In this review, we will be comparing Reference 3 Meta and HDI-3800, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF Reference 3 Meta and JBL HDI-3800 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF Reference 3 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer
- 43-35k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:51.30kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1207.0" x 12.7" x 18.4"( 1207 x 323 x 467 mm )
JBL HDI-3800 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer
- 37-30k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:25-300watts
- Weight:38.08kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1143.0" x 11-15/16" x 16-9/16"( 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm )
What size room are the KEF Reference 3 Meta and JBL HDI-3800 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 3 Meta |
JBL HDI-3800 |
| Near-field |
Are you nuts? |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Good |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF Reference 3 Meta and JBL HDI-3800 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 Reference 3 Meta is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-3800 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 3 Meta |
JBL HDI-3800 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
Reference 3 Meta features a 1" aluminium dome with MAT Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" aluminium cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the HDI-3800 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Reference 3 Meta has a frequency range of 43-35k Hz whereas HDI-3800 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the HDI-3800 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Reference 3 Meta's min frequency of 43Hz.
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
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Reference 3 Meta and HDI-3800 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Reference 3 Meta sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the HDI-3800's is at 92 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the JBL HDI-3800 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Reference 3 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 Reference 3 Meta and the Reference 3 Meta can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
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 Reference 3 Meta and HDI-3800 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF Reference 3 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 3 Meta and HDI-3800 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 Reference 3 Meta 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 Reference 3 Meta's and JBL HDI-3800's external dimensions. KEF Reference 3 Meta has external dimensions of 1207 x 323 x 467 mm ( 47.5 x 12.7 x 18.4 in.) whereas JBL HDI-3800 has external dimensions of 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm ( 45 x 11-15/16 x 16-9/16inch) .
KEF Reference 3 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 64mm taller and 46mm deeper than JBL HDI-3800.
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 3 Meta is approximately 1508.4cm2 / 233.8inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-3800 is approximately 1279.8cm2 / 198.4inch2. The Reference 3 Meta requires 18% more surface area than the HDI-3800 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.