In this review, we will be comparing Solstice 3 and Q Concerto Meta, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Triangle and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Solstice 3 and KEF Q Concerto Meta first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Solstice 3 | KEF Q Concerto Meta |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 0.75" Hard dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Natural cellulose pulp | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 48-22k Hz | 48-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-130 watts | Up to 180 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.90kg / 28.4lbs | 9.50kg / 20.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 16-7/16" x 8-11/16" x 14-9/16"
418.0 x 221.0 x 370.0mm | 16.3" x 8.3" x 12.4"
415 x 210 x 315 mm |
|---|
What size room are the Triangle Solstice 3 and KEF Q Concerto Meta 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* |
Triangle Solstice 3 |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Solstice 3 is a 2-way design whereas the Q Concerto 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.
Triangle Solstice 3KEF Q Concerto Meta
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Triangle Solstice 3 |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Solstice 3 features a 1" Magnesium alloy dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Natural cellulose pulp Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, the Q Concerto Meta features a 0.75" vented aluminum dome with MAT absorber Hard dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 430 Hz, 2.9 kHz.
Frequency Response
Solstice 3 has a frequency range of 48-22k Hz whereas Q Concerto Meta has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Solstice 3 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Q Concerto 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 Q Concerto Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Solstice 3 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Q Concerto Meta's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Triangle Solstice 3 a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q Concerto Meta, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Q Concerto Meta can handle a max power of 180 watts RMS, whereas Solstice 3 has a max power handling value of 90 watts RMS, 90 watts less than the Q Concerto Meta.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Solstice 3 has a front firing port whereas Q Concerto Meta has a rear firing ports. Triangle Solstice 3's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to KEF Q Concerto Meta with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Triangle Solstice 3's and KEF Q Concerto Meta's external dimensions. Triangle Solstice 3 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 221.0 x 370.0mm (16-7/16 x 8-11/16 x 14-9/16inch) whereas KEF Q Concerto Meta has external dimensions of 415 x 210 x 315 mm (16.3 x 8.3 x 12.4 in.).
Triangle Solstice 3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 11mm wider, 3mm taller and 55mm deeper than KEF Q Concerto Meta.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Triangle Solstice 3 needs about 24% more floor or shelf area. Triangle Solstice 3 is 55mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Triangle Solstice 3 is approximately 817.7cm2 / 126.7inch2 and base area of the KEF Q Concerto Meta is approximately 661.5cm2 / 102.5inch2. The Solstice 3 requires 24% more surface area than the Q Concerto Meta 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 Triangle Solstice 3 weighs 12.90kg / 28.4lbs and the KEF Q Concerto Meta weighs 9.50kg / 20.9lbs. This makes the Solstice 3 36% heavier than the Q Concerto Meta.
Here is a comparison of how Solstice 3 and Q Concerto Meta'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 Q Concerto Meta?
Here are the items that come with the Q Concerto Meta:
- Q3 Concerto Meta (pair)
- Magnetic grilles (pair)
- Rubber feet
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Minimum Impedance |
5.3 ohms
vs
3.2 ohms
|
Very low impedance levels puts more pressure on amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Max Input Power |
180 watts
vs
90 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
415mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
661cm2
vs
817cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1300USD
vs
1349USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Solstice 3 |
KEF Q Concerto Meta |
| Brand |
Triangle |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-130 watts |
Up to 180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
5.3 ohms |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
48-22k Hz |
48-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Natural cellulose pulp |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
Hard dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
4" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
430 Hz, 2.9 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
221.0mm (8.7") |
210.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Weight |
12.90kg (28.4lbs) |
9.50kg (20.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Teak, Birch, Black Ash, White |
Satin Black,Satin White,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (48Hz vs 48Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Triangle Solstice 3 is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Triangle Solstice 3 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | KEF Q Concerto Meta takes more power (180W vs 90W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. KEF Q Concerto Meta sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,349 vs $1,300 a pair). |
A Triangle Solstice 3 B KEF Q Concerto Meta
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Triangle Solstice 3 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Triangle Solstice 3 the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and KEF Q Concerto Meta for a mid-size room and a large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Triangle Solstice 3 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.