In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by KEF. KEF Q3 Meta is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Q11 Meta is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q11 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q3 Meta | KEF Q11 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard dome | 0.75" Hard dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 3 x 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 49-20k Hz | 44-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 150 watts | Up to 225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs | 22.55kg / 49.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.1" x 8.3" x 12"
357 x 210 x 305 mm | 43.8" x 12.5" x 15"
1112 x 317 x 380 mm |
|---|
Q3 Meta and Q11 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 Q11 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 Q11 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Q3 Meta is a 2-way design whereas the Q11 Meta is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
KEF Q3 MetaKEF Q11 Meta
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 Q3 Meta |
KEF Q11 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-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 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.
Frequency Response
Q3 Meta has a frequency range of 49-20k Hz whereas Q11 Meta has a frequency range of 44-20k 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 Q3 Meta's min frequency of 49Hz.
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 Q11 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 Q11 Meta's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF Q11 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q3 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.
Q11 Meta can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Q3 Meta has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Q11 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
Q3 Meta features Binding Post type posts and Q11 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q3 Meta and Q11 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 Q11 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 Q11 Meta has external dimensions of 1112 x 317 x 380 mm (43.8 x 12.5 x 15.0 in.).
KEF Q11 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 107mm wider, 755mm taller and 75mm deeper than KEF Q3 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q11 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q11 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 Q11 Meta is approximately 1204.6cm2 / 186.7inch2. The Q3 Meta requires 47% less surface area than the Q11 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Q11 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q11 Meta:
- Q11 Meta
- Magnetic grilles
- Plinth and rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information