In this review, we will be comparing Menuet SE and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from DALI and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of DALI Menuet SE and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | DALI Menuet SE | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | DALI
Denmark · founded 1983 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Wood fibre | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 59-25k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9.84" x 5.91" x 9.06"
250 x 150 x 230 mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
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 Menuet SE 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.
DALI Menuet SEKEF 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 |
DALI Menuet SE |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Menuet SE features a 1.1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Wood fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3000Hz. 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
Menuet SE has a frequency range of 59-25k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the R3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Menuet SE's min frequency of 59Hz.
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
Menuet SE is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Menuet SE can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Menuet SE sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R3's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R3 a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Menuet SE, 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 Menuet SE 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. Menuet SE has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 DALI Menuet SE's and KEF R3's external dimensions. DALI Menuet SE has external dimensions of 250 x 150 x 230 mm () 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).
KEF R3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 49mm wider, 173mm taller and 107mm deeper than DALI Menuet SE.
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 94% more floor or shelf area. KEF R3 is 107mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF R3 is 173mm 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 DALI Menuet SE is approximately 345.0cm2 / 53.5inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The Menuet SE requires 49% less surface area than the R3 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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