What amplifier does the KEF R2 Meta need?

Pick a speaker and tell us how loud you listen and how big the room is. We work out the power it actually needs, check which amplifiers can safely drive its impedance, and rank 293 amplifiers against it.

Your system

Four questions. Nothing is hidden on price.

Passive speakers only - a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
Changes the order only. Nothing is hidden for costing too little or too much.
KEF R2 Meta
KEF R2 Meta
Center Channel
87 dB · 4 ohm
dips to 3.2 ohm
$1,399 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
30–200 W
per channel, into 4 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of KEF R2 Meta, you need at least 30 W a channel. More than 200 W is wasted here - that is all KEF rates the speaker to take.

Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -82.0 dB effective sensitivity
  • 3.0 dB taken off to convert the 4 ohm 2.83V rating to dB per watt
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 87 dB, used as 82.0 dB per watt.

WiiM Vibelink with the KEF R2 Meta

Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 3 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.2.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Full WiiM Vibelink specs · Clear this amp
 
$90 $25,000

188 integrated amplifiers suit the KEF R2 Meta

Also show the 59 we do not recommend
1
Emotiva BasX TA2+
Emotiva BasX TA2+
Stereo Receiver · Class A/B · 135 W into 8 ohms · $1,299
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (135 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
AudioControl Rialto 600
AudioControl Rialto 600
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $899
Workable with care
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
AudioControl Bijou 600
AudioControl Bijou 600
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $899
Workable with care
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Onkyo Muse Y-50
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $1,500
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
WiiM Vibelink
WiiM Vibelink
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $299
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 3 ohms, comfortable with a 4 ohm speaker that dips to 3.2.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Well below the speakers - leaves money on the table, but nothing wrong with it.
6
Marantz Stereo 70s
Marantz Stereo 70s
Stereo Receiver · Class A/B · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,000
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Onkyo Muse Y-40
Onkyo Muse Y-40
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,000
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Rogue Audio Sphinx v3
Rogue Audio Sphinx v3
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,795
Workable with care
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 200 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Musical Fidelity M2si
Musical Fidelity M2si
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 76 W into 8 ohms · $1,299
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (76 W to 135 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
10
Sonos Amp
Sonos Amp
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 125 W into 8 ohms · $699
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
11
Peachtree nova150
Peachtree nova150
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $1,199
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 250 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Rotel A14 MKII
Rotel A14 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,600
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Mark Levinson No.5802
Mark Levinson No.5802
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $8,500
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
14
ELAC DS-A101-G
ELAC DS-A101-G
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 40 W into 8 ohms · $850
Good match
4 dB of headroom - enough, but at the modest end for this speaker, which takes up to 200 W.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (40 W to 80 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Mark Levinson No.5805
Mark Levinson No.5805
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $10,500
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
16
SVS Prime SoundBase
SVS Prime SoundBase
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 W into 8 ohms · $699
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
17
Naim CI-Uniti 102
Naim CI-Uniti 102
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 150 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 260 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
18
Devialet Astra
Devialet Astra
Integrated Amplifier · ADH (Analog Digital Hybrid) · 150 W into 8 ohms · $20,000
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
19
Arcam A25
Arcam A25
Integrated Amplifier · Class G · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Workable with care
7 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (100 W to 165 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
20
Onkyo Icon A-50
Onkyo Icon A-50
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 110 W into 8 ohms · $1,600
Workable with care
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (110 W to 180 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 188. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.

46 power amplifiers that would also drive them

Listed separately because they are not a complete system: a power amplifier has no volume control and no inputs to speak of, so you need a preamplifier or a streaming preamp as well. Worth it if you already own one, or if you want to buy the two halves separately.

1
Eversolo AMP-F2
Eversolo AMP-F2
Power Amplifier · Class D · ? W into 8 ohms · $799
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
2
Parasound Halo A23+
Parasound Halo A23+
Power Amplifier · Class A/AB · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,500
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (160 W to 240 W).
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
3
Eversolo AMP-F10
Eversolo AMP-F10
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 200 W into 8 ohms · $2,480
Workable with care
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 200 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (200 W to 320 W).
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
4
Parasound NewClassic 2125 v.2
Parasound NewClassic 2125 v.2
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 150 W into 8 ohms · $1,250
Workable with care
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated to 4 ohms, but this speaker dips to 3.2. Fine at sane volume, tight if you push it hard.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 225 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Anthem MCA 225 Gen 2
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 225 W into 8 ohms · $2,300
Good match
9 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
No 4 ohm power rating on file. On a 4 ohm speaker dipping to 3.2 that is the figure that matters, so this one is unproven on the load.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
6
Naim NAP 250
Naim NAP 250
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $8,999
Excellent match
8 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (100 W to 190 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
7
Accuphase P-4600
Accuphase P-4600
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 150 W into 8 ohms · $13,975
Good match
10 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (150 W to 300 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
8
Naim NAP 350
Naim NAP 350
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 175 W into 8 ohms · $8,499
Workable with care
11 dB of headroom over what this speaker needs - peaks stay clean. Well above the 200 W the maker rates the speaker for, so keep an eye on the volume knob.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (175 W to 345 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Far more expensive than the speakers. Spend it on speakers first.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
It helps us tune the matching, and we read every comment.

Sensitivity and impedance figures are the manufacturer's own. We read sensitivity as dB at 2.83 V/1 m and take 2 dB off it, because published figures run high. Treat the result as a well-founded starting point, not a measurement. Full KEF R2 Meta specs.

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