In this review, we will be comparing Q Concerto Meta and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by KEF Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q Concerto Meta and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Q Concerto Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 0.75" Hard dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 48-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 180watts
- Weight:9.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 415.0" x 8.3" x 12.4"( 415 x 210 x 315 mm )
KEF R3 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 58-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-180watts
- Weight:12.41kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 423.0" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"( 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm )
What size room are the KEF Q Concerto Meta 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* |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q Concerto Meta and KEF R3 Meta compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Q Concerto Meta and R3 Meta are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
KEF R3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-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 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
Q Concerto Meta has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Q Concerto Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 R3 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 R3 Meta's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF R3 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.
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
R3 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q Concerto Meta 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q Concerto Meta and R3 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 R3 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 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 Q Concerto Meta is 8mm shorter and 22mm less deeper than KEF R3 Meta but it is also 8mm wider.
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 R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The Q Concerto Meta requires 3% 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 KEF Q Concerto Meta weighs 9.50kg / 20.9lbs and the KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the R3 Meta 31% heavier than the Q Concerto Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Q Concerto Meta 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 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 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