In this review, we will be comparing Walmer 1 and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Castle and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Castle Walmer 1 and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Castle Walmer 1 | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | Castle | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.47x1.77" True Ribbon | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Woven Carbon Fibre | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-20k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-100 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.50kg / 16.5lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-1/8" x 8-1/4" x 8-11/16"
334.0 x 210.0 x 220.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Castle Walmer 1 and KEF R3 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* |
Castle Walmer 1 |
KEF R3 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Walmer 1 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Castle Walmer 1KEF R3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Castle Walmer 1 |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.47x1.77-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Walmer 1 features a 0.47x1.77" Ribbon True Ribbon Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Carbon Fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.8 kHz. On the other hand, the R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Walmer 1 has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the R3 can go slightly deeper then the Walmer 1's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
Walmer 1 and R3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Walmer 1 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R3's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R3 a more sensitive speaker compared to Castle Walmer 1, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
R3 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Walmer 1 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R3.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Walmer 1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Walmer 1 and R3 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
KEF R3 Port
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 Castle Walmer 1's and KEF R3's external dimensions. Castle Walmer 1 has external dimensions of 334.0 x 210.0 x 220.0mm (13-1/8 x 8-1/4 x 8-11/16inch) whereas KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch).
Castle Walmer 1 is 89mm shorter and 117mm less deeper than KEF R3 but it is also 11mm wider.
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.
KEF R3 needs about 45% more floor or shelf area. KEF R3 is 117mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF R3 is 89mm 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 Castle Walmer 1 is approximately 462.0cm2 / 71.6inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The Walmer 1 requires 31% less surface area than the R3 which gives it a small advantage 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 Castle Walmer 1 weighs 7.50kg / 16.5lbs and the KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the R3 81% heavier than the Walmer 1.
Here is a comparison of how Walmer 1 and R3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Minimum Impedance |
4.3 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
334mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
462cm2
vs
670cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
3499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Castle Walmer 1 |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
Castle |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-100 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.3 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-20k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Carbon Fibre |
Hybrid aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.47x1.77" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
True Ribbon |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.8 kHz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
334.0mm (13.1") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
7.50kg (16.5lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Walnut veneer, Black Oak veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
A generation apart: Castle Walmer 1 is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KEF R3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | KEF R3 takes more power (180W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Castle Walmer 1 is easier to place; KEF R3 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R3: bi-amping. KEF R3 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KEF R3 is cheaper - $2,200 against $3,499, about 37% less. |
A Castle Walmer 1 B KEF R3
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?
KEF R3 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Castle Walmer 1 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. Match it to your room: we rate Castle Walmer 1 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF R3 for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, KEF R3 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Castle Walmer 1 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.