In this review, we will be comparing R11 and BP-9080X, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and Definitive Technology.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R11 and Definitive BP-9080X first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R11 | Definitive BP-9080X |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 4 x 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum | 12" Polypropelene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-28k Hz | 16-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-300 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 37.70kg / 82.9lbs | 28.18kg / 62lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 51-3/16" x 12-1/4" x 15-5/16"
1301.0 x 312.0 x 389.0mm | 51-1/2" x 12-1/2" x 16-1/8"
1309.0 x 318.0 x 410.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF R11 and Definitive BP-9080X 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 |
Definitive BP-9080X |
| 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 R11 and BP-9080X are 3-way speakers.
KEF R11Definitive BP-9080X
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 |
Definitive BP-9080X |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
4 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
R11 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the BP-9080X features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Polypropelene Woofer.
Frequency Response
R11 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas BP-9080X has a frequency range of 16-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the BP-9080X can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R11'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
Impedance and Sensitivity
R11 and BP-9080X have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R11 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the BP-9080X's is at 92 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Definitive BP-9080X a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R11, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 300 watts RMS, though R11 is rated 15-300 watts and BP-9080X 50-300 watts.
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
R11 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9080X has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R11's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Definitive BP-9080X's 5-Way post, RCA terminals
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's and Definitive BP-9080X's external dimensions. KEF R11 has external dimensions of 1301.0 x 312.0 x 389.0mm (51-3/16 x 12-1/4 x 15-5/16inch) whereas Definitive BP-9080X has external dimensions of 1309.0 x 318.0 x 410.0mm (51-1/2 x 12-1/2 x 16-1/8inch).
Definitive BP-9080X is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 8mm taller and 21mm deeper than KEF R11.
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 is approximately 1213.7cm2 / 188.1inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9080X is approximately 1303.8cm2 / 202.1inch2. The R11 requires 7% less surface area than the BP-9080X 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 R11 weighs 37.70kg / 82.9lbs and the Definitive BP-9080X weighs 28.18kg / 62lbs. This makes the R11 34% heavier than the BP-9080X.
Here is a comparison of how R11 and BP-9080X'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R11:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- Wrench
- Hex-key
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9080X?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9080X:
- Tower loudspeaker
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Top-grille (installed)
- Stabilizer base
- 4 Floor guides
- 4 Carpet spikes
- 4 Screws
- 4 Nuts
- Owners Manual
- What Obsession Sounds Like card
 Number of Woofers |
4
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1301mm
vs
1309mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1213cm2
vs
1303cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
92 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 12-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Built-in 1 x 5-1/4
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
6000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R11 |
Definitive Technology BP-9080X |
| Brand |
KEF |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-300 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
16-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
4 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Polypropelene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1301.0mm (51.2") |
1309.0mm (51.5") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Depth |
389.0mm (15.3") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
37.70kg (82.9lbs) |
28.18kg (62lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
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 | Definitive BP-9080X digs deeper - 16Hz against 46Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Definitive BP-9080X is more sensitive (92dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R11: bi-amping; Definitive BP-9080X: Atmos drivers. |
| Price | B | Definitive BP-9080X is cheaper - $3,998 against $6,000, about 33% less. |
A KEF R11 B Definitive BP-9080X
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?
Definitive BP-9080X is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take KEF R11 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 46Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive BP-9080X 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.