In this review, we will be comparing Reference 1 Meta and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 1 Meta and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF Reference 1 Meta | KEF R3 |
|---|
| 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" aluminium dome with MAT | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" aluminium cone | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-35k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | 15-180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.20kg / 40lbs | 13.55kg / 29.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.3" x 8.1" x 16.6"
440 x 205 x 422 mm | 16-5/8" x 7-13/16" x 13-1/4"
423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 Reference 1 Meta |
KEF R3 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reference 1 Meta and R3 are 3-way speakers.
KEF Reference 1 MetaKEF R3
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 Reference 1 Meta |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
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 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
Reference 1 Meta has a frequency range of 45-35k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Reference 1 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R3's min frequency of 52Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Reference 1 Meta is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R3 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 R3's is rated at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF R3 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 1 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Reference 1 Meta can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas R3 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Reference 1 Meta.
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 Reference 1 Meta and R3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 1 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Reference 1 Meta 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
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 Reference 1 Meta's and KEF R3'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 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 Reference 1 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 6mm wider, 17mm taller and 85mm deeper than KEF R3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF Reference 1 Meta and KEF R3 in scale.
Comparison image of KEF Reference 1 Meta 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 Reference 1 Meta is approximately 865.1cm2 / 134.1inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The Reference 1 Meta requires 29% more surface area than the R3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of KEF Reference 1 Meta and KEF R3 on a Media Console
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 KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the Reference 1 Meta 34% heavier than the R3.
Here is a comparison of how Reference 1 Meta and R3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
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
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
423mm
vs
440mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
670cm2
vs
865cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
9000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF Reference 1 Meta |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
KEF |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-35k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
aluminium cone |
Hybrid aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
aluminium dome with MAT |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2100Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
440.0mm (17.3") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
205.0mm (8.1") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
422.0mm (16.6") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
18.20kg (40lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss White/Blue, High-Gloss White/Champagne, High-Gloss Black/Grey, High-Gloss Black/Copper, Satin Walnut/Silver |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KEF Reference 1 Meta costs roughly 4.1x what KEF R3 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KEF Reference 1 Meta digs deeper - 45Hz against 52Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KEF R3 is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KEF R3 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 180W). |
| Size | depends | KEF R3 is easier to place; KEF Reference 1 Meta is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KEF Reference 1 Meta: bi-amping; KEF R3: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KEF R3 is cheaper - $2,200 against $9,000, about 76% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF Reference 1 Meta B KEF R3
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
KEF R3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 52Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KEF R3 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate KEF Reference 1 Meta the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and KEF R3 for a small 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.