In this review, we will be comparing F500SP and R3 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 R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F500SP | KEF R3 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 | — | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6" | 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-34k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 120 W watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.98kg / 17.6lbs | 12.41kg / 27.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.7" x 7.9" x 12.6"
322.6 x 200.7 x 320.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Fyne Audio F500SP and KEF R3 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 R3 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 F500SP is a 2-way design whereas the R3 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 R3 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 R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-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 R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
F500SP has a frequency range of 42-34k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the F500SP can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 R3 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 R3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. F500SP sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R3 Meta's is rated at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Fyne Audio F500SP a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3 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.
R3 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 R3 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
R3 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. F500SP has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R3 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 R3 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 R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch).
KEF R3 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1.3mm wider, 100.4mm taller and 17mm deeper than Fyne Audio F500SP.
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 R3 Meta is 17mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KEF R3 Meta is 100mm 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 R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The F500SP requires 6% less surface area than the R3 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 R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the R3 Meta 56% heavier than the F500SP.
Here is a comparison of how F500SP and R3 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 R3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
- 1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers
- 1 pair of microfiber grilles
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
90 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 |
42 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
34k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
322mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
642cm2
vs
680cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1999USD
vs
2199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 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 |
| General |
Fyne Audio F500SP |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30 - 120 W watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-34k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700 Hz |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
322.6mm (12.7") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
200.7mm (7.9") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
320.0mm (12.6") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
7.98kg (17.6lbs) |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
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 | Fyne Audio F500SP digs deeper - 42Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Fyne Audio F500SP is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), 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 R3 Meta takes more power (180W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F500SP is easier to place; KEF R3 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R3 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,999 vs $2,199 a pair). |
A Fyne Audio F500SP B KEF R3 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?
Fyne Audio F500SP has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Fyne Audio F500SP the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF R3 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.