Short answer: the KEF Reference 1 Meta if sound quality matters most, the ELAC DBR62 if price matters most. The KEF Reference 1 Meta ranks #3 of 222 bookshelf speakers, rated 4.8/5, at $9,999.98. The ELAC DBR62 ranks #79, rated 4.0/5, at $699.98, $9,300 cheaper.
What the ELAC DBR62 does well: An affordable bookshelf speaker that is very forgiving of placement and aiming, with wide sound and a little extra bass punch. The tradeoff: A slight recess in the 1-2kHz region reduces vocal presence somewhat compared to other speakers in direct comparison.
The KEF Reference 1 Meta is the more accurate choice. Extremely accurate bookshelf speakers, with a superb three dimensional soundstage, no harshness, and tightly matched pairs. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.48 against 5.07 for the ELAC DBR62. The catch: At roughly $10000/pair, nearly four times the cost of the similarly-sized KEF R3.
Buy the ELAC DBR62 if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the KEF Reference 1 Meta if sound quality matters more than the price.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
An affordable bookshelf speaker that is very forgiving of placement and aiming, with wide sound and a little extra bass punch.
Extremely accurate bookshelf speakers, with a superb three dimensional soundstage, no harshness, and tightly matched pairs.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 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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Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC DBR62 | KEF Reference 1 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.98 per pair | $9999.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #79 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #3 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.2”W x 10.8”D (358.1 x 208.3 x 274.3 mm) | 17.3”H x 8.1”W x 16.6”D (439.4 x 205.7 x 421.6 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 5.2 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.3dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 82.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5” Aramid Fiber woofer, 1” soft dome tweeter | 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 | 18.1 lbs (8.2 kg) each | 40.1 lbs (18.2 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.07 | 6.48 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.27 | 8.29 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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