Short answer: the JBL Studio 698. It ranks #16 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $699; the KEF R11 Meta ranks #19 and costs $3499.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Studio 698 gets right: High-Definition Imaging (HDI) horn waveguide paired with a 1” compression driver provides excellent high-frequency directivity control and seamless acoustic handoff to the 6” PolyPlas midrange. The catch: Measured response exhibits a prominent mid-bass emphasis bump around 80Hz that can sound overly thick or chesty in smaller rooms without DSP EQ.
The case for the KEF R11 Meta: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response with good directivity and very deep bass extension (F10 of 30Hz). The tradeoff: A dip around 1-1.2kHz on-axis is attributed to a diffraction effect, and shows up as a smaller dip in the predicted in-room response.
Buy the JBL Studio 698. It ranks higher for sound quality than the KEF R11 Meta and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | KEF R11 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 | $3,499.99 |
| Ranked | #16 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #19 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 31Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 41.7"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) | 51"H x 12.2"W x 15.1"D (1295.4 x 309.9 x 383.5 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 89.5dB |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers | 4 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofers, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs / 35.8 kg each | 80.5 lbs / 36.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Revel F208 vs Revel F206
- Arendal 1961 Tower vs Morel Avyra 633
- Arendal 1961 Tower vs KLH Model Five
- KEF R11 Meta vs Polk Reserve R500
- KEF R11 Meta vs ELAC DF63
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Studio 698: $699.00 Amazon Crutchfield
Pros: High-Definition Imaging (HDI) horn waveguide paired with a 1” compression driver provides excellent high-frequency directivity control and seamless acoustic handoff to the 6” PolyPlas midrange. Dual 8” PolyPlas woofers deliver robust low-end authority with solid bass extension down to an F3 of 53Hz and F10 of 34Hz. High voltage sensitivity (90dB SPL at 2.83V/1m) and clean power handling provide effortless dynamic headroom and low distortion for home theater and music listening.
Cons: Measured response exhibits a prominent mid-bass emphasis bump around 80Hz that can sound overly thick or chesty in smaller rooms without DSP EQ. Treble response lacks top-octave ‘air’ above 12kHz compared to high-end dome or ribbon tweeters. Physically large, heavy cabinet (35.8 kg per speaker) requires careful room placement and a wide acoustic footprint.
Full JBL Studio 698 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.7"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs / 35.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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KEF R11 Meta: $3,499.99 Amazon
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response with good directivity and very deep bass extension (F10 of 30Hz). Predicted in-room response is very smooth aside from the small 1-1.5kHz dip. The coaxial Uni-Q driver gives excellent, symmetric vertical directivity, unusual for a tower speaker. Distortion is incredibly low even down to 30Hz at 86dB SPL/1m, and stays low even at 96dB and 102dB SPL/1m - the reviewer found essentially no audible tonality change across that whole output range.
Cons: A dip around 1-1.2kHz on-axis is attributed to a diffraction effect, and shows up as a smaller dip in the predicted in-room response. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±40 degrees is on the narrower side, though the transition from wide to constant directivity is smooth. Minimum impedance dips to 3.2 ohms around 580Hz, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. 4-ohm nominal impedance overall.
Full KEF R11 Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 51"H x 12.2"W x 15.1"D (1295.4 x 309.9 x 383.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 4 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofers, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB |
| Weight | 80.5 lbs / 36.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons