KEF R2 Meta vs BW HTM71 S2 Comparison

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KEF R2 Meta

Passive Center Channel | 67-28k Hz

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BW HTM71 S2

Passive Center Channel | 50-28k Hz

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KEF R2 Meta

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BW HTM71 S2

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KEF R2 Meta

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BW HTM71 S2

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KEF R2 Meta vs BW HTM71 S2 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R2 Meta and HTM71 S2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Bowers Wilkins.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R2 Meta and BW HTM71 S2 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R2 Meta Key Specs

3-way Design

12th Generation Uni-Q Driver

1" Hard-Dome Tweeter

5" Midrange

2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer

67-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 4ohms

Power Range:15-200watts

Weight:15.45kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 177.0" x 21-3/4" x 12-1/4"( 177.0 x 553.0 x 312.0mm )

BW HTM71 S2 Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter

4" Midrange

2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer

4" Midrange

50-28k Hz Frequency Response

89 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-200watts

Weight:18.05kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 228.0" x 23-1/4" x 11-7/8"( 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm )

What size room are the KEF R2 Meta and BW HTM71 S2 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 R2 Meta	BW HTM71 S2
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Poor	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Good	Average
Very Large Room	Average	Poor

(* 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 R2 Meta and BW HTM71 S2 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 R2 Meta and HTM71 S2 are 3-way speakers.

Driver	KEF R2 Meta	BW HTM71 S2
Driver Setup	3-way	3-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 5-inch	1 x 4-inch
Woofer	2 x 5.25-inch	2 x 6.5-inch

R2 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560Hz and 2500Hz. On the other hand, the HTM71 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Carbon Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Profile Woofer .

Frequency Response

R2 Meta has a frequency range of 67-28k Hz whereas HTM71 S2 has a frequency range of 50-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the HTM71 S2 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R2 Meta's min frequency of 67Hz.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

R2 Meta

HTM71 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

KEF R2 Meta

BW HTM71 S2

Min

Average

Max

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

R2 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the HTM71 S2 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 R2 Meta can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R2 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the HTM71 S2's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the BW HTM71 S2 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R2 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

R2 Meta

HTM71 S2

Min

Average

Max

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 R2 Meta and HTM71 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

KEF R2 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

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 R2 Meta's and BW HTM71 S2's external dimensions. KEF R2 Meta has external dimensions of 177.0 x 553.0 x 312.0mm ( 6-15/16-inch x 21-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch) whereas BW HTM71 S2 has external dimensions of 228.0 x 591.0 x 302.0mm ( 8-15/16 x 23-1/4 x 11-7/8inch) .

KEF R2 Meta is 38mm narrower and 51mm shorter than BW HTM71 S2 but it is also 10mm deeper.

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 R2 Meta is approximately 1725.4cm² / 267.4inch² and base area of the BW HTM71 S2 is approximately 1784.8cm² / 276.6inch². The R2 Meta requires 3% less surface area than the HTM71 S2 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 R2 Meta weighs 15.45kg / 34lbs and the BW HTM71 S2 weighs 18.05kg / 39.7lbs. This makes the HTM71 S2 17% heavier than the R2 Meta.

Here is a comparison of how R2 Meta and HTM71 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers

KEF R2 Meta

BW HTM71 S2

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of KEF R2 Meta?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R2 Meta:

1 R2 Meta

1 microfiber grille

Rubber feet

User manual and warranty information

What's in the Box of BW HTM71 S2?

Here are the items that come with the HTM71 S2:

Center-channel loudspeaker

Grille

2 Two-piece foam port plugs

4 Self-adhesive rubber feet

4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)

Manual

Bowers Wilkins brochure

Warranty Information

Reasons to choose KEF R2 Meta over Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2

Minimum Impedance	3.2 ohms vs 3.0 ohms	Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
Height	177mm vs 228mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	1725cm² vs 1784cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	1399USD vs 1999USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2 over KEF R2 Meta

Sensitivity	89 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Nominal Impedance	8 ohms vs 4 ohms	Less selective with amplifiers
Woofer Size	6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	50 Hz vs 67 Hz	Generates deeper bass

KEF R2 Meta vs BW HTM71 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	KEF R2 Meta	Bowers & Wilkins HTM71 S2
Brand	KEF	Bowers Wilkins
Speaker Type	Center channel speaker	Center channel speaker
Power Range	15-200 watts	30-200 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	89 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.2 ohms	3.0 ohms
Frequency Response	67-28k Hz	50-28k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	2	2
Woofer Size	5.25"	6.5"
Woofer Composition	Hybrid Aluminum	Aerofoil Profile
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Hard-Dome	Decoupled Carbon Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	5"	4"
Crossover Frequency	560Hz and 2500Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	n/a	rear
Physical Specs
Height	177.0mm (7")	228.0mm (9")
Width	553.0mm (21.8")	591.0mm (23.3")
Depth	312.0mm (12.3")	302.0mm (11.9")
Weight	15.45kg (34lbs)	18.05kg (39.7lbs)
Enclosure	Sealed	Bass Reflex
Available Colors	Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut	Gloss Black, Satin White, Rosenut
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