In this review, we will be comparing R11 Meta and Opticon 8 MK2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and DALI.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R11 Meta and DALI Opticon 8 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF R11 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Vented dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 46-28 Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-300watts
- Weight:36.59kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1296.0" x 12-1/4" x 15-1/8"( 1296.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm )
DALI Opticon 8 II Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 38-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:40-300watts
- Weight:37.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1150.0" x 9-1/2" x 18-1/16"( 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm )
What size room are the KEF R11 Meta and DALI Opticon 8 II 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 R11 Meta |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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 R11 Meta and DALI Opticon 8 II compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both R11 Meta and Opticon 8 MK2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF R11 Meta |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
R11 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 330Hz and 2500Hz. On the other hand, the Opticon 8 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz.
Frequency Response
R11 Meta has a frequency range of 46-28 Hz whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a frequency range of 38-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Opticon 8 MK2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R11 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
R11 Meta and Opticon 8 MK2 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R11 Meta sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Opticon 8 MK2's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF R11 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 8 II, 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 R11 Meta and the R11 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. 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
Both R11 Meta and Opticon 8 MK2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R11 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Opticon 8 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R11 Meta and Opticon 8 MK2 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.
KEF R11 Meta Port
DALI Opticon 8 II 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 R11 Meta's and DALI Opticon 8 II's external dimensions. KEF R11 Meta has external dimensions of 1296.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm ( 51-inch x 12-1/4-inch x 15-1/8-inch) whereas DALI Opticon 8 II has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm ( 45-1/4 x 9-1/2 x 18-1/16inch) .
DALI Opticon 8 II is 67mm narrower and 146mm shorter than KEF R11 Meta but it is also 74mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R11 Meta and DALI Opticon 8 II in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R11 Meta and DALI Opticon 8 II Size and External Dimensions
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 R11 Meta is approximately 1201.2cm2 / 186.2inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 8 II is approximately 1124.6cm2 / 174.3inch2. The R11 Meta requires 7% more surface area than the Opticon 8 MK2 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 R11 Meta weighs 36.59kg / 80.5lbs and the DALI Opticon 8 II weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs. This makes the Opticon 8 MK2 1% heavier than the R11 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how R11 Meta and Opticon 8 MK2'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 R11 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R11 Meta:
R11 Meta Microfiber grille Plinth and spike accessories Port bungs User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 8 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 8 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1150mm
vs
1296mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1124cm2
vs
1201cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4200USD
vs
6498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R11 Meta |
DALI Opticon 8 MK2 |
| Brand |
KEF |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-300 watts |
40-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-28 Hz |
38-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
Vented dome |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
330Hz and 2500Hz |
380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1296.0mm (51") |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Depth |
385.0mm (15.2") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
36.59kg (80.5lbs) |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |