In this review, we will be comparing Q7 Meta and Q11 Meta, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q7 Meta and KEF Q11 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Q7 Meta | KEF Q11 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard dome | 0.75" Hard dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum | 3 x 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 44-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 200 watts | Up to 225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.45kg / 40.6lbs | 22.55kg / 49.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39.4" x 12.5" x 12.4"
1001 x 317 x 315 mm | 43.8" x 12.5" x 15"
1112 x 317 x 380 mm |
|---|
Q7 Meta and Q11 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 Q7 Meta and KEF Q11 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 Q7 Meta |
KEF Q11 Meta |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* 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 Q7 Meta and Q11 Meta are 3-way speakers.
KEF Q7 MetaKEF Q11 Meta
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 Q7 Meta |
KEF Q11 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
Q7 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 440 Hz, 2.3 kHz. On the other hand, the Q11 Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 480 Hz, 2.7 kHz.
Frequency Response
Q7 Meta has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas Q11 Meta has a frequency range of 44-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the Q11 Meta can go slightly deeper then the Q7 Meta's min frequency of 46Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Q7 Meta and Q11 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Q7 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Q11 Meta's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF Q11 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q7 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 Q7 Meta and the Q7 Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Q11 Meta can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Q7 Meta has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Q11 Meta.
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
Q7 Meta features Binding Post type posts and Q11 Meta has a Binding Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q7 Meta and Q11 Meta have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Q7 Meta's and KEF Q11 Meta's external dimensions. KEF Q7 Meta has external dimensions of 1001 x 317 x 315 mm (39.4 x 12.5 x 12.4 in.) whereas KEF Q11 Meta has external dimensions of 1112 x 317 x 380 mm (43.8 x 12.5 x 15.0 in.).
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 Q7 Meta is approximately 998.6cm2 / 154.8inch2 and base area of the KEF Q11 Meta is approximately 1204.6cm2 / 186.7inch2. The Q7 Meta requires 17% less surface area than the Q11 Meta 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 Q7 Meta weighs 18.45kg / 40.6lbs and the KEF Q11 Meta weighs 22.55kg / 49.6lbs. This makes the Q11 Meta 22% heavier than the Q7 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Q7 Meta and Q11 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF Q7 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Q7 Meta:
- Q7 Meta
- Magnetic grilles
- Plinth and rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of KEF Q11 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q11 Meta:
- Q11 Meta
- Magnetic grilles
- Plinth and rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Height |
1001mm
vs
1112mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
998cm2
vs
1204cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1800USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
44 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
KEF Q7 Meta |
KEF Q11 Meta |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 200 watts |
Up to 225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
44-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard dome |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
440 Hz, 2.3 kHz |
480 Hz, 2.7 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1001.0mm (39.4") |
1112.0mm (43.8") |
| Width |
317.0mm (12.5") |
317.0mm (12.5") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
18.45kg (40.6lbs) |
22.55kg (49.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in KEF's Q Meta series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (46Hz vs 44Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | KEF Q11 Meta is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 225W). |
| Size | depends | KEF Q7 Meta is easier to place; KEF Q11 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | KEF Q7 Meta is cheaper - $1,800 against $2,200, about 18% less. |
A KEF Q7 Meta B KEF Q11 Meta
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?
The usual trade-off: KEF Q11 Meta measures better, KEF Q7 Meta costs about about 22% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate KEF Q11 Meta the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KEF Q11 Meta 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.