In this review, we will be comparing Q6 Meta and Ultra Evolution Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q6 Meta and SVS Ultra Evolution Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q6 Meta | SVS Ultra Evolution Center |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 4.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" Composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 63-20k Hz | 40-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 200 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 14.14kg / 31.1lbs | 12.20kg / 26.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8.3" x 24.8" x 11.9"
210 x 629 x 303 mm | 7.83" x 22" x 11.78"
199 x 560 x 299.2mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF Q6 Meta and SVS Ultra Evolution Center 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 Q6 Meta |
SVS Ultra Evolution Center |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Q6 Meta and Ultra Evolution Center are 3-way speakers.
KEF Q6 MetaSVS Ultra Evolution Center
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 Q6 Meta |
SVS Ultra Evolution Center |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4.5-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 Ultra Evolution Center features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450HZ and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Q6 Meta has a frequency range of 63-20k Hz whereas Ultra Evolution Center has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Ultra Evolution Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q6 Meta's min frequency of 63Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Q6 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Ultra Evolution Center which has a nominal impedance of 6 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 Ultra Evolution Center's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the SVS Ultra Evolution Center 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Ultra Evolution Center can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Q6 Meta has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Ultra Evolution Center.
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.
SVS Ultra Evolution Center
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Ultra Evolution Center features Gold-plated 5-way posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q6 Meta has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
SVS Ultra Evolution Center's Gold-plated 5-way terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Q6 Meta's and SVS Ultra Evolution Center'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 SVS Ultra Evolution Center has external dimensions of 199 x 560 x 299.2mm (7.83 x 22.05 x 11.78”).
KEF Q6 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 69mm wider, 11mm taller and 4mm deeper than SVS Ultra Evolution Center.
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 SVS Ultra Evolution Center is approximately 1674.4cm2 / 259.5inch2. The Q6 Meta requires 14% more surface area than the Ultra Evolution Center which gives it a small disadvantage 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 SVS Ultra Evolution Center weighs 12.20kg / 26.8lbs. This makes the Q6 Meta 16% heavier than the Ultra Evolution Center.
Here is a comparison of how Q6 Meta and Ultra Evolution Center's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
SVS Ultra Evolution Center
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
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
63 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
199mm
vs
210mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1674cm2
vs
1905cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Q6 Meta |
SVS Ultra Evolution Center |
| Brand |
KEF |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 200 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
63-20k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Composite glass-fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Aluminum |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
4.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
560 Hz, 2.7 kHz |
450HZ and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
210.0mm (8.3") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
629.0mm (24.8") |
560.0mm (22") |
| Depth |
303.0mm (11.9") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Weight |
14.14kg (31.1lbs) |
12.20kg (26.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White,Black Oak Veneer |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Ultra Evolution Center digs deeper - 40Hz against 63Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Ultra Evolution Center is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 225W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | SVS Ultra Evolution Center: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($800 vs $799 a pair). |
A KEF Q6 Meta B SVS Ultra Evolution Center
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
SVS Ultra Evolution Center has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 63Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, SVS Ultra Evolution Center is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.