In this review, we will be comparing F500S and Q3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F500S and KEF Q3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F500S | KEF Q3 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" Hard dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-34k Hz | 49-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 100 W watts | Up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.30kg / 18.3lbs | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.8" x 8" x 12.5"
325.1 x 203.2 x 317.5mm | 14.1" x 8.3" x 12"
357 x 210 x 305 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F500S and KEF Q3 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* |
Fyne Audio F500S |
KEF Q3 Meta |
| Near-field |
Good |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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
Both F500S and Q3 Meta are 2-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F500SKEF Q3 Meta
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Fyne Audio F500S |
KEF Q3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
F500S features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700 Hz. On the other hand, the Q3 Meta features a 1" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.0 kHz.
Frequency Response
F500S has a frequency range of 45-34k Hz whereas Q3 Meta has a frequency range of 49-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the F500S can go slightly deeper then the Q3 Meta's min frequency of 49Hz.
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
F500S is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Q3 Meta which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 Q3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. F500S sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Q3 Meta's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F500S a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q3 Meta, 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.
Q3 Meta can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas F500S has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Q3 Meta.
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
F500S features Binding Post type posts and Q3 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 Fyne Audio F500S's and KEF Q3 Meta's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F500S has external dimensions of 325.1 x 203.2 x 317.5mm (12.8 x 8 x 12.5inch) whereas KEF Q3 Meta has external dimensions of 357 x 210 x 305 mm (14.1 x 8.3 x 12.0 in.).
Fyne Audio F500S is 6.8mm narrower and 31.9mm shorter than KEF Q3 Meta but it is also 12.5mm 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.
Near-identical footprints. KEF Q3 Meta is 32mm 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 Fyne Audio F500S is approximately 645.2cm2 / 100.0inch2 and base area of the KEF Q3 Meta is approximately 640.5cm2 / 99.3inch2. The F500S requires 1% more surface area than the Q3 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 Fyne Audio F500S weighs 8.30kg / 18.3lbs and the KEF Q3 Meta weighs 8.23kg / 18.1lbs. This makes the F500S 1% heavier than the Q3 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how F500S and Q3 Meta'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 Q3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q3 Meta:
- Q3 Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
325mm
vs
357mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
640cm2
vs
645cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F500S |
KEF Q3 Meta |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 100 W watts |
Up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-34k Hz |
49-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700 Hz |
2.0 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
325.1mm (12.8") |
357.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
203.2mm (8") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
317.5mm (12.5") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
8.30kg (18.3lbs) |
8.23kg (18.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Fyne Audio F500S costs roughly 1.6x what KEF Q3 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 | Fyne Audio F500S digs deeper - 45Hz against 49Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Fyne Audio F500S is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Fyne Audio F500S is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q3 Meta takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | KEF Q3 Meta is cheaper - $800 against $1,299, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Fyne Audio F500S B KEF Q3 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?
The usual trade-off: Fyne Audio F500S measures better, KEF Q3 Meta costs about about 62% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F500S the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Q3 Meta for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Fyne Audio F500S is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.