In this review, we will be comparing M40 and R7 Meta, two Floor-standing speakers from Q Acoustics and KEF. The main difference between these two speakers is that the Q Acoustics M40 is a Powered speaker which means that it has a built-in amplifier inside the speaker body so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp whereas the KEF R7 Meta is a Passive speaker so has to be matched with an amplifier to get any sound from it. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Q Acoustics M40 and KEF R7 Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics M40 and KEF R7 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 M40 is a 2-way design whereas the R7 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 |
Q Acoustics M40 |
KEF R7 Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.875-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
M40 features a 0.875" Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Woofer . On the other hand, the R7 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2400Hz.
Frequency Response
M40 has a frequency range of 38-22k Hz whereas R7 Meta has a frequency range of 48-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the M40 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R7 Meta's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both M40 and R7 Meta have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Q Acoustics M40's and KEF R7 Meta's external dimensions. Q Acoustics M40 has external dimensions of 250 x 710 x 296 mm ( 10 x 28 x 11.7 inch) whereas KEF R7 Meta has external dimensions of 1112.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm ( 43-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch x 15-1/8-inch) .
KEF R7 Meta is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 62mm wider, 402mm taller and 89mm deeper than Q Acoustics M40.
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 Q Acoustics M40 is approximately 740.0cm2 / 114.7inch2 and base area of the KEF R7 Meta is approximately 1201.2cm2 / 186.2inch2. The M40 requires 38% less surface area than the R7 Meta which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Q Acoustics M40?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M40:
1x Powered M40 speaker 1x Passive M40 speaker 4x Rear Stabiliser 8x M5 screw 8x Spike Feet 8x Spike Cover 1x Remote Handset (including batteries) 1x Speaker Cable (4 metres) 1x UK Power Cord (2 metres) 1x EU Power Cord (2 metres) 2x Foam Bungs
What's in the Box of KEF R7 Meta?
Here are the items that come with the R7 Meta:
R7 Meta Microfiber grille Plinth and spike accessories Port bungs User manual and warranty information