In this review, we will be comparing R2 Meta and Silver C250 7G, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and Monitor Audio . Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R2 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KEF R2 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R2 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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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Drivers
Both R2 Meta and Silver C250 7G are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF R2 Meta |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 3-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 Silver C250 7G features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) Woofer .
Frequency Response
R2 Meta has a frequency range of 67-28k Hz whereas Silver C250 7G has a frequency range of 65-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the Silver C250 7G can go slightly deeper then 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
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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 Silver C250 7G 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 Silver C250 7G's is rated at 88.5 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R2 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
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
R2 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Silver C250 7G has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R2 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G's Binding post terminals
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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G'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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G has external dimensions of 205.0 x 482.0 x 274.0mm ( 8-1/16 x 18-15/16 x 10-3/4inch) .
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is 71mm narrower and 38mm less deeper than KEF R2 Meta but it is also 28mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R2 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R2 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G 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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G is approximately 1320.7cm2 / 204.7inch2. The R2 Meta requires 31% more surface area than the Silver C250 7G 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 R2 Meta weighs 15.45kg / 34lbs and the Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G weighs 10.63kg / 23.4lbs. This makes the R2 Meta 45% heavier than the Silver C250 7G.
Here is a comparison of how R2 Meta and Silver C250 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
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 Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G?
Here are the items that come with the Silver C250 7G:
Center-channel loudspeakersGrille2 Jumpers (pre-installed)4 Rubber feetHex-keyOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Height |
177mm
vs
205mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 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 |
 Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
67 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1320cm2 (482x274mm)
vs
1725cm2 (553x312mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1100USD
vs
1399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R2 Meta |
Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G |
| Brand |
KEF |
Monitor Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
15-200 watts |
80-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
67-28k Hz |
65-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
C-CAM with Rigid Surface Technology (RST) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
gold dome C-CAM |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
560Hz and 2500Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
205.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
553.0mm (21.8") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
15.45kg (34lbs) |
10.63kg (23.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
White |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |