In this review, we will be comparing Heritage Special and Reference 1 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Dynaudio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Dynaudio Heritage Special and KEF Reference 1 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Dynaudio Heritage Special | KEF Reference 1 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" aluminium dome with MAT |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 7" MSP | 6.5" aluminium cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-23k Hz | 45-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | 50-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.00kg / 24.2lbs | 18.20kg / 40lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15-3/16" x 8-3/16" x 12-5/8"
385.0 x 208.0 x 320.0mm | 17.3" x 8.1" x 16.6"
440 x 205 x 422 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Dynaudio Heritage Special and KEF Reference 1 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* |
Dynaudio Heritage Special |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Heritage Special is a 2-way design whereas the Reference 1 Meta 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.
Dynaudio Heritage SpecialKEF Reference 1 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 |
Dynaudio Heritage Special |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 7-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Heritage Special features a 1.1" Esotar 3 Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 7" MSP Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200 Hz. On the other hand, the Reference 1 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz.
Frequency Response
Heritage Special has a frequency range of 42-23k Hz whereas Reference 1 Meta has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Heritage Special can go slightly deeper then the Reference 1 Meta's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Heritage Special and Reference 1 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.
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 Heritage Special and the Heritage Special can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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.
Dynaudio Heritage Special
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Reference 1 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Heritage Special has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 1 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Heritage Special and Reference 1 Meta 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.
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 Dynaudio Heritage Special's and KEF Reference 1 Meta's external dimensions. Dynaudio Heritage Special has external dimensions of 385.0 x 208.0 x 320.0mm (15-3/16 x 8-3/16 x 12-5/8inch) whereas KEF Reference 1 Meta has external dimensions of 440 x 205 x 422 mm (17.3 x 8.1 x 16.6).
Dynaudio Heritage Special is 55mm shorter and 102mm less deeper than KEF Reference 1 Meta but it is also 3mm 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 Reference 1 Meta needs about 30% more floor or shelf area. KEF Reference 1 Meta is 102mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF Reference 1 Meta is 55mm 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 Dynaudio Heritage Special is approximately 665.6cm2 / 103.2inch2 and base area of the KEF Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2. The Heritage Special requires 23% less surface area than the Reference 1 Meta 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 Dynaudio Heritage Special weighs 11.00kg / 24.2lbs and the KEF Reference 1 Meta weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs. This makes the Reference 1 Meta 65% heavier than the Heritage Special.
Here is a comparison of how Heritage Special and Reference 1 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Dynaudio Heritage Special
 Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
385mm
vs
440mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
665cm2
vs
865cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
7000USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Dynaudio Heritage Special |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
| Brand |
Dynaudio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-23k Hz |
45-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
7" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
MSP |
aluminium cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
aluminium dome with MAT |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2200 Hz |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
385.0mm (15.2") |
440.0mm (17.3") |
| Width |
208.0mm (8.2") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
422.0mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
11.00kg (24.2lbs) |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Dynaudio Heritage Special digs deeper - 42Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Dynaudio Heritage Special is easier to place; KEF Reference 1 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF Reference 1 Meta: bi-amping. KEF Reference 1 Meta sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Dynaudio Heritage Special is cheaper - $7,000 against $9,000, about 22% less. |
A Dynaudio Heritage Special B KEF Reference 1 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. Match it to your room: we rate Dynaudio Heritage Special the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Reference 1 Meta for a mid-size room and a large room. In a large or open-plan room, KEF Reference 1 Meta has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Dynaudio Heritage Special 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.