In this review, we will be comparing R11 Meta and R5 Meta, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R11 Meta and KEF R5 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R11 Meta | KEF R5 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 | 1" Vented dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-28k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-300 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 36.59kg / 80.5lbs | 24.55kg / 54lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 51" x 12-1/4" x 15-1/8"
1296.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm | 42-1/4" x 10-3/4" x 13-1/2"
1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
R11 Meta and R5 Meta are members of KEF's R META series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KEF R11 Meta and KEF R5 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 R11 Meta |
KEF R5 Meta |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both R11 Meta and R5 Meta are 3-way speakers.
KEF R11 MetaKEF R5 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 R11 Meta |
KEF R5 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 R5 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2700Hz.
Frequency Response
R11 Meta has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas R5 Meta has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the R11 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R5 Meta's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
R11 Meta and R5 Meta 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 R5 Meta's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KEF R11 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R5 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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
R11 Meta can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas R5 Meta has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the R11 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
Both R11 Meta and R5 Meta 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
KEF R5 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R11 Meta and R5 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.
KEF R11 Meta Port
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 R11 Meta's and KEF R5 Meta'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 KEF R5 Meta has external dimensions of 1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm (42-1/4-inch x 10-3/4-inch x 13-1/2-inch).
KEF R11 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 222mm taller and 42mm deeper than KEF R5 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R11 Meta and KEF R5 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R11 Meta and KEF R5 Meta 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 KEF R5 Meta is approximately 939.8cm2 / 145.7inch2. The R11 Meta requires 28% more surface area than the R5 Meta 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 KEF R5 Meta weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R11 Meta 49% heavier than the R5 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how R11 Meta and R5 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 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 KEF R5 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R5 Meta:
- R5 Meta
- Microfiber grille
- Plinth and spike accessories
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1074mm
vs
1296mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
939cm2
vs
1201cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
6498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R11 Meta |
KEF R5 Meta |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-300 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Vented dome |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
330Hz and 2500Hz |
400Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1296.0mm (51") |
1074.0mm (42.3") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Depth |
385.0mm (15.2") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
36.59kg (80.5lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 years |
Siblings in KEF's R META series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KEF R11 Meta digs deeper - 46Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KEF R11 Meta is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | KEF R11 Meta takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KEF R5 Meta is easier to place; KEF R11 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R11 Meta: bi-amping; KEF R5 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF R5 Meta is cheaper - $3,998 against $6,498, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF R11 Meta B KEF R5 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 R11 Meta measures better, KEF R5 Meta costs about about 63% 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R5 Meta much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate KEF R11 Meta the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.