u/Pinksy_Diamond

Hi everyone, I’m considering buying the KEF Q7 Meta for my living room and I’d like to hear from people who already own them or have listened to them properly.

My use would be:

music listening, mostly streaming / lossless
movies and TV
2.0 at first, maybe adding a sub later
normal untreated living room
TV is an LG G5 OLED, so the system will also be used a lot for films and series

I’m not trying to build a full surround setup right now. I care more about good stereo sound, imaging, voices, detail and a full sound that works well with music, but I still want movies to feel engaging.

I’m looking for something detailed and hi-fi, but not thin or harsh. Good bass without needing a sub immediately would be a big plus.

A few questions for Q7 Meta owners:

How do they sound in a real room, not just in a showroom?
Are they full enough for movies in 2.0?
Do they need a subwoofer immediately, or are they satisfying on their own?
How picky are they with placement and distance from the wall?
What amplifier are you using with them?
Do they need a lot of power/current to sound their best?
Any regrets, or would you buy them again?

I’m also considering an integrated amp/streamer with HDMI ARC, possibly something like the Onkyo Icon A-50, but I’m open to suggestions.

Budget is around €2500/2600 total for speakers + amp.

Would the Q7 Meta be a strong choice for this kind of mixed music/movie setup, or would you look at something else?

Thanks!

Hi guys, I’m building a living room setup and I’d like some opinions before buying.

I’m in Europe and my budget is around €2500/2600 total for speakers + amp.

Main use:

music listening, mostly streaming / lossless
movies and TV
2.0 at first, maybe subwoofer later
I prefer a good stereo setup instead of going full AVR for now

The combo I’m considering is:

KEF Q7 Meta floorstanders
Onkyo Icon A-50 integrated amp/streamer
TV is an LG G5 OLED, so HDMI ARC is important

Prices would be roughly:

KEF Q7 Meta: around €1450 pair
Onkyo Icon A-50: around €1200
Total around €2650

I’m looking for something detailed and hi-fi for music, but still full and fun enough for movies. I don’t want a thin or harsh sound. Good bass without needing a sub immediately would be nice.

My main questions:

Is the KEF Q7 Meta one of the best floorstanders around €1500/pair?
Is the Onkyo Icon A-50 a good match for them?
Would you choose this over something like Audiolab 7000A + separate streamer, Cambridge, Rotel, Arcam, Marantz, etc.?
Any real issues with the Onkyo app, HDMI ARC, build quality or long-term support?

I know an AVR would make more sense for surround, but I care more about stereo sound quality and music, so I’m leaning this way.

Would you go with this combo or build something different with the same budget?

Thanks!