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KEF R5 Meta vs KEF R7 Comparison

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KEF R5 Meta

Passive Floor-standing | 52-28k Hz

KEF R5 Meta
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KEF R7

Passive Floor-standing | 48-28k Hz

KEF R7
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KEF R5 Meta KEF R5 Meta
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KEF R7 KEF R7
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KEF R5 Meta
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KEF R7
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KEF R5 Meta vs KEF R7 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing R5 Meta and R7, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KEF

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R5 Meta and KEF R7 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R5 Meta Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Vented dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:15-200watts
  • Weight:24.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1074.0" x 10-3/4" x 13-1/2"( 1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm )

KEF R7 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 5" Midrange
  • 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:15-250watts
  • Weight:31.40kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1113.0" x 8" x 15-5/16"( 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm )

What size room are the KEF R5 Meta and KEF R7 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 R5 Meta KEF R7
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Average
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF R5 Meta and KEF R7 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

Both R5 Meta and R7 are 3-way speakers.

Driver KEF R5 Meta KEF R7
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 5-inch 1 x 5-inch
Woofer 2 x 5.25-inch 2 x 6.5-inch

R5 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2700Hz. On the other hand, the R7 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.

Frequency Response

R5 Meta has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas R7 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R7 can go slightly deeper then the R5 Meta's min frequency of 52Hz.

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 Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

R5 Meta
R7
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

KEF R5 Meta
KEF R7
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

R5 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R7 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 R5 Meta can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R5 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the R7's is rated at 88 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R7 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R5 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

R5 Meta
R7
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.

R5 Meta can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R5 Meta has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the R7.

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 R5 Meta and R7 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

KEF R5 Meta Terminals
KEF R5 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

KEF R7 Terminals
KEF R7's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both R5 Meta and R7 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.

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 R5 Meta's and KEF R7's external dimensions. KEF R5 Meta has external dimensions of 1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm ( 42-1/4-inch x 10-3/4-inch x 13-1/2-inch) whereas KEF R7 has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm ( 43-13/16 x 8 x 15-5/16inch) .

KEF R5 Meta is 39mm shorter and 46mm less deeper than KEF R7 but it is also 74mm wider.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R5 Meta and KEF R7 in scale.

KEF R5 Meta vs KEF R7 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KEF R5 Meta and KEF R7 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 R5 Meta is approximately 939.8cm2 / 145.7inch2 and base area of the KEF R7 is approximately 778.0cm2 / 120.6inch2. The R5 Meta requires 21% more surface area than the R7 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 R5 Meta weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs and the KEF R7 weighs 31.40kg / 69.1lbs. This makes the R7 28% heavier than the R5 Meta.

Here is a comparison of how R5 Meta and R7's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
KEF R5 Meta
KEF R7
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KEF R5 Meta?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R5 Meta:
  • R5 Meta
  • Microfiber grille
  • Plinth and spike accessories
  • Port bungs
  • User manual and warranty information
  • What's in the Box of KEF R7?

    Here are the items that come with the R7:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 4 Outrigger feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 4 Protective discs
  • 4 Screws
  • 4 Washers
  • Wrench
  • Hex-key
  • User Manual
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose KEF R5 Meta over KEF R7
    Height 1074mm vs 1113mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 3998USD vs 4500USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose KEF R7 over KEF R5 Meta

    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 200 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    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 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 48 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Base Surface Area 778cm2 vs 939cm2 Takes less floor space
    KEF R5 Meta vs KEF R7 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF R5 Meta KEF R7
    Brand KEF KEF
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 15-200 watts 15-250 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.2 ohms 3.2 ohms
    Frequency Response 52-28k Hz 48-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 5.25" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Hybrid Aluminum Hybrid Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Vented dome Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5" 5"
    Crossover Frequency 400Hz and 2700Hz 400Hz and 2900Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 1074.0mm (42.3") 1113.0mm (43.8")
    Width 274.0mm (10.8") 200.0mm (7.9")
    Depth 343.0mm (13.5") 389.0mm (15.3")
    Weight 24.55kg (54lbs) 31.40kg (69.1lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a MDF/Lacquer
    Available Colors Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut
    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

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