In this review, we will be comparing L82 Classic MKII and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L82 Classic MKII and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L82 Classic MKII | KEF R3 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Pulp | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 44-40k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-150 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.80kg / 28.2lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18.6" x 11.0" x 12.4"
472.8 x 281.0 x 315.5mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL L82 Classic MKII and KEF R3 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* |
JBL L82 Classic MKII |
KEF R3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 L82 Classic MKII is a 2-way design whereas the R3 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.
JBL L82 Classic MKIIKEF R3
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL L82 Classic MKII |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
L82 Classic MKII features a 1" Titanium Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" Pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1700Hz. On the other hand, the R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
L82 Classic MKII has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the L82 Classic MKII can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
L82 Classic MKII and R3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L82 Classic MKII sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the R3's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL L82 Classic MKII a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3, 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 can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas L82 Classic MKII has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the R3.
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
Both L82 Classic MKII and R3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
JBL L82 Classic MKII's Five-way gold-plated binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
L82 Classic MKII has a front firing port whereas R3 has a rear firing ports. JBL L82 Classic MKII's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF R3 with its rear-firing port.
KEF R3 Port
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 JBL L82 Classic MKII's and KEF R3's external dimensions. JBL L82 Classic MKII has external dimensions of 472.8 x 281.0 x 315.5mm (18.6 x 11.0 x 12.4inch) whereas KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch).
KEF R3 is 82mm narrower and 49.8mm shorter than JBL L82 Classic MKII but it is also 21.5mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L82 Classic MKII and KEF R3 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L82 Classic MKII and KEF R3 Size and External Dimensions
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 JBL L82 Classic MKII is approximately 886.6cm2 / 137.4inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The L82 Classic MKII requires 32% more surface area than the R3 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 JBL L82 Classic MKII weighs 12.80kg / 28.2lbs and the KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the R3 6% heavier than the L82 Classic MKII.
Here is a comparison of how L82 Classic MKII and R3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL L82 Classic MKII?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L82 Classic MKII:
- Bookshelf loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owner's Manual
What's in the Box of KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
423mm
vs
472mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
670cm2
vs
886cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
2900USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL L82 Classic MKII |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-150 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
44-40k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
Hybrid aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1700Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
472.8mm (18.6") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
281.0mm (11.1") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
315.5mm (12.4") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
12.80kg (28.2lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
15.5" |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: JBL L82 Classic MKII is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | JBL L82 Classic MKII digs deeper - 44Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | KEF R3 is easier to place; JBL L82 Classic MKII is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL L82 Classic MKII: bi-amping; KEF R3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF R3 is cheaper - $2,200 against $2,900, about 24% less. |
A JBL L82 Classic MKII B KEF R3
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: JBL L82 Classic MKII measures better, KEF R3 costs about about 32% 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 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R3 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, JBL L82 Classic MKII has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF R3 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.