In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KEF. KEF Q3 Meta is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Q6 Meta is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q3 Meta and KEF Q6 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Q3 Meta Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 49-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 150watts
- Weight:8.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 357.0" x 8.3" x 12"( 357 x 210 x 305 mm )
KEF Q6 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 0.75" Hard-dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 63-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 200watts
- Weight:14.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 210.0" x 24.8" x 11.9"( 210 x 629 x 303 mm )
Q3 Meta and Q6 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 Q6 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 Q6 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 Q3 Meta and KEF Q6 Meta 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Q3 Meta is a 2-way design whereas the Q6 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.
| Driver |
KEF Q3 Meta |
KEF Q6 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 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 Q6 Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard-dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560 Hz, 2.7 kHz.
Frequency Response
Q3 Meta has a frequency range of 49-20k Hz whereas Q6 Meta has a frequency range of 63-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 49Hz, the Q3 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q6 Meta's min frequency of 63Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Q3 Meta and Q6 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 Q6 Meta's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF Q3 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q6 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. 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.
Q3 Meta can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q3 Meta has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Q6 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
Q3 Meta features Binding post type posts and Q6 Meta has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Q3 Meta's and KEF Q6 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 Q6 Meta has external dimensions of 210 x 629 x 303 mm ( 8.3 x 24.8 x 11.9 in.) .
KEF Q6 Meta is 147mm shorter and 2mm less deeper than KEF Q3 Meta but it is also 419mm 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 Q3 Meta is approximately 640.5cm2 / 99.3inch2 and base area of the KEF Q6 Meta is approximately 1905.9cm2 / 295.4inch2. The Q3 Meta requires 66% less surface area than the Q6 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 Q6 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q6 Meta:
Q6 Meta Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
Sensitivity 
Low Frequency Response 
Base Surface Area 
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Height