Overall, the KEF q150 and q350 are the perfect choices that you can make to get your hands on the best bookshelf affordable speakers. I found the actual review rather florid, but as a current or prior owner of all the speakers referenced including KS50sabd Q300 it's about what I would expect. You and Art Dudley are terrific reviewers! In this post, we have included a detailed comparison between KEF Q150 Vs. KEF Q350. This feature behaves just like any other Bluetooth-enabled d, Not to be confused with Wi-Fi-enabled speakers, wireless speaker set ups do not require a speaker wire or direct lines to other speakers and the AV receiver. Because people like you won't pay the premium and instead expect the Government to. The KEF 150 is recognised for its high-quality recording and accurate soundstage. Many other technical specifications come along with these new speaker models. Kathy Gifford having her beautiful Designer clothes made by near slave labor was a rather public scandal that started the Chinesium kinds of Rants. It would be useful if JA could make a set of measurements for the Q350 while driven by the PrimaLuna Prologue Premium to show what would be the effect of that amp's output impedance on the speaker's frequency response. How many bookshelf speakers are included? . Finally, my first Naim. If that is your interest, you can buy some very good components directly out of China from sellers like ShenzhenAudio.com and others should you choose to do so. Triangle Borea BR03 A step up in sound quality The Borea BR03 is one of the best bookshelf speaker sets we've heard, with extraordinary clarity and spaciousness plus plenty of bass. Plus Sanyo, B-Tech, Teac, Techcraft, LG, StudioTech, Bell'O & more. I considered all the current bookshelf speakers that are being talked about in the current year. Turntable and Speaker Combos That Make Vinyl Easy, The Best Furniture for Your Home Audio System. I added a SVS SB 2000-Pro sub and it literally calms my soul when I listen to them. Many reading this are probably in the same predicament they find themselves in when the Q150 and Q350 frequently go on sale for $300 and $500 respectively. Moreover, it has an exquisite bass which is more than enough for a small room. I do buy valuable products made by skilled artisans and workmen, products like PS Audio, Sennheiser, Festool, Brisson Interfaces, Electrocompaniet, Thiel Audio, Meridian, Linn Products. Ending Thoughts - KEF Q150 Vs Q350. It comes with a rear port. The significant difference comes around the inbuilt wattage. The Uni-Q driver has been reconfigured to the middle of the cabinet to improve the clarity and quality of the Q Series bookshelf speakers by reducing unnecessary internal resonance and adding precision to their acoustic clarity and detail.Lower treble output is greatly enhanced with the inclusion of the damped tweeter loading tube, which offers a smooth termination of sound emitted from the rear end of the tweeter, and a new low-distortion inductor provides clearer bass on the crossover. All Trademarks and Copyrights belong to their respective owners. The ports design has been tweaked to reduce vibration at higher speeds, resulting in little port noise and LF compression. Pairing with a subwoofer and having most of the bass go to the subwoofer cleans the sound signature up a little bit but the overall sound quality lacked detail and definition. It is the biggest driver in size, and is usually shaped like a cone. The Uni q driver is positioned right at the center of the entire driver box. They're in the top 3 bestselling speakers and have quite a few popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin or Kanto TUK . I had the Kef LS50s but they made my ears bleed after like 45 mins so I had to get rid of em. Q Acoustics is a British audio company that makes some of the best affordable speakers, and its 3020i are the best bet for most people. Regarding hardware, content, and other features, the Q series bookshelf speakers are very close. Your praise for Magnepan misses the point. For more sophisticated listeners, or for those who truly want the best sound reproduction, a midrange driver is crucial. Discover. This eventually leads to higher gain and less power consumption, very similar to the q150 series. Usually located at the top of the speaker, tweeters come in different shapes (detailed below) and sizes. A general rule of thumb is a bigger woofer means louder, more powerful bass. Does anyone have a view on their use of untreated paper for the woofer cone, particularly the longevity? Excellent speakers, but be weary of less-than-ideal placement, Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2017. that these lovely Qs are made of Chinesium, RRRRRRRRRrrrrrrrr you ? The big drum in Guo YaZhi's Sorrow of the River (CD, MA Recordings M074A) was taut and surprisingly powerful, but YaZhi's various Chinese wind instruments sounded annoyingly hard and two-dimensional. To those who don't they have the same truthiness as Gizmodo. Chinesium prics X 5 . Can you recomnend some integrated amps for the bro3. If you're a true music lover and you have a bigger room to set up your system (these get loud), the B&W 606 are fantastic compact speakers. It certainly did no harm to the reproduction of this glorious organ recording. Purchased a pair be the rear speakers of the HT system. There is still no such thing as a free lunch. Although, the size of these bookshelves speakers varies up to a great extent. ps. The price of the KEF Q350 is double the price of Q150. Wanting to build an 50% Home Theater / 50% Music system for my family room that is starting out as a 2.0 system, and not really having access to a local For a bit of background, I'm a hobbyist audio and mastering engineer with about 20 years of studio experience. (footnote 1). As a Corporation I have to move my Labor Supply "OffShore" to take advantage of lower labor costs, my personal Contract and Bonuses are contingent on it. This is a review and detailed measurements of the KEF Q350 Bookshelf/stand-mount speaker. The test report for that amp showed that it had a very high output impedance. In fact, it seems a rather well kept semi-secret that never gets talked about. ELAC DBR62 - liked these too, but similar to Trangles, when comparing side by side with KEF, Elacs were more fatiguing. Elac Unifi 2.0 and this KEF Q350. In the end, I slightly preferred the Q350s 6' apart, toed in just a little, 33" from the wall behind them to their front baffles, and with their ports partially plugged. I read a zillion reviews. However, the driver size and other technical requirements are different. The q350 series has higher wattage as compared to q150. Buying a piece of Gear is like a Marriage Commitment, a Love Affair, a Relationship. I have no profit motives in posting this, have no business associations with those parties. Aco, Measured in decibels, or dB, sensitivity measures a speakers ability to convert power to volume. Whereas KEF q350 has a large woofer, stronger bass, and sounds complete. And I also hear they have a 'different' and 'unique' sound that's very appealing and fun to listen to. Apart from the Driver and design, both speakers also share the same crossover frequency of 2.5Hz, the same technology of the Uni-Q array/CFD port, and a nominal impedance of 8ohms. DISCOVER . I've tried: Klipsch RP-600M - didn't like them at all Triangle BR03 - liked them, but when comparing side by side with KEF, Triangles sounded more After going through a few speakers with my Yamaha amp, KEF delivers the most dynamic and enjoyable sound. As a Manufacturer, how can I approve the concept of moving our labor supply "offshore", strictly to improve my Corporation's P/E ratio ( momentarily ). Additionally, they have gorgeous-yet-bespoke design and are available in a number of different wood finishes including black ash, cherry mahogany, light oak and walnut. But as we have already mentioned that it is a passive speaker, the customization shouldnt be expected anyways. To roughly assess the maximum amplitude of the noise produced by the Q350's enclosure, I drove the KEFs with Bel Canto Design's e.One REF600M monoblocks ($4990/pair) to play Franois Couperin's complete works for organ, with Michel Chapuis performing on the Jean-Esprit Isnard "large organ" of the Basilica of St. Mary Magdalene, in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France (LP, RCA Victrola VICS 6018). Music that was recorded in stereo needs to be listened to in that format unless we are content with listening to single loudspeakers again that attempt to simulate stereo or even surround sound with multiple drivers packed into an enclosure the size of a coffee can. Although you can choose your type of amplifier can be considered as a customization feature. As opposed to the Q150s sensitivity, the Q350 can get marginally quieter and use less power. Is Stereophile writing to their readership ? Inner construction has been modified to eliminate internal resonances and increase audio quality. Would you like to receive updates from KEF and be notified when this product becomes available? In simple words, we can say that KEF q150 has a very wide soundstage and sounds fantastic even at low volume with neutral sound. components, and hallmark Paradigm sound quality. KEFs tangerine waveguide over the tweeter dome adds to Uni-ultra-wide Qs distribution. Worked into the now complete system the performance of the HT system is a true force of nature. The Q150 comes with just enough bass for small to medium rooms and does not instil a vibration. It's here. As a result of this it does not require an additional subwoofer. The Pass Labs amp and KEF Q350s reproduced the sound of each instrument with almost pitch-perfect tone and above-average force and texture. The specific effect is followed by the tangerine wave effect method. ps. A common analogy used f, More and more, musicians and streaming services are offering high-resolution audio playback for music files. The Q350's cloth grille is optional at $39.98/pair, but KEF does include concentric, two-piece foam plugs to partially or fully block the rear-firing ports when the pair are positioned near room boundaries. But, as with any speaker metric, this number alone doesnt describe the loudness of the speaker and should be taken into consideration with other measurements such as sensitivity, which describes the loudness of a speaker per watt. KEF Q350 vs Elac DBR62 vs Wharfedale 225 vs Triangle BR03 Q350 = 215 DBR62 = 250 225 = 250 BR03 = 220 Currently I own the Q350 and quite like them, but as the other ones are all front ported I'm looking into them. In 2018, it introduced the 606 bookshelf speakers and then just two years later, in 2020, it replaced those speakers with these 606 S2 Anniversary Edition speakers. Polk Audio is best known for making hi-fi speakers that push way behind their affordable price tag, but in 2020 it stepped into true audiophile territory with its Legend Series, comprised of the L100 and L200 speakers. It is your task as a reader to accept their expertise or not, and to apply your own filters such as country of manufacture. Oh well. Its EVO4.2 bookshelf speakers sound positively like floor-standing loudspeakers when positioned on solid stands (which cost an extra $300-$500) no subwoofer required. The data presented is for information purposes only. The woofer sizes of the Q150 and Q350 vary. Let us know your views about the KEF Q150 Vs Q350 speaker comparison in the comment section. As a result, this tends to provide a more ideal and pure sound source for extracting and rendering her notes sounds. Also, they are speaker than KEFLS50 speakers as well. Well, the increment in prices is only due to the larger size of the driver. The KEF Q350 speakers turn out to . I'm also a Maggie owner and open baffle fan and would have liked to see the obvious comparison with MMGs rather than just with the same old tiny boxes. I tried the foam plugs for Really wanted to like this speaker but I returned it. debut reference dbr62. The updated speakers feature B&W's Continuum cone driver technology, which has been a signature feature of the company's higher-end speakers for years, and both speakers have a rear-firing port that helps the speakers deliver surprisingly punchy bass. At least they were Made in America - right? Released in 2020, the JBL L82 Classic is effectively a smaller, more affordable version of the L100 Classic (which were released in 2018). Insert . Personally, I would be very happy if KEF would offer a stand that's specific to the LS50 including wire connections on the stand -- at the floor level instead of at waist-level on the speaker which is seriously ugly regardless of cable used. Some are even made with more unique materials like wood. Maybe different sellers? Gear Patrol participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness. Unfortunately, there was a leanness that turned dry and flat through the uppermost octaves. These cones come in three types: tweeters, midranges (sometimes called mids), and woofe, The type of enclosure, or cabinet, plays a key role in determining the focus of your sound. is an intellectual rant about using poor ( but skilled ) Chinese labor force ( usually young female Farm Girls ) kept in Labor Dormitories ( like Foxcom ( who make our Apple Products ) for ultra competitive Costs resulting in the collapse of a Country's Position in Supplying any such Product. You are racist. True audio, Tweeters produce the highest frequencies in sound, typically anything above 2,000 Hz. You should also ask yourself why these companies have shifted manufacuring to China, or Indonesia, or Mexico? KEF Q350 Review - One of the best speakers available at $500 and also better than the LS50, Triangle Borea BR03 _(Z Reviews)_ Son, I am dissapoint.. Cons:. After going through a few speakers with my Yamaha amp, KEF delivers the most dynamic and enjoyable sound. This measurement refers to the diameter of the woofer. This is how the drivers can incorporate and change the audio even though you are seated next to the speakers. They pair a 25mm silk dome tweeter with a 16cm midrange/bass paper driver that together has an expansive sound that rivals much more expensive options. Kef Q350 customer reviews Often, for the highest audio dispersion, bookshelf speakers should be put on stands. Below, we've rounded up our favorite passive bookshelf speakers of 2022. I hear the Bro3s are warm and easy to listen to yet detailed at the same time. Kef Q350 are $500 more expensive than the average speakers ($299.98). Fairly obviously Stereophile's audience is those who already know Stereophile. In this, the main motive of the wave effect is to reduce the microscopic compression. That's why I highly recommend them, and I am making them our product of the year in the speaker category. The problem is real and the challenges still exist in other industries. They're in the top 3 bestselling speakers and have dozens of popular alternatives in the same price range, such as Klipsch R-51PM or Kef Q150 . Some Gear should've never been Sold. premium . No worries. One thing is for certain, there is no shortage of affordable passive or active bookshelf loudspeakers for all types of spaces. When they realized this B&W quickly put a stop to it, but I remember the manager saying that it was a constant battle working with the Chinese in protecting intellectual property, and manufacturing techniques. Also, the dimensions of the KEF q150 speakers are relatively smaller, almost very similar. All the drivers are arranged back to back together and are in the center of the cabinet. It is capitalism in action. Since the Q150 and Q350 have back ports to boost bass, you should not put them too close to the wall. Even maintaining a 9-inch gap between the wall and a speaker significantly improves the experience. What's the Best Ultra-Portable Bluetooth Speaker? I tried the foam plugs for the bass reflex port in the back and positioning in/out from the walls, but the bass remained very woolly and not tight at all. Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2023. They're worth it to avoid an accident. Show newer Speakers. Sleek matte Black and White vinyl finishes are available on the Q350. In the BR03, particularly in the black finish, this could also legitimately be seen to be a little dull. Mercedes Teamed Up with Apple to Add Spatial Audio, How to Turn Your Home Stereo Into a Sonos System, 5 Ways to Make Your Speakers Last a Lifetime, The Best Bookshelf Speakers for Your Home Hi-Fi System. I hear the Bro3s are warm and easy to listen to yet detailed at the same time. Check our recent content on speakers, soundbars, headphones and earphones. The B&W 606 S2 Anniversary Edition is available in three finishes: black, white or oak. Customer reviews and photos may be available to help you make the right purchase decision! I would never have known KEF was For-Sale or how much it Sold for. With YPAO processing, should I be leaving Q350 ports plugged or unplugged? The other control part that you get with these speakers is that you can lay down the speakers on their side. I have listened to many many speakers around this and we'll above this price range. I tried to avoid buying these, but i keep finding little finger prints from my 2 year old on the speaker cones. I will of course note that most of the companies you praise are foreign, and some manufacturer their products in China. Really wanted to like this speaker but I returned it. The solutions you propose are basically the government intervening to support uncompetitive industries. Kef Q350 are a well-known option at the top of the price range. I would definitely recommend these speakers. The BasX A-100 Stereo Flex Amplifier, SMSL Q5 Pro, or Dayton Audio DTA2.1BT are all viable options. 14.09 x 8.26 x 12.04 in (358 x 210 x 306 mm), KEF reserves the right, in line with continuing research and development, to amend or change specifications. Nov 27, 2015 4,591 3,794 33,570. - Oct 2018. The attacks of piano notes felt surprisingly natural. So what is this entry level "Audiophile" price concept being frequently touted ? Audiophiles who like more bass should still match this with a subwoofer. I added a SVS SB 2000-Pro sub and it literally calms my soul when I listen to them. If you're willing to take the jump from the sub-$500 price range to the sub-$1,000 price range, these bookshelf speakers are about as good as you can get. And these are already pretty pricey for my budget. Triangle was much clearer on the treble and highs. thanks for another great article! Mine are in walnut as I have many speakers that are black and wanted a change. Well, the increment in prices is only due to the larger size of the driver. To optimise the listening experience, the Q series provides the Uni-Q driver has been repositioned to the center of the cabinet. The BR08 fairs a little better in this regard. Manufacturer-provided product description, urls and documents. The speakers entire functioning is based on the unique arrangement of the driver, which is dubbed and integrated with uni-Q technology. It was operating as an employee owned business when in 2014 there was a management led buyout by Sonovox Group (China). Budget premium sound quality and look gorgeous. Triangle Borea BR03 are a popular option in the middle of the speakers price range. One knock on Amazon, it took a month before I got these! A painful mistake. Oh, that's right, no smartphones are made in any of those countries. It's the Walmart thinkers that have China making the unserviceable Land Fill Filler for us. The significant difference is that q100 has a front port, whereas KEF q350 has a backport. Perhaps the product cost reductions that enabled the low pricing might also be excessivley degrading the resulting performance, or maybe not. Dali Oberon 1 (280 euro) Triangle Borea BR03 (300 euro) KEF Q150 (360 euro) They would be used for nearfield listening now (desk usage), but hoping to use them in a medium-sized room at some point in the future. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. This is usually known as socialism. In the past few years, Bowers & Wilkins decided to update its famed 600 range of speakers (which is now over 25 years old). As the circulation of air can make a difference in the bass reflex of the sound. The frequency response of these two speakersdiffers. I just did a bit of a Search on the LS50 to discover that KEF originally intended the Design to be a more modern replacement for the LS3/5a. At one point in my critical listening, I got up and put my hands on the sides of the Q350s' cabinets. The Paradigm DCS-208IW3, the perfect blend of performance and practicality. and.. it explains an entry level $500 LS50 re-branded as Q series. The only thing that KEF Q150 lacks is the presence of the grille, which many people might not need to maintain the aesthetics. In comparison to other bookshelf speakers, the Q150 is suitable for laptop tables. Though being variants of the same brand, there are many similarities between both KEF q150 and q350, but they are different from each other. Now, one and two years later, respectively, I'm enjoying both Schiits more than ever. Also, the orientation doesnt matter. You are not 'old school'. Will these Audiophile smart phone people connect the dots, discover Stereophile and end up buying Q series KEF loudspeakers ? And as the model was launched recently, it is more advanced and equipped with better features and technology. When space seems to be at a shortage, the Q Series bookshelf speakers shine. Maybe the reviewer took a Subway Train to NJ and had a nice look-round the KEF USA Parts & Service Centre. The soundstage is comprehensive and big, with heavy bass and reasonable treble, making these speakers suitable for confined areas. Just wonderin'. Lower sensitivity speakers require more power from the amplifier to achieve higher volumes. However, because active loudspeakers are an entirely different breed they have numerous wired and wireless connectivity options and demand a significantly higher price tag we've omitted them from the below list. Similar to KEF q150, this variant also lacks all of the control features. KEF Q150 has a current market retail price of $299/pair. I just sold my beloved focal 726 tower speakers that cost 3.5 times are much at the Q350s, and I also own a pair of Polk A3s. There is a single horizontal brace in the middle of the cabinet. The speakers need to be 3/4 to 1 metre from side and back walls. Meanwhile, Kef Q350 did not receive any endorsements this month. The Danish hi-fi speakers have a traditional two-way design, comprised of a 25mm dome tweeter and 13cm midrange/bass driver, that deliver a way more dynamic sound than their normally $400 price tag would suggest. The midrange sounds clean with a warm tonal balance that makes them ideal for a lot of solid-state and tube amplifiers. Many reading this are probably in the same predicament they find themselves in when the Q150 and Q350 frequently go on sale for $300 and $500 respectively. A low distortion inductor is settled inside the speaker to reduce all the abrasion sounds, which tend to distort the quality of the sound. Triangle Borea BR02 vs. Dali Spektor 2 vs. KEF Q150 Triangle Borea BR02 - $450 Dali Spektor 2 - $350 KEF Q150 - $400 Are there any major differences to how these sound? Gray Well-known member. I prefer loudspeakers with well-controlled directivity, which is the main reason I admire KEF's Uni-Q concentric drivers. Coming to the receiver, you still wont find much versatility in the control options here. My personal gear went up for adoption and are long gone, I should've put them into "proper" storage. Now KEF brings out a similar less expensive model with its own set of qualities. The Q 350 is a remarkably well engineered speaker at a very good price. The sound is FULL bodied, clear, and I have cranked it up well beyond 90 DB without ANY distortion. I kept moving them to determine which combination of wall-to-speaker distance and port plugging worked best. Therefore, you can either use exposed wires or banana plugs here. answer: My old pals at Stereophile and hope to have the Industry's leading Poetically respected Philosopher crawl into bed with ( and spend some quality time with ) our lovely little Q loudspeaker, thank you ! Also, the build quality is very high for the price. Not sure if I understand this right, but are you saying the Q350's really need the Tontrager stands to shine? * Measurement per unit, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them. Wharfedale D220 also developed the bass extension that I did not expect. When reviewing different bookshelf speakers, you will often see a measurement in the product name, starting as low as 4 and ranging to 6 or more. The frequency range is wide, too, as you're getting lows in the 50Hz range and highs up near 50kHz. Kef Q350. Hence, in this post, we will provide you with a detailed review of the most popular bookshelf speaker variants, KEF q150 VS q350. More specific and focused drivers means more accurate, robust sound. In terms of the speaker/stand interface, KEF does provide some stick-on black rubber pads. Also, Q350s are way easier to drive. This may require an app from the brand, such as Yamahas, Speakers with built-in Bluetooth allow you to stream audio content directly from device (e.g., smartphone, tablet, laptop) on the speakers. I'll join Raymond Cooke by turning over in my grave ( when it comes to that sort of thing -- three decades from now, fingers crossed ), where the KEF Q350 is manufactured: Is there anything coming out of China that has "Lasting" Value, is there anything Chinese that our Grandchildren will be taking to their Antique Road Show ? Driven by Rogue Audio's Sphinx hybrid integrated amplifier (tubes, class-D, $1299), the Q350's sound had stout bones, especially through the bottom octaves. Replaced Klipsch RP-600M with these and was literally blown away. Triangle Borea BR03 2-Way Bookshelf Speaker (Pair) WALNUT. However, if I'm KEF and need some dam good "Print" reviewing, where on earth do I go? I don't want you to go out of your way. The KEF LS50 Meta is available in four colors: carbon black, titanium gray, mineral white and a special edition crimson red. For those that think the Chinese make crap, if you own an iPhone of any variety, then I suggest you turn it in for a some other brand made in the UK, Germany, or the USA. English French italian German Spanish Japanese Chinese Simplified Chinese Traditional. Reply Quote. Chineseium is a continuing warning that I'll issue to vulnerable Industries so that they will be aware that they are selling off their children's futures for a fast buck. There is no doubt even the most rapacious would prefer not to. This probably explains Jones's roaming around from Pioneer to TAD to Elac. I looked up the warranty and it specifically excludes issues related to humidity . Product of the year? is a knock-off Rolex a good thing ? Besides, the Q series KEF speakers are almost similar to each other in terms of technology, features, and design elements. I mainly listen to classical and jazz. I ordered these speakers as an open box in like new condition checked by Amazon. Apart from that, the design element is also stunning with sober colors. ( even though it's probably better at keeping time ), "I appreciate and value the beautiful things that Chinese Artisans produce and export to the USA.". The front port has been shifted to the rear of the Q350. Mistahhhhhhhh Space., You're Not Suggesting Block or unblock port if using with subwoofers? This tends to deliver super powerful sound with broader coverage. The tweeter is placed in the acoustic middle of the midrange cone, taking the acoustic concept of a single point source closer to reality than ever before. Throughout the five weeks of my listening, I never stopped adjusting the Q350s' positions, but not because they never sounded rightthey sounded fundamentally good everywhere. As can be seen in the chart above, median best-selling speakers receives a consumer score of 9.1 (great). ", The LS50 crossover has a third-order low-pass filter and a second-order high-pass filter; the Q350 has first-order filters for the high and low passes. buying an amp dependent on THD, SNR, and power balancing with the speaker is preferred. I'm probably choosing peanut butter over steak because of this Spiritual Position. These items were sold in major retail stores across America. Wasn't thrilled initially, played with the positioning and added an Energy subwoofer I had on hand and that's when they really started to sound good. What Triangle has done with the Borea range is ensure that it is very definitely less marmite than some previous offerings from the company. The JBL L82 Classic won't be for everybody. The KEF Q350 speakers turn out to be more efficient and durable. Your comparison of the Stirling Broadcast to the Falcon Acoustics was extremely helpful. But, we're here at Stereophile, an established Audiophile's reference Journal, absorbing the findings of inspired writers who take the time to carefully and fully evaluate various things of interest to our "tiny" group. PSB has been manufacturing award-winning loudspeakers for over 40 years.
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