In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KEF. KEF R2 Meta is a Center Channel speaker whereas the R5 Meta is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R2 Meta and KEF R5 Meta 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 )
KEF R5 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Vented dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-200watts
- Weight:24.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1074.0" x 10-3/4" x 13-1/2"( 1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm )
R2 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 R2 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 R2 Meta |
KEF R5 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
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 R2 Meta and KEF R5 Meta 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 R2 Meta and R5 Meta are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF R2 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
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 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
R2 Meta has a frequency range of 67-28k Hz whereas R5 Meta has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the R5 Meta 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
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
R2 Meta and R5 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
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 R2 Meta and the R2 Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
R2 Meta and R5 Meta has the same power range of 15-200 watts.
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 R5 Meta 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
KEF R5 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 KEF R5 Meta'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 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 R2 Meta is 897mm shorter and 31mm less deeper than KEF R5 Meta but it is also 279mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R2 Meta and KEF R5 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R2 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 R2 Meta is approximately 1725.4cm2 / 267.4inch2 and base area of the KEF R5 Meta is approximately 939.8cm2 / 145.7inch2. The R2 Meta requires 84% more surface area than the R5 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 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
Height 
Price per pair* 
Low Frequency Response 
Base Surface Area