Short answer: the KEF Q11 Meta for cleaner mids; the Sony SS-CS3 is easy to drive but its resonances intrude. The Sony is an affordable entry-level tower with solid 88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m sensitivity, but severe cabinet and driver resonances between 100Hz and 600Hz add chesty coloration to male vocals. The KEF’s three-way coaxial design measures dark on-axis and needs sidewall reflections within about 6 feet/2 meters.
Buy the KEF Q11 Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality; the Sony SS-CS3 is no longer sold new.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q11 Meta | Sony SS-CS3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,499.98 per pair | $450 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #44 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #68 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 29Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 25mm tweeter + dual 165mm drivers | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Weight | 106.9 lbs (48.5 kg) | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal |
| Dimensions | 43.8”H x 12.5”W x 15”D (1112.8 x 317.5 x 381.0 mm) | 36.3”H x 9.1”W x 10.2”D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.72 | 4.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.03 | 6.65 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Q11 Meta: $2,499.98 per pair Amazon eBay
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 R3 Meta and a few dB less than the 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 |
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Sony SS-CS3: $450 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: Affordable entry-level floorstanding tower offering solid sensitivity (88.6dB SPL at 2.83V/1m), making it easy to power with standard budget AVRs. Harmonic distortion remains reasonably low at moderate listening levels (86dB SPL) when high-pass filtered above 80-100Hz with a dedicated subwoofer. Front-ported design allows relatively close placement to front boundaries without excessive port occlusion. Measured bass extension of 72Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 88.6dB.
Cons: Severe cabinet and driver resonances plague the passband between 100Hz and 600Hz, imparting audible coloration and chesty resonances to male vocals and acoustic instruments. Irregular frequency response peaks and dips make automated receiver room correction difficult to equalize effectively. Poor low-frequency extension (F3 of 72Hz, F10 of 39Hz) for a floorstander, combined with rapid distortion escalation below 80Hz at higher SPLs (96dB+). Supertweeter driver adds crossover complexity without providing audible high-frequency benefit within the human hearing spectrum. Discontinued.
Full Sony SS-CS3 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 72Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 36.3”H x 9.1”W x 10.2”D (922 x 230 x 260 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75 in. supertweeter, 0.98 in. polyester main tweeter, dual 5.12 in. MRC woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 88.6dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.11 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.65 |
| Weight | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons