In this review, we will be comparing Q11 Meta and Opticon 6 MK2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q11 Meta and DALI Opticon 6 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Q11 Meta and DALI Opticon 6 II 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 Q11 Meta and DALI Opticon 6 II 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 Q11 Meta and Opticon 6 MK2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Q11 Meta |
DALI Opticon 6 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Q11 Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 480 Hz, 2.7 kHz. On the other hand, the Opticon 6 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz.
Frequency Response
Q11 Meta has a frequency range of 44-20k Hz whereas Opticon 6 MK2 has a frequency range of 49-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Q11 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 6 MK2'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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Q11 Meta and Opticon 6 MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q11 Meta sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Opticon 6 MK2's is at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF Q11 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 6 II, 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 Q11 Meta and the Q11 Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Q11 Meta can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Opticon 6 MK2 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Q11 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
Opticon 6 MK2 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q11 Meta has a Binding Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
DALI Opticon 6 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q11 Meta and Opticon 6 MK2 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.
DALI Opticon 6 II Port
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 Q11 Meta's and DALI Opticon 6 II's external dimensions. KEF Q11 Meta has external dimensions of 1112 x 317 x 380 mm ( 43.8 x 12.5 x 15.0 in.) whereas DALI Opticon 6 II has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 195.0 x 340.0mm ( 39-3/4 x 7-5/8 x 13-3/8inch) .
KEF Q11 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 122mm wider, 102mm taller and 40mm deeper than DALI Opticon 6 II.
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 Q11 Meta is approximately 1204.6cm2 / 186.7inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 6 II is approximately 663.0cm2 / 102.8inch2. The Q11 Meta requires 82% more surface area than the Opticon 6 MK2 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of KEF Q11 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q11 Meta:
Q11 Meta Magnetic grilles Plinth and rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 6 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 6 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card