In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by KEF. KEF Q4 Meta is a Surround speaker whereas the Q3 Meta is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q4 Meta and KEF Q3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q4 Meta | KEF Q3 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 | 5.25" Aluminum | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 49-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 150 watts | Up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.73kg / 12.6lbs | 8.23kg / 18.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 15.7" x 9.8" x 5.6"
400 x 250 x 142 mm | 14.1" x 8.3" x 12"
357 x 210 x 305 mm |
|---|
Q4 Meta and Q3 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 Q4 Meta and KEF Q3 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 Q4 Meta |
KEF Q3 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 Q4 Meta and Q3 Meta are 2-way speakers.
KEF Q4 MetaKEF Q3 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 Q4 Meta |
KEF Q3 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-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 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.
Frequency Response
Q4 Meta has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas Q3 Meta has a frequency range of 49-20k 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 Q4 Meta's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Surround class in our database.
Low Frequency
Surround 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
Q4 Meta and Q3 Meta 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 Q3 Meta's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF Q3 Meta 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Q4 Meta and Q3 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
Q4 Meta features Binding Post type posts and Q3 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF Q4 Meta's Binding Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Q4 Meta has a side firing port whereas Q3 Meta has a rear firing ports.
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 Q4 Meta's and KEF Q3 Meta'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 KEF Q3 Meta has external dimensions of 357 x 210 x 305 mm (14.1 x 8.3 x 12.0 in.).
KEF Q3 Meta is 40mm narrower and 43mm shorter than KEF Q4 Meta but it is also 163mm 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 KEF Q3 Meta is approximately 640.5cm2 / 99.3inch2. The Q4 Meta requires 45% less surface area than the Q3 Meta 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 KEF Q3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q3 Meta:
- Q3 Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information