In this review, we will be comparing Premier 520LCR v2 and Q6 Meta, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Paradigm and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 and KEF Q6 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 Key Specs
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6" Woofer
- 75-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 93 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Weight:kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): " x 23-7/16" x 12-1/8"
KEF Q6 Meta Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 0.75" Hard-dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 63-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:Up to 200watts
- Weight:14.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 210.0" x 24.8" x 11.9"( 210 x 629 x 303 mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 and KEF Q6 Meta 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 Premier 520LCR v2 is a -way design whereas the Q6 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.
| Driver |
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 |
KEF Q6 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Premier 520LCR v2 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6" Woofer . On the other hand, the Q6 Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard-dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560 Hz, 2.7 kHz.
Frequency Response
Premier 520LCR v2 has a frequency range of 75-23k Hz whereas Q6 Meta has a frequency range of 63-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 63Hz, the Q6 Meta can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Premier 520LCR v2's min frequency of 75Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2
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
Premier 520LCR v2 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Q6 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 Q6 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Premier 520LCR v2 sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Q6 Meta's is rated at 86 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q6 Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Premier 520LCR v2 features Binding post type posts and Q6 Meta has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2's and KEF Q6 Meta's external dimensions. Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2 has external dimensions of ( ) whereas KEF Q6 Meta has external dimensions of 210 x 629 x 303 mm ( 8.3 x 24.8 x 11.9 in.) .
KEF Q6 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 629mm wider, 210mm taller and 303mm deeper than Paradigm Premier 520LCR v2.
What's in the Box of KEF Q6 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q6 Meta:
Q6 Meta Magnetic grilles (pair) Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information