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KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Focal Kanta No.1 Comparison

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KEF Reference 1 Meta

Passive Bookshelf | 45-35k Hz

KEF Reference 1 Meta
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Focal Kanta No.1

Passive Bookshelf | 46-40k Hz

Focal Kanta No.1
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KEF Reference 1 Meta KEF Reference 1 Meta
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Focal Kanta No.1 Focal Kanta No.1
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KEF Reference 1 Meta
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Focal Kanta No.1
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KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Focal Kanta No.1 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Reference 1 Meta and Kanta No.1, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KEF and Focal.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KEF Reference 1 Meta and Focal Kanta No.1 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KEF Reference 1 Meta Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer
  • 45-35k Hz Frequency Response
  • 85 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:50-200watts
  • Weight:18.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 440.0" x 8.1" x 16.6"( 440 x 205 x 422 mm )

Focal Kanta No.1 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 6.5" Flax Woofer
  • 46-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:25-150watts
  • Weight:13.05kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 609.6" x 9-1/4" x 15-7/16"( 609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm )

What size room are the KEF Reference 1 Meta and Focal Kanta No.1 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 Reference 1 Meta Focal Kanta No.1
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 Reference 1 Meta and Focal Kanta No.1 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

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Reference 1 Meta is a 3-way design whereas the Kanta No.1 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 Reference 1 Meta Focal Kanta No.1
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1.1-inch
Midrange 1 x 5-inch -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 1 x 6.5-inch

Reference 1 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the Kanta No.1 features a 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400 Hz.

Frequency Response

Reference 1 Meta has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz whereas Kanta No.1 has a frequency range of 46-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Reference 1 Meta can go slightly deeper then the Kanta No.1's min frequency of 46Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Reference 1 Meta
Kanta No.1
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

KEF Reference 1 Meta
Focal Kanta No.1
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

Reference 1 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Kanta No.1 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 Reference 1 Meta can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 1 Meta sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the Kanta No.1's is rated at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Focal Kanta No.1 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 1 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Reference 1 Meta
Kanta No.1
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.

Reference 1 Meta can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kanta No.1 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Reference 1 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

Reference 1 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta No.1 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KEF Reference 1 Meta Terminals
KEF Reference 1 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Focal Kanta No.1Binding post Terminals
Focal Kanta No.1's Binding post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Reference 1 Meta and Kanta No.1 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 Reference 1 Meta's and Focal Kanta No.1's external dimensions. KEF Reference 1 Meta has external dimensions of 440 x 205 x 422 mm ( 17.3 x 8.1 x 16.6 ) whereas Focal Kanta No.1 has external dimensions of 609.6 x 228.6 x 393.0mm ( 24-28inch x 9-1/4inch x 15-7/16inch ) .

KEF Reference 1 Meta is 23.6mm narrower and 169.6mm shorter than Focal Kanta No.1 but it is also 29mm deeper.

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 Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2 and base area of the Focal Kanta No.1 is approximately 898.4cm2 / 139.3inch2. The Reference 1 Meta requires 4% less surface area than the Kanta No.1 which gives it a small advantage 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 Reference 1 Meta weighs 18.20kg / 40lbs and the Focal Kanta No.1 weighs 13.05kg / 28.7lbs. This makes the Reference 1 Meta 39% heavier than the Kanta No.1.

Here is a comparison of how Reference 1 Meta and Kanta No.1's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
KEF Reference 1 Meta
Focal Kanta No.1
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Focal Kanta No.1?

Here are the items that come with the Kanta No.1:
  • Bookshelf loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Port plug
  • 4 Slicone pads
  • User Manual

  • Reasons to choose KEF Reference 1 Meta over Focal Kanta No.1
    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 150 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Low Frequency Response 45 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Height 440mm vs 609mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 865cm2 vs 898cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Focal Kanta No.1 over KEF Reference 1 Meta

    Sensitivity 88 dB vs 85 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Minimum Impedance 3.9 ohms vs 3.2 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 35k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Price per pair* 7998USD vs 9000USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Focal Kanta No.1 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KEF Reference 1 Meta Focal Kanta No.1
    Brand KEF Focal
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 50-200 watts 25-150 watts
    Sensitivity 85 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.2 ohms 3.9 ohms
    Frequency Response 45-35k Hz 46-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 6.5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition aluminium cone Flax
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1.1"
    Tweeter Type aluminium dome with MAT Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5" No
    Crossover Frequency 450Hz and 2100Hz 2400 Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 440.0mm (17.3") 609.6mm (24")
    Width 205.0mm (8.1") 228.6mm (9")
    Depth 422.0mm (16.6") 393.0mm (15.5")
    Weight 18.20kg (40lbs) 13.05kg (28.7lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer
    Available Colors High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height n/a 24-28"
    Grille n/a Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 years 5 Years

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