In this review, we will be comparing Passif 50 and R3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from PSB and KEF. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Passif 50 and KEF R3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the PSB Passif 50 and KEF R3 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Passif 50 and KEF R3 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 Passif 50 is a 2-way design whereas the R3 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.
| Driver |
PSB Passif 50 |
KEF R3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Passif 50 features a 1" titanium dome with ferrofluid and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" cast aluminum basket, paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. On the other hand, the R3 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Passif 50 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas R3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Passif 50 can go slightly deeper then the R3's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Passif 50 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R3 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Passif 50 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R3 has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Passif 50.
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 Passif 50 and R3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Passif 50's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R3 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 PSB Passif 50's and KEF R3's external dimensions. PSB Passif 50 has external dimensions of 660 × 280 × 254mm ( 26 x 11 x 10-inch) whereas KEF R3 has external dimensions of 423.0 x 199.0 x 337.0mm ( 16-5/8 x 7-13/16 x 13-1/4inch) .
KEF R3 is 81mm narrower and 237mm shorter than PSB Passif 50 but it is also 83mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Passif 50 and KEF R3 in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Passif 50 and KEF R3 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 PSB Passif 50 is approximately 712.0cm2 / 110.4inch2 and base area of the KEF R3 is approximately 670.6cm2 / 103.9inch2. The Passif 50 requires 6% more surface area than the R3 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 PSB Passif 50 weighs 13.70kg / 30.1lbs and the KEF R3 weighs 13.55kg / 29.8lbs. This makes the Passif 50 1% heavier than the R3.
Here is a comparison of how Passif 50 and R3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KEF R3?
Here are the items that come with the R3:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles2 Foam port plugs8 Self-adhesive rubber feetUser ManualWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Minimum Impedance |
4 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| Passive Radiator |
one 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
423mm
vs
660mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
670cm2 (199x337mm)
vs
712cm2 (280x254mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2200USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Passif 50 |
KEF R3 |
| Brand |
PSB |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-200 Watts watts |
15-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
cast aluminum basket, paper cone |
Hybrid aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
cast aluminum basket, paper cone |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
660.0mm (26") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Width |
280.0mm (11") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
13.70kg (30.1lbs) |
13.55kg (29.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
open-grain walnut veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Open-Grain Walnut |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |