Short answer: the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3. It ranks #115 of 226 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $2,700. The KEF Q11 Meta ranks #124, rated 4.0/5, at $2,499.98, $200.02 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3: Floorstanding tower speaker in the 600 Series incorporating dual 6.5-inch paper-cone bass drivers, a dedicated 6-inch Continuum FST midrange, and a decoupled 1-inch Titanium Dome tweeter. The catch: Rating estimated based on 600 S3 series sibling testing.
What the KEF Q11 Meta does well: Three-way tower design with a coaxial layout: a 3/4” aluminum dome tweeter (with KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology behind it) mounted at the center of a 4” mid-range, plus three 6.5” bass drivers. The catch: Genuinely dark-sounding on raw on-axis measurement, and needs a typical room with sidewall reflections (within about 6 feet/2 meters) to sound properly neutral: in a large room with little sidewall interaction, it may sound too dull for some listeners.
Buy the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $200.02 with the KEF Q11 Meta does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Worth knowing: the Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 3.9 to 4.3, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 | KEF Q11 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,700 per pair | $2,499.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #115 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers Estimated | #124 of 226 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Decoupled Titanium Dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) paper cone woofers | 25mm tweeter + dual 165mm drivers |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz - 28kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 88.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (manufacturer specified) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 29Hz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Dimensions | 38.9”H x 7.5”W x 13.4”D (988 x 190 x 340 mm) | 43.8”H x 12.5”W x 15”D (1112.8 x 317.5 x 381.0 mm) |
| Weight | 60.6 lbs (27.5 kg) each | 106.9 lbs (48.5 kg) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 6.72 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 8.03 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3:
- Q Acoustics 3050c vs Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3
- Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 vs SVS Ultra Evolution Tower
- PSB Imagine T65 vs KEF Q11 Meta
- KEF Q11 Meta vs Monolith THX-365T
- KEF Q11 Meta vs Bose 901 Series V
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3: $2,700 per pair Estimated B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.6/5), the Bowers & Wilkins 606 S3 (larger bookshelf, estimated 3.9/5) and the Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S3 (center, estimated 3.4/5). See every Bowers & Wilkins 600 Series generation.
Pros: Floorstanding tower speaker in the 600 Series incorporating dual 6.5-inch paper-cone bass drivers, a dedicated 6-inch Continuum FST midrange, and a decoupled 1-inch Titanium Dome tweeter. Delivers solid dynamic headroom, low distortion, and bass authority down to 46Hz.
Cons: Rating estimated based on 600 S3 series sibling testing. Minimum impedance dips to 3.0 ohms in the mid-bass, demanding an amplifier capable of sustained current into low impedance loads.
Full Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 46Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 29Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 38.9”H x 7.5”W x 13.4”D (988 x 190 x 340 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” (25mm) Decoupled Titanium Dome tweeter, 6” (150mm) Continuum FST midrange, 2 x 6.5” (165mm) paper cone woofers |
| Frequency Response | 46Hz - 28kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.0 ohms minimum (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 60.6 lbs (27.5 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
KEF Q11 Meta: $2,499.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the KEF Q1 Meta (smallest bookshelf, rated 3.6/5), the KEF Q4 Meta (bookshelf, estimated 3.4/5), the KEF Q3 Meta (bookshelf, rated 3.4/5), the KEF Q Concerto Meta (largest bookshelf, rated 4.6/5), the KEF Q7 Meta (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 3.5/5), the KEF Q6 Meta (center, rated 3.9/5) and the KEF Q8 Meta (surround, rated 3.4/5). See every KEF Q Series generation.
Pros: Three-way tower design with a coaxial layout: a 3/4” aluminum dome tweeter (with KEF’s Metamaterial Absorption Technology behind it) mounted at the center of a 4” mid-range, plus three 6.5” bass drivers. Extremely linear estimated in-room response when placed correctly, thanks to a deliberately declining on-axis response paired with well-controlled directivity: a technically sound design philosophy, even though it reads as “dark” in raw anechoic on-axis measurements. In-room bass extension to about 40-50Hz when placed near a wall, thanks to extended bass-shelf tuning. Sounds excellent whether pointed directly at the listener or toed out a full 30° parallel to the back wall: unusually flexible placement. More vertical listening leeway than standard non-coaxial two-way designs, thanks to the coincident tweeter/midrange. Distortion looks good at both 86dB and 96dB, and multitone distortion holds up well too. Comes with a plinth/outrigger kit for stability given its floorstanding height (about 43-44”). Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88.6dB.
Cons: Genuinely dark-sounding on raw on-axis measurement, and needs a typical room with sidewall reflections (within about 6 feet/2 meters) to sound properly neutral: in a large room with little sidewall interaction, it may sound too dull for some listeners. Must be placed close to a rear wall (about 1 foot) to get proper bass: pulling it out to the “standard” 3-foot audiophile recommendation causes bass output to drop off noticeably. Horizontal radiation of about ±50° is narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ±60°, giving a slightly less enveloping soundstage than some rivals. Notably darker than sibling KEF models in the same product family: measures 2-5dB less top-end energy than the KEF R3 Meta and a few dB less than the KEF Q Concerto Meta. Minor lingering resonances appear in burst decay measurements between 500Hz-1kHz. The tweeter shows some strain at very high output volumes, a limitation the reviewer notes is common even among more budget-friendly speakers generally.
Full KEF Q11 Meta review and specifications →
| Released | Oct 2024 (2 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 43.8”H x 12.5”W x 15”D (1112.8 x 317.5 x 381.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + dual 165mm drivers |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.72 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.03 |
| Weight | 106.9 lbs (48.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons