In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.3 and R11, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Kanta No.3 and KEF R11 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Focal Kanta No.3 and KEF R11 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal Kanta No.3 and KEF R11 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Kanta No.3 and R11 are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
Focal Kanta No.3 |
KEF R11 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
Kanta No.3 features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250 Hz - 2500 Hz. On the other hand, the R11 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Kanta No.3 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz whereas R11 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the Kanta No.3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R11's min frequency of 46Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Kanta No.3 and R11 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kanta No.3 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the R11's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta No.3 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R11, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Kanta No.3 can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R11 has a max power handling value of 300 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Kanta No.3.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R11 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta No.3 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Kanta No.3 has a Front firing port whereas R11 has a rear firing ports.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Focal Kanta No.3's and KEF R11's external dimensions. Focal Kanta No.3 has external dimensions of 1280.0 x 386.0 x 521.0mm ( 50-3/8inch x 15-3/16inch x 20-1/2inch ) whereas KEF R11 has external dimensions of 1301.0 x 312.0 x 389.0mm ( 51-3/16 x 12-1/4 x 15-5/16inch) .
KEF R11 is 74mm narrower and 132mm less deeper than Focal Kanta No.3 but it is also 21mm 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 Focal Kanta No.3 is approximately 2011.1cm2 / 311.7inch2 and base area of the KEF R11 is approximately 1213.7cm2 / 188.1inch2. The Kanta No.3 requires 66% more surface area than the R11 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 Focal Kanta No.3 weighs 46.09kg / 101.4lbs and the KEF R11 weighs 37.70kg / 82.9lbs. This makes the Kanta No.3 22% heavier than the R11.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.3 and R11's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.3:
Floorstanding loudspeakerLarge grilleSmall grilleOutrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discsUser Manual
What's in the Box of KEF R11?
Here are the items that come with the R11:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Foam port plugs4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discs4 Screws4 WashersWrenchHex-keyUser ManualWarranty Information
Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
300 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
1280mm
vs
1301mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Minimum Impedance |
3.2 ohms
vs
3.0 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Base Surface Area |
1213cm2 (312x389mm)
vs
2011cm2 (386x521mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
6000USD
vs
10998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Focal Kanta No.3 |
KEF R11 |
Brand |
Focal |
KEF |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
40-400 watts |
15-300 watts |
Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.0 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
Frequency Response |
33-40k Hz |
46-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5" |
Crossover Frequency |
250 Hz - 2500 Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
Firing Direction |
Front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1280.0mm (50.4") |
1301.0mm (51.2") |
Width |
386.0mm (15.2") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
Depth |
521.0mm (20.5") |
389.0mm (15.3") |
Weight |
46.09kg (101.4lbs) |
37.70kg (82.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
Available Colors |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |