Short answer: the KEF Reference 1 Meta. It ranks #3 of 216 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.8/5, at $9,999.98. The Audio First Cadentia 3 ranks #7, rated 4.7/5, at $7,199, $2,800.98 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Audio First Cadentia 3 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 7.55 against 6.48 for the KEF Reference 1 Meta. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 3dB, against 52Hz for the KEF Reference 1 Meta. The catch: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1).
The case for the KEF Reference 1 Meta: Meta technology places a Helmholtz-style resonator behind the tweeter to absorb rear-radiated resonance, and pair matching is within about ±0.5dB: unusually tight for a passive speaker. The catch: At roughly $10000/pair, nearly four times the cost of the similarly-sized KEF R3.
Buy the KEF Reference 1 Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $2,800.98 with the Audio First Cadentia 3 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audio First Cadentia 3 | KEF Reference 1 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7199 per pair | $9999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #7 of 216 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #3 of 216 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) | 17.3”H x 8.1”W x 16.6”D (439.4 x 205.7 x 421.6 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Weight | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each | 40.1 lbs (18.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex | ported, rear |
| Country | United Kingdom (Cambridge) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.55 | 6.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.91 | 8.29 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared. The two were measured by different sources, so small differences, especially in the bass, can come from the measurement setup rather than the speakers.
Measurement data: Audio First Cadentia 3 (measured by the manufacturer) and KEF Reference 1 Meta (measured by Erin’s Audio Corner), via spinorama.org.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to KEF Reference 1 Meta:
- Perlisten S4b vs KEF Reference 1 Meta
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- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
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- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Revel M106
Prices on this page were last checked October 12, 2026 at 4:13 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Audio First Cadentia 3: $7199 per pair Audio First Designs $7199 eBay
Pros: Near-textbook measurements: excellent on-axis linearity, listening window, and directivity, with only minor deviations. Extremely low distortion and compression, holding steady even at 102dB with barely any loss. Very wide, consistent horizontal dispersion (~70 degrees) gives a big, enveloping soundstage with strong image specificity outside the speaker boundaries. Strong bass extension for a bookshelf (F3 43Hz, F10 26Hz) with a punchy, guttural mid-bass. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.4dB.
Cons: A mild scoop through the upper midrange/lower treble slightly softens the attack of snares, hand claps, and sibilants: fixable with a single-band EQ (2.5kHz, +1dB, Q~1). High-frequency dispersion narrows quickly above about 4kHz, so off-axis listeners lose some air and detail. Very high asking price for a bookshelf-class speaker, and the complete (finished) version has a long lead time; the loaner kit version ships as an unfinished cabinet you assemble and finish yourself.
Full Audio First Cadentia 3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | United Kingdom (Cambridge) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 23.2” x 11.8” x 17” (590 x 300 x 433 mm) |
| Drivers | 1.1” tweeter, 4.5” midrange, 9” woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.1 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 7.55 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.91 |
| Weight | 45.9 lbs (20.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | 3-way, bass reflex |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs March Audio Sointuva
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs AsciLab C6B
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs KEF R3 Meta
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs Perlisten S4b
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- Audio First Cadentia 3 vs KEF R3
- See all 48 comparisons
KEF Reference 1 Meta: $9999.98 per pair KEF $9999.98 eBay
Same family: the KEF Reference 3 Meta (smaller floorstanding, rated 4.6/5), the KEF Reference 5 Meta (larger floorstanding, estimated 4.8/5), the KEF Reference 2 Meta (smaller center, rated 4.4/5) and the KEF Reference 4 Meta (larger center, rated 4.4/5). See every KEF Reference generation.
Pros: Meta technology places a Helmholtz-style resonator behind the tweeter to absorb rear-radiated resonance, and pair matching is within about ±0.5dB: unusually tight for a passive speaker. Sounds most neutral pointed straight on-axis rather than toed out, with no 5-8kHz harshness of the kind that plagues many speakers marketed as “detailed.” One of the most three-dimensional soundstages the reviewer has heard from a passive speaker, beaten only by $13,000+ active Xmachina Pulsar MK2 monitors (though this speaker’s tonality was preferred). Distortion stays below 1% down to about 70Hz at 86dB, and below 1% to ~150Hz / below 3% to ~70Hz even at 96dB. High-frequency response holds essentially flat as volume increases (no audible crossover or voice-coil compression) giving strong dynamic range up to its output limit (about 98dB at 3.5 meters before the woofer starts running out of excursion). All-passive design still measures ±1.5dB from 80Hz to 16kHz with zero DSP. Swappable dual-port system (long port for near-wall placement, short port for out-into-the-room placement with more bass extension) lets you tune bass behavior to where the speaker actually sits. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 82.5dB.
Cons: At roughly $10000/pair, nearly four times the cost of the similarly-sized KEF R3. Radiation narrows from about ±60° in the midrange to ±50° at high frequency: tighter than the reviewer’s ~70° preference (though wider than the R3’s ~±40°); toeing the speakers out for more width sacrifices treble energy that then needs EQ to restore. Moderate-to-low sensitivity (measured 83-84dB) calls for a solid amplifier. In-room bass only extends to about 40Hz, so a subwoofer is worth adding for bass-heavy material at higher volumes or listening beyond 3-4 meters. Minor directivity mismatch around 2kHz shows up in measurements, likely a vertical diffraction effect that wasn’t fully explained. Bass port choice (long vs. short) meaningfully changes the sound depending on placement, so the wrong port for your room can leave the bass sounding off until you experiment.
Full KEF Reference 1 Meta review and specifications →
| Released | Mar 2022 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 17.3”H x 8.1”W x 16.6”D (439.4 x 205.7 x 421.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.29 |
| Weight | 40.1 lbs (18.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: First Look!! Kef Reference 1 META Bookshelf Speaker Review. More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: KEF R3 vs R3 Meta vs Reference 1 Meta. Why such a big price gap?
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top 5 Speakers at Any Price
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF Reference 1 Meta Review
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Perlisten S4b
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs AsciLab C6B
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Revel M106
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs KEF R3 Meta
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- See all 51 comparisons