz and 4K/120Hz pass-through advanced video processing technology. If possible, the rest of the speaker channels should be all KEF Q series speakers, for instance, the center channel speaker should be the KEF Q650c. This will provide a cohesive surround sound field as all the speakers have the same sound signature.
More Details at Amazon – Denon AVR-X4700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel AV Receiver
Pairing the KEF Q750 with tube amplifiers may provide a tad more warmth in the overall sound reproduction if you really find them sounding too harsh or bright for you. Without sacrificing the power output, you can check out Rogue Audio Sphinx v3 which is a high-performing amp and also one of the very best tube amplifiers you can match with your KEF Q750. As mentioned, having a subwoofer into the mix is not really essential but if movie experience is crucial for your enjoyment, by all means, you should get a subwoofer. We will recommend a ported cabinet subwoofer, as they are better for movies since they have more bass output.
More Info at Amazon – SVS PB-1000 Pro Subwoofer Ported Cabinet
To Sum It Up
The KEF Q750 is a high-quality floor-standing speaker that deserves the best matching amplifiers. The listed amps here should be auditioned along with your KEF Q750 speakers that are broken-in so that you can hear a more accurate representation of how they will sound together. Feel free to use these recommended amplifiers as references as well. Just need to be careful when pairing them with bright-sounding amplifiers as it could easily cause listener fatigue. Unless you prefer it, then it won’t be an issue.
