In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by KEF. KEF R3 Meta is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the R11 Meta is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R3 Meta and KEF R11 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R3 Meta | KEF R11 Meta |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum | 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 58-28k Hz | 46-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-180 watts | 15-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.41kg / 27.3lbs | 36.59kg / 80.5lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 51" x 12-1/4" x 15-1/8"
1296.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm |
|---|
R3 Meta and R11 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 R3 Meta and KEF R11 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 R3 Meta |
KEF R11 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both R3 Meta and R11 Meta are 3-way speakers.
KEF R3 MetaKEF R11 Meta
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 |
KEF R11 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 6.5-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 R11 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 330Hz and 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz whereas R11 Meta has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the R11 Meta 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 R11 Meta 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 R11 Meta's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KEF R11 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3 Meta, 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.
R11 Meta can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas R3 Meta has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the R11 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 R11 Meta 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
KEF R11 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R3 Meta and R11 Meta have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
KEF R11 Meta 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 KEF R11 Meta'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 KEF R11 Meta has external dimensions of 1296.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm (51-inch x 12-1/4-inch x 15-1/8-inch).
KEF R11 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 110mm wider, 873mm taller and 48mm deeper than KEF R3 Meta.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R3 Meta and KEF R11 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R3 Meta and KEF R11 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 R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2 and base area of the KEF R11 Meta is approximately 1201.2cm2 / 186.2inch2. The R3 Meta requires 43% less surface area than the R11 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 KEF R11 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R11 Meta:
- R11 Meta
- Microfiber grille
- Plinth and spike accessories
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information