In this review, we will be comparing R5 and R5 Meta, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R5 and KEF R5 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R5 | KEF R5 Meta |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 58-28k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-200 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 27.30kg / 60.1lbs | 24.55kg / 54lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-3/8" x 10-3/4" x 13-13/16"
1077.0 x 274.0 x 351.0mm | 42-1/4" x 10-3/4" x 13-1/2"
1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF R5 and KEF R5 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 R5 |
KEF R5 Meta |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
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.
**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
Both R5 and R5 Meta are 3-way speakers.
KEF R5KEF R5 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 R5 |
KEF R5 Meta |
|
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 5.25-inch
|
R5 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
R5 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz whereas R5 Meta has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the R5 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R5'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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
R5 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the R5 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 R5 Meta can provide this impedance level.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
R5 and R5 Meta have the same power range of 15-200 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 R5 and R5 Meta features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R5's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R5 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both R5 and R5 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 R5 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 R5's and KEF R5 Meta's external dimensions. KEF R5 has external dimensions of 1077.0 x 274.0 x 351.0mm (42-3/8 x 10-3/4 x 13-13/16inch) whereas 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).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R5 and KEF R5 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R5 and KEF R5 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 R5 is approximately 961.7cm2 / 149.1inch2 and base area of the KEF R5 Meta is approximately 939.8cm2 / 145.7inch2. The R5 requires 2% more surface area than the R5 Meta 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 weighs 27.30kg / 60.1lbs and the KEF R5 Meta weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R5 11% heavier than the R5 Meta.
Here is a comparison of how R5 and R5 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R5:
- 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
What's in the Box of KEF R5 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R5 Meta:
- R5 Meta
- Microfiber grille
- Plinth and spike accessories
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Price per pair* |
3300USD
vs
3998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1074mm
vs
1077mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
939cm2
vs
961cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KEF R5 |
KEF R5 Meta |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-200 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-28k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
400Hz and 2700Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1077.0mm (42.4") |
1074.0mm (42.3") |
| Width |
274.0mm (10.8") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Depth |
351.0mm (13.8") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
27.30kg (60.1lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| 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 R5 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 |
KEF R5 Meta 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 R5 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 (200W vs 200W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
KEF R5: bi-amping; KEF R5 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price |
A |
KEF R5 is cheaper - $3,300 against $3,998, about 17% less. |
A KEF R5
B KEF R5 Meta
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 R5 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate KEF R5 the better fit for a mid-size room, and KEF R5 Meta for 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.