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KEF R2 Meta Review
KEF R2 Meta

Main Features

  • 12th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 5" aluminum cone with Uni-Q Technology Midrange
  • 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer
  • 67-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range: 15-200watts
  • Weight:34.00 lbs / 15.45 kg
  • Dimensions(HxWxD): 6-15/16"x21-3/4"x12-1/4" / 177.0 x 553.0 x 312.0mm
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KEF R2 Meta Review

KEF R2 Meta is a 3-way Passive Sealed Center Channel speaker by KEF. Center channel speaker is an important component of a home theater system set-up as it delivers the listener significant part of the on-screen dialogue from your television. It features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, 1 x 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 67-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 87 dB. KEF R2 Meta has an MSRP of 1399$.

What size of room is the KEF R2 Meta speaker good for?

The size of the room in which you are planning to use the KEF R2 Meta is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated its suitability to various sizes of environments considering its size and max power parameters:

Listening Environment* Suitability
Near-fieldPoor
Small RoomPoor
Mid-size RoomGood
Large RoomGood
Very Large RoomAverage

(* 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.)

What are the speakers in KEF's R META Series?

R2 Meta is a member of KEF's R META series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.

KEF R META Series Speakers
Model Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
KEF R3 Meta
Compare
58-28k Hz 87 dB4Ω 1 x 6.5"
KEF R7 Meta
Compare
48-28k Hz 88 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
KEF R5 Meta
Compare
52-28k Hz 87 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"
KEF R11 Meta
Compare
46-28k Hz 90 dB4Ω 4 x 6.5"
KEF R6 Meta
Compare
65-28k Hz 88 dB4Ω 2 x 6.5"
KEF R2 Meta
67-28k Hz 87 dB4Ω 2 x 5.25"


**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.

What is the Frequency Response of the KEF R2 Meta speaker?

KEF R2 Meta has a Frequency response range of 67-28k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 15-200 watts. Here we have a comparison of how R2 Meta's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.

Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
KEF R2 Meta
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
KEF R2 Meta
Min
Average
Max


What is the Crossover frequency of KEF R2 Meta?

R2 Meta is a 3-way speaker and its crossover frequency between the woofer and the midrange set to 560Hz and the Crossover frequency between the midrange and the tweeter is set to 2500Hz.

What are the Impedance and Sensitivity of the KEF R2 Meta? Is it an easy-to-drive speaker?

KEF R2 Meta's nominal impedance level is 4 ohms but can go down to as low as 3.2 ohms, and has a sensitivity of 87 dB.

Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
KEF R2 Meta
Min
Average
Max

Nominal Impedance of 4 Ohms means that the KEF R2 Meta is a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective, make sure that you choose an amplifier than can provide 4 Ohms for this speaker.
Many AVRs (audio/video receiver) in the market may have difficulty when the speakers dip below the 4 Ohms levels (this may cause clipping or even physical damage), so we recommend to not pair the KEF R2 Meta with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.

Sensitivity

With a sensitivity level of only 87 dB, KEF R2 Meta is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D speakers.

Minimum Impedance of KEF R2 Meta

Even though the nominal impedance of the R2 Meta is 4 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to KEF is 3.2 ohms KEF R2 Meta so while choosing an amplifier, you should ideally check if the unit you are considering can provide this impedance level.

Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the KEF R2 Meta:

  • Integrated Amps under 1000 USD
  • Integrated Amps under 1500 USD
  • Integrated Amps under 2000 USD
  • All Integrated Amplifiers

Input Type

R2 Meta has Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can provide improvements in the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by running separate speaker wires to the low & high frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping allows the use of separate amplifiers for the high & low frequency drivers of your loudspeaker which may result in greater dynamic range & lower distortion.

KEF R2 Meta Back View
KEF R2 Meta Back View

KEF R2 Meta External Dimensions and Weight

KEF R2 Meta has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 6-15/16-inch x 21-3/4-inch x 12-1/4-inch (177.0 x 553.0 x 312.0mm ).

Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited. The base area of KEF R2 Meta is approximately 1725.4cm2 / 267.4inch2.

To get a better perspective on the real life size of KEF R2 Meta, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).

KEF R2 Meta Real Life Body Size Comparison
KEF R2 Meta Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc

Weight

The KEF R2 Meta weighs 15.45kg / 34lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how R2 Meta's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.

Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
KEF R2 Meta
Min
Average
Max
Weight
Center Channel Speakers under $1500
KEF R2 Meta
Min
Average
Max

How does the KEF R2 Meta compare to the KEF R6 Meta?

One of the natural alternative to the KEF R2 Meta is the R6 Meta which is located one step higher in KEF's Passive Center Channel selection.

Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:

KEF R2 Meta vs KEF R6 Meta Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KEF R2 Meta and KEF R6 Meta Size and External Dimensions

Check the Detailed Comparison of KEF R2 Meta vs R6 Meta for more details.

Cabinet type and Materials

KEF R2 Meta has a Sealed type cabinet.

Speaker Feet

KEF R2 Meta comes with Rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on.

It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.

Available colors

KEF R2 Meta is available in Black Gloss, White Gloss and Walnut.

KEF R2 Meta  Colors
KEF R2 Meta Colors

KEF R2 Meta  with Grille
KEF R2 Meta with Grille

What's in the Box of KEF R2 Meta?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of R2 Meta:
  • 1 R2 Meta
  • 1 microfiber grille
  • Rubber feet
  • User manual and warranty information
  • User's Manual

    For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the KEF R2 Meta, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
    Download User Manual for KEF R2 Meta

    Official Brochure

    Here is a link to download the official brochure for the KEF R2 Meta speaker:
    Official Brochure for KEF R2 Meta

    Official Product Page

    Official manufacturer's product page for the KEF R2 Meta speaker can be found below:
    Official Product Page for KEF R2 Meta

    Warranty

    5 years of parts warranty and 5 years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.

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    KEF R2 Meta Lifestyle

    KEF R2 Meta Alternatives in Passive Center Channel Speakers
    Model Type Sensitivity Impedance Frequency
    Klipsch RP-504C II
    Compare
    2-way 96 dB 8 ohms 50-25k Hz
    Emotiva Airmotiv C3+
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    3-way 92 dB 4 ohms 40 Hz – 28 kHz
    BW HTM71 S2
    Compare
    3-way 89 dB 8 ohms 50-28k Hz
    KEF R2c
    Compare
    3-way 87 dB 8 ohms 74-28k Hz
    SVS Ultra Center
    Compare
    3-way 87 dB 8 ohms 45-32k Hz
    BW HTM6 S2
    Compare
    2-way 87 dB 8 ohms 72-28k Hz
    Monitor Audio Silver C250 7G
    Compare
    3-way 88.5 dB 8 ohms 65-35k Hz
    BW HTM72 S2
    Compare
    2-way 87 dB 8 ohms 70-28k Hz
    Klipsch RC-64 III
    Compare
    2-way 99 dB 8 ohms 57-24k Hz
    Dali Opticon VOKAL II
    Compare
    3-way 88 dB 4 ohms 47-30k Hz
    Frequently Asked Questions about KEF R2 Meta
    What is the External Dimensions of KEF R2 Meta
    What is the Speaker Sensitivity of KEF R2 Meta
    is the KEF R2 Meta an easy to drive speaker?



    KEF R2 Meta Detailed Specifications

    General
    BrandKEF
    Full Model NameKEF R2 Meta
    Speaker Type3-way Center Channel
    Power Range15-200 watts
    Sensitivity87 dB
    Impedance4 ohms
    Max SPL110 dB
    Frequency Response67-28k Hz
    DRIVERS
    Woofer Size5.25-inch
    Woofer CompositionHybrid Aluminum
    Woofer SurroundRubber
    Tweeter Size1-inch
    Tweeter TypeHard-Dome
    Midrange Size5-inch
    Crossover freq560Hz and 2500Hz

    CONNECTIONS
    Connector TypeCustom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts
    Biamp InputsYes
    PHYSICAL SPECS
    Height177.0mm ( 6-15/16-inch)
    Width553.0mm ( 21-3/4-inch)
    Depth312.0mm ( 12-1/4-inch)
    Height177.0mm ( 6-15/16-inch)
    Weight15.45kg ( 34.00 lbs)
    EnclosureSealed
    Available ColorsBlack Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut
    Mounting BracketNo
    Moisture ResistanceNo
    OTHER
    Handheld RemoteNo
    Parts Warranty5 years
    Labor Warranty5 years
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