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Q Acoustics M40 vs KEF R7 Meta Comparison

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Q Acoustics M40

Powered Floor-standing | 38-22k Hz

Q Acoustics M40
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KEF R7 Meta

Passive Floor-standing | 48-28k Hz

KEF R7 Meta
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Q Acoustics M40 Q Acoustics M40
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KEF R7 Meta KEF R7 Meta
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Q Acoustics M40
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KEF R7 Meta
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Q Acoustics M40 vs KEF R7 Meta Speaker Comparison

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.

Q Acoustics M40 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 50-watt RMS( 100-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
  • 0.875" Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5" Woofer
  • 38-22k Hz Frequency Response
  • 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
  • Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
  • Weight:11.80kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 710.0" x 10" x 11.7"( 250 x 710 x 296 mm )

KEF R7 Meta Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Vented dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 5" Midrange
  • 48-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:15-250watts
  • Weight:29.36kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1112.0" x 12-1/4" x 15-1/8"( 1112.0 x 312.0 x 385.0mm )

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.


**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

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

M40
R7 Meta
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Q Acoustics M40
KEF R7 Meta
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.

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

  • Reasons to choose Q Acoustics M40 over KEF R7 Meta
    Speaker Type Powered vs Passive Built-in amplifier
    Low Frequency Response 38 Hz vs 48 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Height 710mm vs 1112mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 740cm2 vs 1201cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 999USD vs 4998USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    3.5mm Connection Yes vs No Connection via 3.5mm AUX input
    RCA Connection Yes vs No Connection via RCA input

    Reasons to choose KEF R7 Meta over Q Acoustics M40

    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    High Frequency Response 28k Hz vs 22k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Q Acoustics M40 vs KEF R7 Meta Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Q Acoustics M40 KEF R7 Meta
    Brand Q Acoustics KEF
    Speaker Type Powered stereo speakers Floor-standing speaker
    Sensitivity n/a 88 dB
    Impedance n/a 4 ohms
    Impedance n/a 3.2 ohms
    Frequency Response 38-22k Hz 48-28k Hz
    Amplifier
    Watts RMS (Continuous) 50-watt RMS n/a
    Watts Peak (Max) 100-watt RMS n/a
    Max Bit Depth 24-bit n/a
    Max Sample Rate 192 kHz n/a
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 5" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Hybrid Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material n/a Rubber
    Tweeter Size 0.875" 1"
    Tweeter Type Dome Vented dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No 5"
    Crossover Frequency n/a 400Hz and 2400Hz
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 710.0mm (28") 1112.0mm (43.8")
    Width 250.0mm (9.8") 312.0mm (12.3")
    Depth 296.0mm (11.7") 385.0mm (15.2")
    Weight 11.80kg (26lbs) 29.36kg (64.6lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Available Colors Black, White, Walnut Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut, Titanium Gloss Special Edition
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs n/a Yes
    Aux Inputs 3.5mm, Stereo RCA n/a
    USB Port USB-B n/a
    Phone Input No n/a
    Subwoofer Output mono-RCA n/a
    Digital Input Optical n/a
    HDMI Input No n/a
    Headphone Jack No n/a
    Other
    Parts Warranty 2 Years 5 years
    Labor Warranty 2 Years 5 years

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