KEF R3 Meta vs Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Comparison

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KEF R3 Meta

Passive Bookshelf | 58-28k Hz

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Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G

Passive Bookshelf | 35-35k Hz

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KEF R3 Meta

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KEF R3 Meta

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KEF R3 Meta vs Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R3 Meta and Silver 100 7G, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Monitor Audio.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R3 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R3 Meta Key Specs

3-way Design

12th Generation Uni-Q Driver

1" Hard-Dome Tweeter

5" Midrange

6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer

58-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 4ohms

Power Range:15-180watts

Weight:12.41kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 423.0" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"( 423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm )

Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Hard-Dome Tweeter

8" C-CAM RST II Woofer

35-35k Hz Frequency Response

87.5 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:40-120watts

Weight:9.43kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 377.0" x 9-1/8" x 13-1/16"( 377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm )

What size room are the KEF R3 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver 100 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:

Listening Environment*	KEF R3 Meta	Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R3 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my 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 Silver 100 7G 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.

Driver	KEF R3 Meta	Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
Driver Setup	3-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	1 x 5-inch	-
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 8-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 Silver 100 7G features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" C-CAM RST II Woofer .

Frequency Response

R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz whereas Silver 100 7G has a frequency range of 35-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the Silver 100 7G can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3 Meta's min frequency of 58Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

R3 Meta

Silver 100 7G

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF R3 Meta

Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G

Min

Average

Max

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

R3 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Silver 100 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 R3 Meta can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R3 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Silver 100 7G's is rated at 87.5 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

R3 Meta

Silver 100 7G

Min

Average

Max

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.

R3 Meta can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Silver 100 7G has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 60 watts less than the R3 Meta.

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 R3 Meta and Silver 100 7G 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

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 R3 Meta's and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G'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 Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G has external dimensions of 377.0 x 232.0 x 332.0mm ( 14-13/16 x 9-1/8 x 13-1/16inch) .

Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is 46mm shorter and 5mm less deeper than KEF R3 Meta but it is also 30mm wider.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R3 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G in scale.

Comparison image of KEF R3 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver 100 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 R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm² / 105.5inch² and base area of the Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G is approximately 770.2cm² / 119.4inch². The R3 Meta requires 12% less surface area than the Silver 100 7G which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Size Comparison image of KEF R3 Meta and Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G on a Media Console

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 Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G weighs 9.43kg / 20.7lbs. This makes the R3 Meta 32% heavier than the Silver 100 7G.

Here is a comparison of how R3 Meta and Silver 100 7G's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

KEF R3 Meta

Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G

Min

Average

Max

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 Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G?

Here are the items that come with the Silver 100 7G:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

4 Jumpers (pre-installed)

8 Rubber feet

2 Foam port plugs

Hex-key

Owners Manual

Important Safety Instructions

Reasons to choose KEF R3 Meta over Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G

Max Input Power	180 watts vs 120 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Driver Setup	3-way vs 2-way	Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Base Surface Area	680cm² vs 770cm²	Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G over KEF R3 Meta

Sensitivity	88 dB vs 87 dB	Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Nominal Impedance	8 ohms vs 4 ohms	Less selective with amplifiers
Woofer Size	8 inches vs 6.5 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	35 Hz vs 58 Hz	Generates deeper bass
High Frequency Response	35k Hz vs 28k Hz	Generates higher frequency
Height	377mm vs 423mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Price per pair*	1400USD vs 2199USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

KEF R3 Meta vs Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	KEF R3 Meta	Monitor Audio Silver 100 7G
Brand	KEF	Monitor Audio
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	15-180 watts	40-120 watts
Sensitivity	87 dB	87.5 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.2 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	58-28k Hz	35-35k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	8"
Woofer Composition	Hybrid Aluminum	C-CAM RST II
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Hard-Dome	Hard-Dome
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	5"	No
Crossover Frequency	420Hz and 2300Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	n/a
Physical Specs
Height	423.0mm (16.7")	377.0mm (14.8")
Width	202.0mm (8")	232.0mm (9.1")
Depth	337.0mm (13.3")	332.0mm (13.1")
Weight	12.41kg (27.3lbs)	9.43kg (20.7lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	n/a	MDF/Wood veneer
Available Colors	Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition	Ash,High Gloss Black,Black Oak,Satin White
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	n/a	22-26"
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