In this review, we will be comparing R3 and R3 Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R3 and KEF R3 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R3 | KEF R3 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" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum | 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-180 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs | 12.41kg / 27.3lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm | 16-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF R3 and KEF R3 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 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 R3 and R3 Meta are 3-way speakers.
KEF R3KEF R3 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 |
KEF R3 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
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas R3 Meta has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the R3 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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the R3 Meta which has a nominal impedance of 4 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.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
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 and R3 Meta have the same power range of 15-180 watts.
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 and R3 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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R3 and R3 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 R3 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's and KEF R3 Meta's external dimensions. KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm (16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch) whereas 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).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R3 and KEF R3 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R3 and KEF R3 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 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2. The R3 requires 1% less surface area than the R3 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 and KEF R3 Meta 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 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs and the KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs. This makes the R3 9% heavier than the R3 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how R3 and R3 Meta'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R3 Meta:
- 1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers
- 1 pair of microfiber grilles
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
670cm2
vs
680cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2199USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R3 |
KEF R3 Meta |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-180 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid aluminum |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
420Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
423.0mm (16.7") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
199.0mm (7.8") |
202.0mm (8") |
| Depth |
337.0mm (13.3") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
12.41kg (27.3lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Indigo Gloss Special Edition |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 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 | A | KEF R3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 58Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | KEF R3 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 (180W vs 180W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF R3: bi-amping; KEF R3 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($2,200 vs $2,199 a pair). |
A KEF R3 B KEF R3 Meta
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?
KEF R3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate KEF R3 the better fit for a small room, and KEF R3 Meta for a large room and a very large 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.