In this review, we will be comparing 1610 Bookshelf 8 and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Arendal Sound and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 | KEF R3 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Arendal Sound
Norway · founded 2015 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Aluminium cone, reinforced ribbed surround | 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-20k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 400 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 16.20kg / 35.6lbs | 12.41kg / 27.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18-3/4" x 10-7/16" x 11-13/16"
477.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 and KEF R3 Meta speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 1610 Bookshelf 8 and R3 Meta are 3-way speakers.
Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8KEF R3 Meta
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 |
KEF R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1610 Bookshelf 8 features a 1.1" Aluminium-magnesium dome in the Rost Essence waveguide with acoustic lens Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Aluminium cone, reinforced ribbed surround Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 330Hz / 2300Hz. On the other hand, the R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
1610 Bookshelf 8 has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the 1610 Bookshelf 8 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
1610 Bookshelf 8 and R3 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 1610 Bookshelf 8 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the R3 Meta's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF R3 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the 1610 Bookshelf 8 and the 1610 Bookshelf 8 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
1610 Bookshelf 8 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas R3 Meta has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 220 watts less than the 1610 Bookshelf 8.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R3 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. 1610 Bookshelf 8 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R3 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8's and KEF R3 Meta's external dimensions. Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 has external dimensions of 477.0 x 265.0 x 300.0mm (18-3/4 x 10-7/16 x 11-13/16inch) whereas KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch).
KEF R3 Meta is 63mm narrower and 54mm shorter than Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 but it is also 37mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 needs about 17% more floor or shelf area. KEF R3 Meta is 37mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 is 54mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 is approximately 795.0cm2 / 123.2inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The 1610 Bookshelf 8 requires 17% more surface area than the R3 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 weighs 16.20kg / 35.6lbs and the KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the 1610 Bookshelf 8 31% heavier than the R3 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how 1610 Bookshelf 8 and R3 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
- 1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers
- 1 pair of microfiber grilles
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
423mm
vs
477mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
680cm2
vs
795cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
3600USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Brand |
Arendal Sound |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 400 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-20k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium cone, reinforced ribbed surround |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
330Hz / 2300Hz |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
477.0mm (18.8") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
265.0mm (10.4") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
16.20kg (35.6lbs) |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
HDF, painted |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Basalt, Polar, Black |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 years |
These sit in different price classes - Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 costs roughly 1.6x what KEF R3 Meta does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 digs deeper - 34Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KEF R3 Meta is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 takes more power (400W vs 180W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF R3 Meta is easier to place; Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R3 Meta: bi-amping. KEF R3 Meta sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KEF R3 Meta is cheaper - $2,199 against $3,600, about 39% less; arguably a different class. |
A Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 B KEF R3 Meta
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R3 Meta much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Arendal Sound 1610 Bookshelf 8 the better fit for a small room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.