Short answer: the KEF Q Concerto Meta. It ranks #11 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $999.99; the Dynaudio Special Forty ranks #148, rated 3.5/5, and costs $3,600, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The KEF Q Concerto Meta is the more accurate option. A neutral three way bookshelf speaker that sounds consistent from seat to seat, with smooth treble that many rivals at its price lack. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.01 against 4.73 for the Dynaudio Special Forty. Watch for: Radiation pattern measures about ±50°, narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ±60° for a stronger sense of envelopment.
What the Dynaudio Special Forty does well: Premium bookshelf speakers with strong output, wide dispersion and fairly deep bass from a compact rear ported cabinet. Watch for: A glaring, sometimes sibilant quality around 3-4kHz was the most noticeable issue in listening, the one thing the reviewer would want notched out with EQ.
Buy the KEF Q Concerto Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dynaudio Special Forty and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the KEF Q Concerto Meta scores 7.7 against 6.7 for the Dynaudio Special Forty on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Close enough not to matter: bass extension (35 Hz vs 39 Hz, 10 dB down).
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q Concerto Meta | Dynaudio Special Forty | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.99 per pair | $3600 per pair |
| Ranked | #11 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #148 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 54Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.3”W x 12.4”D (414 x 210.8 x 315 mm) | 14.1”H x 7.7”W x 12.1”D (358.1 x 195.6 x 307.3 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal (4.9 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofer, 100 mm (4 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 19 mm (0.75 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 5.9” MSP (Magnesium Silicate Polymer) cone woofer, 1” Esotar soft dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 84.2dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.5dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) each | 17.9 lbs (8.1 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.01 | 4.73 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.71 | 6.74 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Where the Ratings Come From
- KEF Q Concerto Meta: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Dynaudio Special Forty: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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