In this review, we will be comparing Q6 Meta and R400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q6 Meta and Polk R400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF Q6 Meta and Polk R400 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q6 Meta and Polk R400 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 Q6 Meta is a 3-way design whereas the R400 is a 2-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 Q6 Meta |
Polk R400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Q6 Meta has a frequency range of 63-20k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Q6 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R400 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Q6 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q6 Meta sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R400's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Polk R400 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q6 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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
Q6 Meta features Binding post type posts and R400 has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Polk R400 dual Port
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 Q6 Meta's and Polk R400's external dimensions. KEF Q6 Meta has external dimensions of 210 x 629 x 303 mm ( 8.3 x 24.8 x 11.9 in.) whereas Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm ( 7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch) .
Polk R400 is 11mm narrower and 11mm shorter than KEF Q6 Meta but it is also 69mm 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 Q6 Meta is approximately 1905.9cm2 / 295.4inch2 and base area of the Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2. The Q6 Meta requires 17% less surface area than the R400 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Q6 Meta weighs 14.14kg / 31.1lbs and the Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs. This makes the R400 5% heavier than the Q6 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Q6 Meta and R400's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q6 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q6 Meta:
Q6 Meta Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline Registration
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Base Surface Area |
1905cm2 (629x303mm)
vs
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
4.1 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
199mm
vs
210mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Q6 Meta |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
| Brand |
KEF |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 200 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
63-20k Hz |
48-39K Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Aluminum |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
560 Hz, 2.7 kHz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
210.0mm (8.3") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
629.0mm (24.8") |
618.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
303.0mm (11.9") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
14.14kg (31.1lbs) |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |