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Polk L600 vs KEF R11 Comparison

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Polk L600

Passive Floor-standing | 34-38k Hz

Polk Audio Legend L600
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KEF R11

Passive Floor-standing | 46-28k Hz

KEF R11
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Polk L600 Polk L600
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KEF R11 KEF R11
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Polk L600
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KEF R11
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Polk L600 vs KEF R11 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing L600 and R11, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and KEF.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk L600 and KEF R11 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Polk L600 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter
  • 5.25" Midrange
  • 2 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 34-38k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:30-300watts
  • Weight:35.30kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1182.0" x 13" x 16-3/4"( 1182.0 x 331.0 x 426.0mm )

KEF R11 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 5" Midrange
  • 46-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:15-300watts
  • Weight:37.70kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1301.0" x 12-1/4" x 15-5/16"( 1301.0 x 312.0 x 389.0mm )

What size room are the Polk L600 and KEF R11 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* Polk L600 KEF R11
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk L600 and KEF R11 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 L600 and R11 are 3-way speakers.

Driver Polk L600 KEF R11
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 5.25-inch 1 x 5-inch
Woofer 2 x 7-inch 4 x 6.5-inch

L600 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 7" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 410Hz and 2900Hz. On the other hand, the R11 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 4 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.

Frequency Response

L600 has a frequency range of 34-38k Hz whereas R11 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the L600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R11'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

L600
R11
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Polk L600
KEF R11
Min
Average
Max

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

L600 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R11 which has a nominal impedance of 8 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 L600 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L600 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the R11's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KEF R11 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

L600
R11
Min
Average
Max

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.

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 L600 and R11 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Polk L600 Terminals
Polk L600's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

KEF R11 Terminals
KEF R11's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

L600 has a down firing port whereas R11 has a rear firing ports.

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 Polk L600's and KEF R11's external dimensions. Polk L600 has external dimensions of 1182.0 x 331.0 x 426.0mm ( 46-1/2 x 13 x 16-3/4inch) whereas KEF R11 has external dimensions of 1301.0 x 312.0 x 389.0mm ( 51-3/16 x 12-1/4 x 15-5/16inch) .

KEF R11 is 19mm narrower and 37mm less deeper than Polk L600 but it is also 119mm taller.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L600 and KEF R11 in scale.

Polk L600 vs KEF R11 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Polk L600 and KEF R11 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 Polk L600 is approximately 1410.1cm2 / 218.6inch2 and base area of the KEF R11 is approximately 1213.7cm2 / 188.1inch2. The L600 requires 16% more surface area than the R11 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 Polk L600 weighs 35.30kg / 77.7lbs and the KEF R11 weighs 37.70kg / 82.9lbs. This makes the R11 7% heavier than the L600.

Here is a comparison of how L600 and R11's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Polk L600
KEF R11
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Polk L600?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of L600:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Large grille
  • Small grille
  • 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
  • 4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
  • 2 Jumper-wires (pre-installed)
  • Cleaning cloth
  • Owners Manual
  • Online Registration
  • What's in the Box of KEF R11?

    Here are the items that come with the R11:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 2 Foam port plugs
  • 4 Outrigger feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 4 Protective discs
  • 4 Screws
  • 4 Washers
  • Wrench
  • Hex-key
  • User Manual
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose Polk Audio Legend L600 over KEF R11
    Minimum Impedance 3.3 ohms vs 3.2 ohms Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier
    Woofer Size 7 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 34 Hz vs 46 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 38k Hz vs 28k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Dolby Atmos Drivers Optional L900 Height Module Speaker vs No Dolby Atmos Compatibility
    Height 1182mm vs 1301mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 3498USD vs 6000USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose KEF R11 over Polk Audio Legend L600

    Sensitivity 90 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Number of Woofers 4 vs 2 More woofers
    Base Surface Area 1213cm2 vs 1410cm2 Takes less floor space
    Polk L600 vs KEF R11 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Polk Audio Legend L600 KEF R11
    Brand Polk Audio KEF
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 30-300 watts 15-300 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 90 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.3 ohms 3.2 ohms
    Frequency Response 34-38k Hz 46-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 4
    Woofer Size 7" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Polypropylene Hybrid Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Pinnacle Ring Radiator Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5.25" 5"
    Crossover Frequency 410Hz and 2900Hz 400Hz and 2900Hz
    Firing Direction down rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 1182.0mm (46.5") 1301.0mm (51.2")
    Width 331.0mm (13") 312.0mm (12.3")
    Depth 426.0mm (16.8") 389.0mm (15.3")
    Weight 35.30kg (77.7lbs) 37.70kg (82.9lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood veneer MDF/Lacquer
    Available Colors Brown Walnut, Black Ash Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut
    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

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