Short answer: the Focal Theva N°2, if you are buying new. The Focal Chora 816 ranks higher than the KEF Q11 Meta (#26 vs #103 of 188 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Focal Theva N°2, is rated 4.4/5 at $999 and is still sold new.
The KEF Q11 Meta is the more accurate option. 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.72 against 4.30 for the Focal Chora 816. Watch for: 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.
The Focal Chora 816 is the better-sounding option. CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally even on-axis response with nice bass extension and high sensitivity. The catch: Some messiness appears between 500Hz-2kHz on-axis, including a dip around 550Hz.
Buy the Focal Theva N°2, the replacement for the discontinued Focal Chora 816; it is rated higher for sound quality than the KEF Q11 Meta.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q11 Meta | Focal Chora 816 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,499.98 per pair | $900 per pair used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #103 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #26 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + dual 165mm drivers | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter |
| Weight | 106.9 lbs (48.5 kg) | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 43.8”H x 12.5”W x 15”D (1112.8 x 317.5 x 381.0 mm) | 40.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.72 | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.03 | 6.37 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Focal Chora 816 compares with other leading options:
- KEF Blade Two Meta vs Focal Chora 816
- Focal Chora 816 vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- Revel F328Be vs Focal Chora 816
- KEF R5 Meta vs Focal Chora 816
- Revel F226Be vs Focal Chora 816
Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM 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
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) and the KEF Q6 Meta (center, rated 3.9/5).
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 →
| 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
Focal Chora 816: $900 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Focal Theva N°2, ranked lower, estimated 4.4/5.
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally even on-axis response with nice bass extension and high sensitivity. Predicted in-room response is very good aside from a peak around 8kHz. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is typical and fairly controlled. Distortion is very low at 86dB SPL/1m and still usable at 96dB SPL/1m. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91dB.
Cons: Some messiness appears between 500Hz-2kHz on-axis, including a dip around 550Hz. Vertical directivity narrows a little, so listening height matters more than with a coincident design. Cumulative spectral decay (waterfall) shows a fair bit of resonances lingering across the midrange. Distortion rises substantially in the 1-2kHz region at 96dB SPL/1m. Minimum impedance dips to about 3.9 ohms. Discontinued.
Full Focal Chora 816 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 35Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.3”D (1033.8 x 299.7 x 388.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber woofer, 6.5” (16.5cm) Slatefiber midrange, 1” (25mm) TNF Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.9 ohms minimum, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.37 |
| Weight | 40.8 lbs (18.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons