In this review, we will be comparing Q Concerto Meta and Super Denton, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q Concerto Meta and Wharfedale Super Denton first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q Concerto Meta | Wharfedale Super Denton |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-20k Hz | 52-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 180 watts | 25-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.50kg / 20.9lbs | 9.20kg / 20.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16.3" x 8.3" x 12.4"
415 x 210 x 315 mm | 14-1/8" x 9-11/16" x 11-5/8"
360 x 246 x 295mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF Q Concerto Meta and Wharfedale Super Denton 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 |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
| 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
Both Q Concerto Meta and Super Denton are 3-way speakers.
KEF Q Concerto MetaWharfedale Super Denton
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 2-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 Super Denton features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 940Hz and 4.6kHz.
Frequency Response
Q Concerto Meta has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas Super Denton has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Q Concerto Meta can go slightly deeper then the Super Denton'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
Q Concerto Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Super Denton which has a nominal impedance of 6 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. Q Concerto Meta sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Super Denton's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Super Denton 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 Super Denton 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
Super Denton features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q Concerto Meta has a Binding Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Super Denton's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q Concerto Meta and Super Denton 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
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 KEF Q Concerto Meta's and Wharfedale Super Denton'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 Wharfedale Super Denton has external dimensions of 360 x 246 x 295mm (14-1/8inch x 9-11/16inch x 11-5/8inch).
Wharfedale Super Denton is 55mm shorter and 20mm less deeper than KEF Q Concerto Meta but it is also 36mm 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 Wharfedale Super Denton is approximately 725.7cm2 / 112.5inch2. The Q Concerto Meta requires 9% less surface area than the Super Denton 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 Wharfedale Super Denton weighs 9.20kg / 20.2lbs. This makes the Q Concerto Meta 3% heavier than the Super Denton.
Here is a comparison of how Q Concerto Meta and Super Denton'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 Wharfedale Super Denton?
Here are the items that come with the Super Denton:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
661cm2
vs
725cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
1399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
3.4 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Height |
360mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
Wharfedale Super Denton |
| Brand |
KEF |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 180 watts |
25-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-20k Hz |
52-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
2" |
| Crossover Frequency |
430 Hz, 2.9 kHz |
940Hz and 4.6kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
360.0mm (14.2") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
246.0mm (9.7") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
295.0mm (11.6") |
| Weight |
9.50kg (20.9lbs) |
9.20kg (20.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
Red Mahogany, Black Oak, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
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 | KEF Q Concerto Meta digs deeper - 48Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Wharfedale Super Denton is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Wharfedale Super Denton is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | KEF Q Concerto Meta takes more power (180W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Wharfedale Super Denton: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,300 vs $1,399 a pair). |
A KEF Q Concerto Meta B Wharfedale Super Denton
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?
Wharfedale Super Denton 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Wharfedale Super Denton is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.