In this review, we will be comparing Gold 300 6G and R11 Meta, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G and KEF R11 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 2 x 6" HDT C-CAM Woofer
- 45 Hz – 60 kHz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 250watts
- Weight:21.25kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1099.0" x 13-3/8" x 18-1/4"( 340.0 x 1099.0 x 464.0mm )
KEF R11 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 1" Vented dome Tweeter
- 5" Midrange
- 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
- 5" Midrange
- 46-28 Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:15-300watts
- Weight:36.59kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1296.0" x 12-1/4" x 15-1/8"( 1296.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G and KEF R11 Meta 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 Gold 300 6G |
KEF R11 Meta |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* 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 Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G and KEF R11 Meta 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 Gold 300 6G and R11 Meta are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G |
KEF R11 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
4 x 6.5-inch
|
Gold 300 6G features a 1" MPD III Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6" HDT C-CAM Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800 Hz - 2700 Hz. On the other hand, the R11 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 330Hz and 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Gold 300 6G has a frequency range of 45 Hz – 60 kHz whereas R11 Meta has a frequency range of 46-28 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Gold 300 6G can go slightly deeper then the R11 Meta'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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G
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
Gold 300 6G and R11 Meta have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Gold 300 6G sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the R11 Meta's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KEF R11 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G, 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 Gold 300 6G and the Gold 300 6G 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.
Gold 300 6G can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Gold 300 6G has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the R11 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
Both Gold 300 6G and R11 Meta features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R11 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R11 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 Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G's and KEF R11 Meta's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G has external dimensions of 340.0 x 1099.0 x 464.0mm ( 13-3/8 x 43-1/4 x 18-1/4) whereas KEF R11 Meta has external dimensions of 1296.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm ( 51-inch x 12-1/4-inch x 15-1/8-inch) .
KEF R11 Meta is 28mm narrower and 79mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G but it is also 197mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G and KEF R11 Meta in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G and KEF R11 Meta 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 Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G is approximately 5099.4cm2 / 790.4inch2 and base area of the KEF R11 Meta is approximately 1201.2cm2 / 186.2inch2. The Gold 300 6G requires 325% more surface area than the R11 Meta which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Gold 300 6G weighs 21.25kg / 46.8lbs and the KEF R11 Meta weighs 36.59kg / 80.5lbs. This makes the R11 Meta 72% heavier than the Gold 300 6G.
Here is a comparison of how Gold 300 6G and R11 Meta's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gold 300 6G:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers 6 Grilles 4 Jumper-plates (pre-installed) 4 Port plugs 2 Base plates 8 Outrigger feet 8 rubber feet (pre-installed in outrigger feet) 8 Spikes (pre-installed in outrigger fee) 8 Large machine screws 24 Small machine screws Hex-key Quick Setup Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of KEF R11 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R11 Meta:
R11 Meta Microfiber grille Plinth and spike accessories Port bungs User manual and warranty information
 Minimum Impedance |
3.9 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
28k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1099mm
vs
1296mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
5599USD
vs
6498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
4
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Base Surface Area |
1201cm2
vs
5099cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G |
KEF R11 Meta |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
15-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.9 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45 Hz – 60 kHz |
46-28 Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
4 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
HDT C-CAM |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Vented dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
800 Hz - 2700 Hz |
330Hz and 2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
| Suggested Break-in Period |
2 Base plates| 8 Outrigger feet| 8 rubber feet (pre-installed in outrigger feet)| 8 Spikes |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1099.0mm (43.3") |
1296.0mm (51") |
| Width |
340.0mm (13.4") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Depth |
464.0mm (18.3") |
385.0mm (15.2") |
| Weight |
21.25kg (46.8lbs) |
36.59kg (80.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Macassar Wood Veneer, High-Gloss Black, Satin White |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 years |