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KEF R7 vs KEF R3 Comparison

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KEF R7

Passive Floor-standing | 48-28k Hz

KEF R7
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KEF R3

Passive Bookshelf | 52-28k Hz

KEF R3
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KEF R7 KEF R7
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KEF R3 KEF R3
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KEF R7
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KEF R3
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KEF R7 vs KEF R3 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KEF. KEF R7 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the R3 is a Bookshelf speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF R7 and KEF R3 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF R7 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 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 )

KEF R3 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer
  • 5" Midrange
  • 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:15-180watts
  • Weight:13.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 423.0" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"( 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm )

R7 and R3 are members of KEF's R series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

KEF R Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
KEF R3
Bookshelf 52-28k Hz 87 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
KEF R7
Floor-standing 48-28k Hz 88 dB8Ω 2 x 6.5"
KEF R11
  
Floor-standing 46-28k Hz 90 dB8Ω 4 x 6.5"
KEF R5
  
Floor-standing 58-28k Hz 87 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
KEF R2c
  
Center Channel 74-28k Hz 87 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"

What size room are the KEF R7 and KEF R3 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 R7 KEF R3
Near-field Bad Poor
Small Room Poor Average
Mid-size Room Average 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 R7 and KEF R3 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 R7 and R3 are 3-way speakers.

Driver KEF R7 KEF R3
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 1 x 6.5-inch

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. On the other hand, the 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.

Frequency Response

R7 has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R7 can go slightly deeper then the R3'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

R7
R3
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

KEF R7
KEF R3
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

R7 and R3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R7 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the R3's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KEF R7 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

R7
R3
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.

R7 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R3 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 70 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 R7 and R3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 R7 and R3 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
KEF R3 Port

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 R7's and KEF R3's external dimensions. KEF R7 has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 200.0 x 389.0mm ( 43-13/16 x 8 x 15-5/16inch) whereas 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) .

KEF R7 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 690mm taller and 52mm deeper than KEF R3.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R7 and KEF R3 in scale.

KEF R7 vs KEF R3 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KEF R7 and KEF R3 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 R7 is approximately 778.0cm2 / 120.6inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The R7 requires 16% more surface area than the R3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of KEF R7?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of 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
  • What's in the Box of KEF R3?

    Here are the items that come with the R3:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • User Manual
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose KEF R7 over KEF R3
    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 180 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 48 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass

    Reasons to choose KEF R3 over KEF R7

    Height 423mm vs 1113mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 670cm2 vs 778cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 2200USD vs 4500USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    KEF R7 vs KEF R3 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF R7 KEF R3
    Brand KEF KEF
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 15-250 watts 15-180 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 87 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.2 ohms 3.2 ohms
    Frequency Response 48-28k Hz 52-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 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 Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5" 5"
    Crossover Frequency 400Hz and 2900Hz 400Hz and 2900Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 1113.0mm (43.8") 423.0mm (16.7")
    Width 200.0mm (7.9") 199.0mm (7.8")
    Depth 389.0mm (15.3") 337.0mm (13.3")
    Weight 31.40kg (69.1lbs) 13.55kg (29.8lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Lacquer MDF/Lacquer
    Available Colors Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Grille Yes 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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