In this review, we will be comparing Q7 Meta and 800F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Q7 Meta and Paradigm 800F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Q7 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 0.75" Hard dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 46-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 200watts
- Weight:18.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1001.0" x 12.5" x 12.4"( 1001 x 317 x 315 mm )
Paradigm 800F Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 43-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-250watts
- Weight:24.27kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1070.0" x 9-1/4" x 13-7/8"( 1070.0 x 235.0 x 353.0mm )
What size room are the KEF Q7 Meta and Paradigm 800F 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 |
Paradigm 800F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Q7 Meta and Paradigm 800F 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
Both Q7 Meta and 800F are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF Q7 Meta |
Paradigm 800F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 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 800F features a 1" Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Carbon-Infused Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Q7 Meta has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas 800F has a frequency range of 43-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 43Hz, the 800F can go slightly deeper then the Q7 Meta's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Q7 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the 800F 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 Q7 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Q7 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the 800F's is rated at 92 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Paradigm 800F a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q7 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Q7 Meta can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q7 Meta has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the 800F.
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
800F features Posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q7 Meta has a Binding Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm 800F's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Q7 Meta and 800F 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
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 Q7 Meta's and Paradigm 800F'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 Paradigm 800F has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 235.0 x 353.0mm ( 42-1/8 x 9-1/4 x 13-7/8inch) .
KEF Q7 Meta is 69mm shorter and 38mm less deeper than Paradigm 800F but it is also 82mm wider.
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 Paradigm 800F is approximately 829.6cm2 / 128.6inch2. The Q7 Meta requires 20% more surface area than the 800F which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 Paradigm 800F?
Here are the items that come with the 800F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
Grille
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
4 Hex-nuts
2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Unboxing Instructions