In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers . KEF Q4 Meta is a Surround speaker whereas the Opticon LCR MK2 is a On-Wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q4 Meta and DALI Opticon LCR II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Q4 Meta Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Aluminum Woofer
- 65-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 150watts
- Weight:5.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 400.0" x 9.8" x 5.6"( 400 x 250 x 142 mm )
DALI Opticon LCR II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter
- 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 70-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:8.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 483.0" x 11-1/4" x 5"( 483.0 x 286.0 x 127.0mm )
What size room are the KEF Q4 Meta and DALI Opticon LCR 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:
| Listening Environment* |
KEF Q4 Meta |
DALI Opticon LCR II |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q4 Meta and DALI Opticon LCR 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Q4 Meta is a 2-way design whereas the Opticon LCR MK2 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 Q4 Meta |
DALI Opticon LCR II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Q4 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 1.8 kHz. On the other hand, the Opticon LCR MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz and 14.000Hz.
Frequency Response
Q4 Meta has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas Opticon LCR MK2 has a frequency range of 70-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the Q4 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon LCR MK2's min frequency of 70Hz.
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 Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround Speakers
High Frequency
Surround 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
Q4 Meta and Opticon LCR MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q4 Meta sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Opticon LCR MK2's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the DALI Opticon LCR II a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q4 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 Q4 Meta and the Q4 Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Surround 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.
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
Q4 Meta features Post type posts and Opticon LCR MK2 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q4 Meta's Binding Post terminals
DALI Opticon LCR II's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Q4 Meta has a side firing port whereas Opticon LCR MK2 has a rear firing ports.
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 Q4 Meta's and DALI Opticon LCR II's external dimensions. KEF Q4 Meta has external dimensions of 400 x 250 x 142 mm ( 15.7 x 9.8 x 5.6 in.) whereas DALI Opticon LCR II has external dimensions of 483.0 x 286.0 x 127.0mm ( 19 x 11-1/4 x 5inch) .
KEF Q4 Meta is 36mm narrower and 83mm shorter than DALI Opticon LCR II but it is also 15mm deeper.
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 Q4 Meta is approximately 355.0cm2 / 55.0inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon LCR II is approximately 363.2cm2 / 56.3inch2. The Q4 Meta requires 2% less surface area than the Opticon LCR MK2 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of KEF Q4 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q4 Meta:
Q4 Meta Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon LCR II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon LCR MK2:
LCR loudspeakerGrille4 Rubber bumpersHex-keyQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
Low Frequency Response 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
High Frequency Response