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.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G | KEF R11 Meta |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Vented dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" HDT C-CAM | 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45 Hz – 60 kHz | 46-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | 15-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 21.25kg / 46.8lbs | 36.59kg / 80.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-1/4" x 13-3/8" x 18-1/4"
340.0 x 1099.0 x 464.0mm | 51" 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Gold 300 6G and R11 Meta are 3-way speakers.
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6GKEF R11 Meta
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 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 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Gold 300 6G can go slightly deeper then the R11 Meta's min frequency of 46Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
R11 Meta can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Gold 300 6G has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the R11 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.
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G
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
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 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 |
46-28k 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (45Hz vs 46Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
KEF R11 Meta is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (250W vs 300W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G: bi-amping; KEF R11 Meta: bi-amping. |
| Price |
A |
Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G is cheaper - $5,599 against $6,498, about 14% less. |
A Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G
B KEF R11 Meta
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
The usual trade-off: KEF R11 Meta measures better, Monitor Audio Gold 300 6G costs about 14% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate KEF R11 Meta the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KEF R11 Meta is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.