In this review, we will be comparing Q3 Meta and Q1 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q1 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q3 Meta | KEF Q1 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard dome | 1" Hard dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-20k Hz | 51-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 150 watts | Up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs | 6.09kg / 13.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.1" x 8.3" x 12"
357 x 210 x 305 mm | 11.9" x 7.1" x 10.9"
302 x 180 x 277 mm |
|---|
Q3 Meta and Q1 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 Q3 Meta and KEF Q1 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 Q3 Meta |
KEF Q1 Meta |
| 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 Q3 Meta and Q1 Meta are 2-way speakers.
KEF Q3 MetaKEF Q1 Meta
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KEF Q3 Meta |
KEF Q1 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the Q1 Meta features a 1" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.1 kHz.
Frequency Response
Q3 Meta has a frequency range of 49-20k Hz whereas Q1 Meta has a frequency range of 51-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 49Hz, the Q3 Meta can go slightly deeper then the Q1 Meta's min frequency of 51Hz.
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
Q3 Meta and Q1 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q3 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Q1 Meta's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF Q3 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q1 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 Q3 Meta and the Q3 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Q3 Meta and Q1 Meta have the same power range of Up to 150 watts.
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
Q3 Meta features Binding Post type posts and Q1 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q1 Meta's Binding Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q3 Meta and Q1 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
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 Q3 Meta's and KEF Q1 Meta's external dimensions. KEF Q3 Meta has external dimensions of 357 x 210 x 305 mm (14.1 x 8.3 x 12.0 in.) whereas KEF Q1 Meta has external dimensions of 302 x 180 x 277 mm (11.9 x 7.1 x 10.9 in.).
KEF Q3 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 55mm taller and 28mm deeper than KEF Q1 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q1 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q1 Meta Size and External Dimensions
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 Q3 Meta is approximately 640.5cm2 / 99.3inch2 and base area of the KEF Q1 Meta is approximately 498.6cm2 / 77.3inch2. The Q3 Meta requires 28% more surface area than the Q1 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q1 Meta on a Media Console
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 Q3 Meta weighs 8.23kg / 18.1lbs and the KEF Q1 Meta weighs 6.09kg / 13.4lbs. This makes the Q3 Meta 35% heavier than the Q1 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Q3 Meta and Q1 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 Q3 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q3 Meta:
- Q3 Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of KEF Q1 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q1 Meta:
- Q1 Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
49 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
302mm
vs
357mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
498cm2
vs
640cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Q3 Meta |
KEF Q1 Meta |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
Up to 150 watts |
Up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
49-20k Hz |
51-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard dome |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.0 kHz |
2.1 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
357.0mm (14.1") |
302.0mm (11.9") |
| Width |
210.0mm (8.3") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
305.0mm (12") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Weight |
8.23kg (18.1lbs) |
6.09kg (13.4lbs) |
| 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 |
Siblings in KEF's Q Meta series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (49Hz vs 51Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | KEF Q1 Meta is easier to place; KEF Q3 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | KEF Q1 Meta is cheaper - $600 against $800, about 25% less. |
A KEF Q3 Meta B KEF Q1 Meta
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, KEF Q3 Meta has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF Q1 Meta is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $200 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.