In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by KEF. KEF R6 Meta is a Center Channel speaker whereas the R7 Meta is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R6 Meta and KEF R7 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R6 Meta | KEF R7 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" Hard-Dome | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-28k Hz | 48-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-250 watts | 15-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs | 29.36kg / 64.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-15/16" x 24-5/8" x 13-5/16"
202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm | 43-3/4" x 12-1/4" x 15-1/8"
1112.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm |
|---|
R6 Meta and R7 Meta are members of KEF's R META series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KEF R6 Meta and KEF R7 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 R6 Meta |
KEF R7 Meta |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both R6 Meta and R7 Meta are 3-way speakers.
KEF R6 MetaKEF R7 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 R6 Meta |
KEF R7 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
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 R7 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
R6 Meta has a frequency range of 65-28k Hz whereas R7 Meta has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R7 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R6 Meta's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
R6 Meta and R7 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the R6 Meta and the R6 Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
R6 Meta and R7 Meta have the same power range of 15-250 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 R6 Meta and R7 Meta features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R6 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R7 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 R6 Meta's and KEF R7 Meta'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 R7 Meta has external dimensions of 1112.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm (43-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch x 15-1/8-inch).
KEF R6 Meta is 910mm shorter and 46mm less deeper than KEF R7 Meta but it is also 314mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R6 Meta and KEF R7 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R6 Meta and KEF R7 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 R6 Meta is approximately 2122.1cm2 / 328.9inch2 and base area of the KEF R7 Meta is approximately 1201.2cm2 / 186.2inch2. The R6 Meta requires 77% more surface area than the R7 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 R7 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R7 Meta:
- R7 Meta
- Microfiber grille
- Plinth and spike accessories
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information