In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KEF. KEF Q11 Meta is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Q Concerto Meta is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q11 Meta and KEF Q Concerto Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Q11 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 0.75" Hard dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 3 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 44-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 225watts
- Weight:22.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1112.0" x 12.5" x 15"( 1112 x 317 x 380 mm )
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
- 4" Midrange
- 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 )
Q11 Meta and Q Concerto 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 Q11 Meta and KEF Q Concerto 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 Q11 Meta |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q11 Meta and KEF Q Concerto 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
Both Q11 Meta and Q Concerto Meta are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Q11 Meta |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
1 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 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.
Frequency Response
Q11 Meta has a frequency range of 44-20k Hz whereas Q Concerto Meta has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Q11 Meta can go slightly deeper then the Q Concerto Meta's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 Q Concerto Meta 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 Q Concerto Meta's is at 85 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KEF Q11 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 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 Q Concerto Meta has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 45 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
Q11 Meta features Binding Post type posts and Q Concerto Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q11 Meta and Q Concerto 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 Q11 Meta's and KEF Q Concerto Meta'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 KEF Q Concerto Meta has external dimensions of 415 x 210 x 315 mm ( 16.3 x 8.3 x 12.4 in.) .
KEF Q11 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 107mm wider, 697mm taller and 65mm deeper than KEF Q Concerto Meta.
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 KEF Q Concerto Meta is approximately 661.5cm2 / 102.5inch2. The Q11 Meta requires 82% more surface area than the Q Concerto Meta 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 KEF Q Concerto Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q Concerto Meta:
Q3 Concerto Meta (pair) Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information