KEF R3 Meta is a 3-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by KEF. It features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, 1 x 5" Midrange and 1 x 6.5" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz and a sensitivity of 87 dB. KEF R3 Meta has an MSRP of 2199$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the KEF R3 Meta is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Poor |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Good |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
KEF R3 Meta Lifestyle
KEF's R META Series of Loudspeakers
R3 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
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Frequency Response of the KEF R3 Meta Speaker
KEF R3 Meta has a Frequency response range of 58-28k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 15-180 watts. With a minimum frequency of 58 Hz, R3 Meta delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with KEF R3 Meta, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $3000. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how R3 Meta's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Among the speakers in our database with a max MSRP price of 3000$ (Pair), these are the 5 Passive Bookshelf speakers that have the deeper bass levels than the KEF R3 Meta's 58Hz:
Crossover frequency of the KEF R3 Meta?
R3 Meta is a 3-way speaker and its crossover frequency between the woofer and the midrange set to 420Hz and the Crossover frequency between the midrange and the tweeter is set to 2300Hz.
Impedance and Sensitivity
KEF R3 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
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 4 Ohms means that the KEF R3 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 R3 Meta with an AVR but use an Integrated Amplifier instead.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 87 dB, KEF R3 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 amps.
Minimum Impedance of the KEF R3 Meta
Even though the nominal impedance of the R3 Meta is 4 ohms, the minimum impedance level of this speaker according to KEF is 3.2 ohms KEF R3 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 R3 Meta:
Input Type
R3 Meta has Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts type connectors and lets bi-amping/bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can enhance the overall transparency of your loudspeakers by using separate speaker wires for the low and high-frequency drivers from a single amplifier. Bi-amping, on the other hand, involves using separate amplifiers for the high and low-frequency drivers, potentially resulting in a greater dynamic range and reduced distortion.
KEF R3 Meta Back View
KEF R3 Meta External Dimensions and Weight
KEF R3 Meta has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 16-5/8-inch x 7-15/16-inch x 13-1/4-inch (423.0 x 202.0 x 337.0mm ).
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 R3 Meta is approximately 680.7cm2 / 105.5inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of KEF R3 Meta, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
KEF R3 Meta Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the KEF R3 Meta virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
KEF R3 Meta Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
WeightThe KEF R3 Meta weighs 12.41kg / 27.3lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how R3 Meta's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $3000
KEF R3 Meta on a Stand
How does the KEF R3 Meta compare to the KEF Reference 1 Meta?
One of the natural alternative to the KEF R3 Meta is the Reference 1 Meta which is located one step higher in KEF's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of KEF R3 Meta and KEF Reference 1 Meta Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of KEF R3 Meta vs Reference 1 Meta for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
KEF R3 Meta has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
KEF R3 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.
Port Position
KEF R3 Meta is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
KEF R3 Meta is available in Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut and Indigo Gloss Special Edition.
KEF R3 Meta Colors
Wall Mounting
R3 Meta doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Speaker Stands
KEF sells a dedicated speaker stand for the R3 Meta with a model name
KEF S3. You can check the latest price and availability of these stands at
B&H PHOTO and
Amazon.
KEF S3 Speaker Stands for KEF R3 Meta
What's in the Box of KEF R3 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R3 Meta:
1 pair of R3 Meta loudspeakers 1 pair of microfiber grilles Rubber feet Port bungs User manual and warranty information
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the KEF R3 Meta.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the KEF R3 Meta, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for KEF R3 Meta
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the KEF R3 Meta speaker:
Official Brochure for KEF R3 Meta
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the KEF R3 Meta speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for KEF R3 Meta
Warranty
5 years of parts warranty and 5 years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.
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