In this review, we will be comparing Apex A40 and R2c, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Monitor Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Apex A40 and KEF R2c first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Apex A40 | KEF R2c |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-35k Hz | 74-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.91kg / 15.2lbs | 16.90kg / 37.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5-1/2" x 24" x 4-3/4"
140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm | 6-15/16" x 21-11/16" x 12-7/16"
177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Apex A40 and KEF R2c 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* |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
KEF R2c |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Apex A40 is a 2-way design whereas the R2c is a 3-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.
Monitor Audio Apex A40KEF R2c
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
KEF R2c |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Apex A40 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) Woofer. On the other hand, the R2c features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Apex A40 has a frequency range of 50-35k Hz whereas R2c has a frequency range of 74-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Apex A40 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R2c's min frequency of 74Hz.
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
Apex A40 and R2c have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Apex A40 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R2c's is at 87 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Monitor Audio Apex A40 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R2c, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
Both handle the same maximum of 200 watts RMS, though Apex A40 is rated 50-200 watts and R2c 15-200 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
R2c features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Apex A40 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R2c's Binding post 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 Monitor Audio Apex A40's and KEF R2c's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Apex A40 has external dimensions of 140.0 x 610.0 x 121.0mm (5-1/2 x 24 x 4-3/4inch) whereas KEF R2c has external dimensions of 177.0 x 551.0 x 316.0mm (6-15/16 x 21-11/16 x 12-7/16inch).
Monitor Audio Apex A40 is 37mm shorter and 195mm less deeper than KEF R2c but it is also 59mm wider.
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 Monitor Audio Apex A40 is approximately 738.1cm2 / 114.4inch2 and base area of the KEF R2c is approximately 1741.2cm2 / 269.9inch2. The Apex A40 requires 58% less surface area than the R2c 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 Monitor Audio Apex A40 weighs 6.91kg / 15.2lbs and the KEF R2c weighs 16.90kg / 37.2lbs. This makes the R2c 145% heavier than the Apex A40.
Here is a comparison of how Apex A40 and R2c's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Apex A40?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Apex A40:
- LCR loudspeaker
- Grille
- Bracket (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Rubber inserts
- Hex-key
- Set Up Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Important Information
- Mounting Template
What's in the Box of KEF R2c?
Here are the items that come with the R2c:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
74 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
140mm
vs
177mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
738cm2
vs
1741cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1125USD
vs
1300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| General |
Monitor Audio Apex A40 |
KEF R2c |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-35k Hz |
74-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM with RST® (Rigid Surface Technology) |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
140.0mm (5.5") |
177.0mm (7") |
| Width |
610.0mm (24") |
551.0mm (21.7") |
| Depth |
121.0mm (4.8") |
316.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
6.91kg (15.2lbs) |
16.90kg (37.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Available Colors |
Gloss White |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: KEF R2c is the newer design, against a 2011 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Monitor Audio Apex A40 digs deeper - 50Hz against 74Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is easier to place; KEF R2c is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | KEF R2c: bi-amping. KEF R2c sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Apex A40 is cheaper - $1,125 against $1,300, about 13% less. |
A Monitor Audio Apex A40 B KEF R2c
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?
Monitor Audio Apex A40 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 74Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, KEF R2c has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Monitor Audio Apex A40 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.