In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. Monitor Audio Studio 89 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the R6 Meta is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Studio 89 and KEF R6 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Studio 89 | KEF R6 Meta |
|---|
| 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 | MPD III (folded ribbon) | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4.25" RDT III | 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-60k Hz | 65-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-300 watts | 15-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.60kg / 16.7lbs | 17.82kg / 39.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-3/8" x 6-3/16" x 14-3/16"
340.0 x 157.0 x 361.0mm | 7-15/16" x 24-5/8" x 13-5/16"
202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Monitor Audio Studio 89 and KEF R6 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 Studio 89 |
KEF R6 Meta |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
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 Studio 89 is a 2-way design whereas the R6 Meta 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 Studio 89KEF R6 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 Studio 89 |
KEF R6 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Studio 89 features a " MPD III (folded ribbon) Tweeter and 2 x 4.25" RDT III Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2400Hz. On the other hand, the R6 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 500Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
Studio 89 has a frequency range of 48-60k Hz whereas R6 Meta has a frequency range of 65-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Studio 89 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R6 Meta's min frequency of 65Hz.
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
Studio 89 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R6 Meta which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 R6 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 89 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R6 Meta's is rated at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KEF R6 Meta a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Studio 89, 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.
R6 Meta can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Studio 89 has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the R6 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
R6 Meta features Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Studio 89 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KEF R6 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts 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 Studio 89's and KEF R6 Meta's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Studio 89 has external dimensions of 340.0 x 157.0 x 361.0mm (13-3/8 x 6-3/16 x 14-3/16inch) whereas KEF R6 Meta has external dimensions of 202.0 x 626.0 x 339.0mm (7-15/16-inch x 24-5/8-inch x 13-5/16-inch).
KEF R6 Meta is 138mm shorter and 22mm less deeper than Monitor Audio Studio 89 but it is also 469mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KEF R6 Meta needs about 274% more floor or shelf area. Monitor Audio Studio 89 is 22mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Monitor Audio Studio 89 is 138mm taller.
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 Studio 89 is approximately 566.8cm2 / 87.9inch2 and base area of the KEF R6 Meta is approximately 2122.1cm2 / 328.9inch2. The Studio 89 requires 73% less surface area than the R6 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of KEF R6 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R6 Meta:
- 1 R2 Meta
- 1 microfiber grille
- Rubber feet
- User manual and warranty information