In this review, we will be comparing Q Concerto Meta and Q3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by KEF Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q Concerto Meta and KEF Q3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Q Concerto Meta and Q3 Meta are members of KEF's Q Meta series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
KEF Q Meta Series History
What size room are the KEF Q Concerto Meta 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q Concerto Meta and KEF Q3 Meta compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Q Concerto Meta is a 3-way design whereas the Q3 Meta is a 2-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.
| Driver |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
KEF Q3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
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. 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
Q Concerto Meta has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas Q3 Meta has a frequency range of 49-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Q Concerto Meta can go slightly deeper then the Q3 Meta's min frequency of 49Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Q Concerto Meta and Q3 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q Concerto Meta sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Q3 Meta's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF Q3 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q Concerto Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Q Concerto Meta and the Q Concerto Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Q Concerto Meta can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q3 Meta has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the Q Concerto Meta.
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
Q Concerto Meta features Binding Post type posts and Q3 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q Concerto Meta and Q3 Meta have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 KEF Q Concerto Meta's and KEF Q3 Meta's external dimensions. KEF Q Concerto Meta has external dimensions of 415 x 210 x 315 mm ( 16.3 x 8.3 x 12.4 in.) whereas KEF Q3 Meta has external dimensions of 357 x 210 x 305 mm ( 14.1 x 8.3 x 12.0 in.) .
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 KEF Q Concerto Meta is approximately 661.5cm2 / 102.5inch2 and base area of the KEF Q3 Meta is approximately 640.5cm2 / 99.3inch2. The Q Concerto Meta requires 3% 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 KEF Q Concerto Meta weighs 9.50kg / 20.9lbs and the KEF Q3 Meta weighs 8.23kg / 18.1lbs. This makes the Q Concerto Meta 15% heavier than the Q3 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Q Concerto Meta 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 Q Concerto Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q Concerto Meta:
Q3 Concerto Meta (pair) Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
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
 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 |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
49 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
357mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
640cm2 (210x305mm)
vs
661cm2 (210x315mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
KEF Q3 Meta |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 180 watts |
Up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
49-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard dome |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
430 Hz, 2.9 kHz |
2.0 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
357.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Weight |
9.50kg (20.9lbs) |
8.23kg (18.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |