In this review, we will be comparing R6 Meta and Q650c, two Passive Center Channel speakers by KEF Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R6 Meta and KEF Q650c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF R6 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 65-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-250watts
- Weight:17.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 202.0" x 24-5/8" x 13-5/16"( 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm )
KEF Q650c Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" aluminum Woofer
- 64-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-150watts
- Weight:13.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 212.0" x 24-13/16" x 11-15/16"( 212.0 x 631.0 x 304.0mm )
What size room are the KEF R6 Meta and KEF Q650c 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 R6 Meta |
KEF Q650c |
| 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 R6 Meta and KEF Q650c compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that R6 Meta is a 3-way design whereas the Q650c 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 R6 Meta |
KEF Q650c |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
R6 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2400Hz. On the other hand, the Q650c features a 1" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
R6 Meta has a frequency range of 65-28k Hz whereas Q650c has a frequency range of 64-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 64Hz, the Q650c can go slightly deeper then the R6 Meta's min frequency of 65Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
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
R6 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Q650c 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 R6 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R6 Meta sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Q650c's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R6 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q650c, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
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.
R6 Meta can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Q650c has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the R6 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
R6 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Q650c has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R6 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF Q650c's Binding post terminals
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 R6 Meta's and KEF Q650c's external dimensions. KEF R6 Meta has external dimensions of 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm ( 7-15/16-inch x 24-5/8-inch x 13-5/16-inch) whereas KEF Q650c has external dimensions of 212.0 x 631.0 x 304.0mm ( 8-5/16 x 24-13/16 x 11-15/16inch) .
KEF R6 Meta is 5mm narrower and 10mm shorter than KEF Q650c but it is also 35mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R6 Meta and KEF Q650c in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R6 Meta and KEF Q650c 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 R6 Meta is approximately 2122.1cm2 / 328.9inch2 and base area of the KEF Q650c is approximately 1918.2cm2 / 297.3inch2. The R6 Meta requires 11% more surface area than the Q650c 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 R6 Meta weighs 17.82kg / 39.2lbs and the KEF Q650c weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs. This makes the R6 Meta 31% heavier than the Q650c.
Here is a comparison of how R6 Meta and Q650c's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R6 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R6 Meta:
1 R2 Meta 1 microfiber grille Rubber feet User manual and warranty information
What's in the Box of KEF Q650c?
Here are the items that come with the Q650c:
Center-channel loudspeaker 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet Owners Manual Warranty Information