In this review, we will be comparing F500SP and Q Concerto Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Fyne Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F500SP and KEF Q Concerto Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F500SP | KEF Q Concerto Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 0.75" Hard dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-34k Hz | 48-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 120 W watts | Up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.98kg / 17.6lbs | 9.50kg / 20.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.7" x 7.9" x 12.6"
322.6 x 200.7 x 320.0mm | 16.3" x 8.3" x 12.4"
415 x 210 x 315 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F500SP and KEF Q Concerto 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 F500SP |
KEF Q Concerto 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that F500SP is a 2-way design whereas the Q Concerto 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.
Fyne Audio F500SPKEF Q Concerto 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 |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x 6-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
F500SP features a " Tweeter and x 6" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700 Hz. On the other hand, the Q Concerto Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 430 Hz, 2.9 kHz.
Frequency Response
F500SP has a frequency range of 42-34k Hz whereas Q Concerto Meta has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the F500SP can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q Concerto Meta's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
F500SP is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Q Concerto 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 Q Concerto Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. F500SP sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Q Concerto Meta's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F500SP a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q Concerto 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.
Q Concerto Meta can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas F500SP has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the Q Concerto 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
F500SP features Binding Post type posts and Q Concerto 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 F500SP's and KEF Q Concerto Meta's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F500SP has external dimensions of 322.6 x 200.7 x 320.0mm (12.7 x 7.9 x 12.6inch) whereas KEF Q Concerto Meta has external dimensions of 415 x 210 x 315 mm (16.3 x 8.3 x 12.4 in.).
Fyne Audio F500SP is 9.3mm narrower and 92.4mm shorter than KEF Q Concerto Meta but it is also 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 Q Concerto Meta is 92mm 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 F500SP is approximately 642.2cm2 / 99.5inch2 and base area of the KEF Q Concerto Meta is approximately 661.5cm2 / 102.5inch2. The F500SP requires 3% less surface area than the Q Concerto 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 Fyne Audio F500SP weighs 7.98kg / 17.6lbs and the KEF Q Concerto Meta weighs 9.50kg / 20.9lbs. This makes the Q Concerto Meta 19% heavier than the F500SP.
Here is a comparison of how F500SP and Q Concerto 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 Q Concerto Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q Concerto Meta:
- Q3 Concerto Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
322mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
642cm2
vs
661cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 120 W watts |
Up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-34k Hz |
48-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700 Hz |
430 Hz, 2.9 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
322.6mm (12.7") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
200.7mm (7.9") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
7.98kg (17.6lbs) |
9.50kg (20.9lbs) |
| 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 |
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 | Fyne Audio F500SP digs deeper - 42Hz against 48Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Fyne Audio F500SP is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Fyne Audio F500SP is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q Concerto Meta takes more power (180W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F500SP is easier to place; KEF Q Concerto Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | KEF Q Concerto Meta is cheaper - $1,300 against $1,999, about 35% less. |
A Fyne Audio F500SP B KEF Q Concerto 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 F500SP measures better, KEF Q Concerto Meta costs about about 54% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF Q Concerto Meta much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F500SP the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Q Concerto Meta for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.