In this review, we will be comparing R2 Meta and Ultra Center, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KEF and SVS.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R2 Meta and SVS Ultra Center first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R2 Meta | SVS Ultra Center |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | SVS
United States · founded 1998 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 67-28k Hz | 45-32k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-200 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.45kg / 34lbs | 14.09kg / 31lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-15/16" x 21-3/4" x 12-1/4"
177.0 x 553.0 x 312.0mm | 8-1/8" x 22-1/16" x 11-3/16"
207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF R2 Meta and SVS Ultra Center 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 |
SVS Ultra Center |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both R2 Meta and Ultra Center are 3-way speakers.
KEF R2 MetaSVS Ultra Center
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 R2 Meta |
SVS Ultra Center |
|
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 Ultra Center features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
R2 Meta has a frequency range of 67-28k Hz whereas Ultra Center has a frequency range of 45-32k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Ultra Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R2 Meta's min frequency of 67Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
R2 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Ultra Center 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.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Ultra Center can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas R2 Meta has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the Ultra Center.
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 R2 Meta and Ultra Center 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
SVS Ultra Center's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 R2 Meta's and SVS Ultra Center'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 SVS Ultra Center has external dimensions of 207.0 x 561.0 x 285.0mm (8-1/8 x 22-1/16 x 11-3/16inch).
KEF R2 Meta is 8mm narrower and 30mm shorter than SVS Ultra Center but it is also 27mm 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 SVS Ultra Center is approximately 1598.9cm2 / 247.8inch2. The R2 Meta requires 8% more surface area than the Ultra Center 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 SVS Ultra Center weighs 14.09kg / 31lbs. This makes the R2 Meta 10% heavier than the Ultra Center.
Here is a comparison of how R2 Meta and Ultra Center's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
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 SVS Ultra Center?
Here are the items that come with the Ultra Center:
- Center channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- SVS brochure
- Online Product Registration Card
 Height |
177mm
vs
207mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 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 |
45 Hz
vs
67 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1598cm2
vs
1725cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
799USD
vs
1399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R2 Meta |
SVS Ultra Center |
| Brand |
KEF |
SVS |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
15-200 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
67-28k Hz |
45-32k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
composite glass-fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
560Hz and 2500Hz |
500Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
177.0mm (7") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Width |
553.0mm (21.8") |
561.0mm (22.1") |
| Depth |
312.0mm (12.3") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Weight |
15.45kg (34lbs) |
14.09kg (31lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Sealed |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Black Oak,Piano Gloss Black,Piano Gloss White |
| 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 |
These sit in different price classes - KEF R2 Meta costs roughly 1.8x what SVS Ultra Center does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | SVS Ultra Center digs deeper - 45Hz against 67Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | SVS Ultra Center is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 225W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R2 Meta: bi-amping; SVS Ultra Center: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | SVS Ultra Center is cheaper - $799 against $1,399, about 43% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF R2 Meta B SVS Ultra Center
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?
SVS Ultra Center is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take KEF R2 Meta 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 67Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, SVS Ultra Center is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.