Short answer: the KEF Q Concerto Meta. It ranks #11 of 131 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $1,399.99; the JBL L100 Classic MKII ranks #59, rated 3.9/5, and costs $5,599.90, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the KEF Q Concerto Meta: Really good in-room neutrality with consistent horizontal directivity from seat to seat. The catch: Radiation pattern measures about ±50°, narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ±60° for a stronger sense of envelopment.
What the JBL L100 Classic MKII does well: A high-output modern version of JBL’s iconic 1970s monitor, with a 12-inch woofer, dedicated midrange and adjustable mid/treble level controls. Watch for: The response has a moderate -0.30dB-per-octave downward tilt and the bass alignment is somewhat resonant at Q 1.64.
Buy the KEF Q Concerto Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL L100 Classic MKII and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q Concerto Meta | JBL L100 Classic MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,399.99 per pair | $5,599.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #11 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #59 of 131 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.3”W x 12.4”D (414 x 210.8 x 315 mm) | 25.1H x 15.7W x 14.6D in |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| 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 | 1” titanium-dome tweeter, 5.25” midrange, 12” pulp-cone woofer |
| Sensitivity | 84.2dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90dB |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) each | 58.9 lbs (26.7 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.01 | 4.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.71 | 6.59 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 3-way, front-ported |
| Country | - | United States (design) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to KEF Q Concerto Meta:
- TAD Compact Reference One (CR1TX) vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Perlisten S4b
- KEF Reference 1 Meta vs KEF Q Concerto Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs GR-Research NX-Studio
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
Prices on this page were last checked September 30, 2026 at 2:57 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Q Concerto Meta: $1,399.99 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Really good in-room neutrality with consistent horizontal directivity from seat to seat. Directivity holds remarkably steady from lower treble into upper treble, where many similarly-priced speakers narrow sharply as frequency rises: one of the reviewer’s top 10 picks under $1,500. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.2dB.
Cons: Radiation pattern measures about ±50°, narrower than the reviewer’s preferred ±60° for a stronger sense of envelopment. Needs to be pointed closer to on-axis rather than heavily toed out: combined with its rolled-off, shelved-down top end, too much toe-out makes it sound noticeably dark.
Full KEF Q Concerto Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.3”W x 12.4”D (414 x 210.8 x 315 mm) |
| 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 |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.2dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.01 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.71 |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: HiFi Perfection? KEF CONCERTO META Delivers! More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF Q Concerto Meta
- Erin’s Audio Corner: I Tested 250 Speakers So You Don’t Have To!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: HiFi Perfection? KEF CONCERTO META Delivers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Absolute Favorite Products of 2024 Revealed
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs KEF R3 Meta
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs AsciLab F6B
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Wharfedale Aura 2
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Revel M106
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs KEF R3
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Audio First Cadentia 3
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs AsciLab C6B
- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs Buchardt Audio E50
- See all 104 comparisons
JBL L100 Classic MKII: $5,599.90 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: A high-output modern version of JBL’s iconic 1970s monitor, with a 12-inch woofer, dedicated midrange and adjustable mid/treble level controls. Erin’s measurements show excellent 0.152 on-axis smoothness, a tight 2.70 directivity-index deviation, and 41Hz estimated in-room extension. Measured bass extension of 50.5Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The response has a moderate -0.30dB-per-octave downward tilt and the bass alignment is somewhat resonant at Q 1.64. It is very large for a standmount, weighs nearly 59 lb each, and matching JS-120 stands cost extra.
Full JBL L100 Classic MKII review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 50.5Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Country | United States (design) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 25.1H x 15.7W x 14.6D in |
| Drivers | 1” titanium-dome tweeter, 5.25” midrange, 12” pulp-cone woofer |
| Enclosure | 3-way, front-ported |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.59 |
| Weight | 58.9 lbs (26.7 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons