In this review, we will be comparing R3 Meta and VELA BS 403, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R3 Meta and ELAC VELA BS 403 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R3 Meta | ELAC VELA BS 403 |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | handmade JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum | 6" Aluminum/Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 58-28k Hz | 41-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-180 watts | 40-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.41kg / 27.3lbs | 7.10kg / 15.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm | 14-3/16" x 7-1/2" x 9-3/8"
361.0 x 191.0 x 239.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF R3 Meta and ELAC VELA BS 403 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 R3 Meta |
ELAC VELA BS 403 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that R3 Meta is a 3-way design whereas the VELA BS 403 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
KEF R3 MetaELAC VELA BS 403
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 R3 Meta |
ELAC VELA BS 403 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-inch
|
R3 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 420Hz and 2300Hz. On the other hand, the VELA BS 403 features a " handmade JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter Tweeter and 1 x 6" Aluminum/Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz whereas VELA BS 403 has a frequency range of 41-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 41Hz, the VELA BS 403 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
R3 Meta and VELA BS 403 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R3 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the VELA BS 403's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R3 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC VELA BS 403, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 R3 Meta and the R3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
R3 Meta can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas VELA BS 403 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R3 Meta.
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 R3 Meta and VELA BS 403 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R3 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC VELA BS 403's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
R3 Meta has a rear firing port whereas VELA BS 403 has a bottom firing ports. ELAC VELA BS 403's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF R3 Meta with its rear-firing port.
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 R3 Meta's and ELAC VELA BS 403's external dimensions. KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch) whereas ELAC VELA BS 403 has external dimensions of 361.0 x 191.0 x 239.0mm (24-28inch x 7-1/2inch x 9-3/8inch).
KEF R3 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 11mm wider, 62mm taller and 98mm deeper than ELAC VELA BS 403.
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 R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2 and base area of the ELAC VELA BS 403 is approximately 456.5cm2 / 70.8inch2. The R3 Meta requires 49% more surface area than the VELA BS 403 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 R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs and the ELAC VELA BS 403 weighs 7.10kg / 15.6lbs. This makes the R3 Meta 75% heavier than the VELA BS 403.
Here is a comparison of how R3 Meta and VELA BS 403's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R3 Meta:
- 1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers
- 1 pair of microfiber grilles
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of ELAC VELA BS 403?
Here are the items that come with the VELA BS 403:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 4 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- Operating And Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2899USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Low Frequency Response |
41 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
361mm
vs
423mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
456cm2
vs
680cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KEF R3 Meta |
ELAC VELA BS 403 |
| Brand |
KEF |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-180 watts |
40-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
58-28k Hz |
41-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Aluminum/Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
handmade JET 5 folded ribbon tweeter |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
423.0mm (16.7") |
361.0mm (14.2") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
337.0mm (13.3") |
239.0mm (9.4") |
| Weight |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
7.10kg (15.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Aluminum |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
Gloss Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| Grille |
n/a |
No |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
3 Years |
A generation apart: KEF R3 Meta is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | ELAC VELA BS 403 digs deeper - 41Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | KEF R3 Meta takes more power (180W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | ELAC VELA BS 403 is easier to place; KEF R3 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R3 Meta: bi-amping; ELAC VELA BS 403: bi-amping. KEF R3 Meta sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | KEF R3 Meta is cheaper - $2,199 against $2,899, about 24% less. |
A KEF R3 Meta B ELAC VELA BS 403
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R3 Meta much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate KEF R3 Meta the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and ELAC VELA BS 403 for a small room.
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.