Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It ranks #24 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $798. The KEF Q3 Meta ranks #156, rated 3.4/5, at $764.97, $33.03 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The KEF Q3 Meta is the deeper-bass pick. Coaxial bookshelf speakers with very wide dispersion, punchy kick drums and bass tuning that works close to a wall. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 77.6Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. The tradeoff: Not well suited to high-output use: compression and strain in the 1-2kHz region emerge above about 90dB at 10 feet, so a high-output home theater setup isn’t the best application.
The Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 is the more accurate choice. A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.33 against 4.66 for the KEF Q3 Meta. The tradeoff: Bass rolls off early for the cabinet size, measuring 77.6Hz at -3dB, 64.5Hz at -6dB, and 48.3Hz at -12dB; the preference score without a subwoofer is only 5.33.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $33.03 you would save on the KEF Q3 Meta does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Coaxial bookshelf speakers with very wide dispersion, punchy kick drums and bass tuning that works close to a wall.
A dual woofer bookshelf speaker with accurate sound, high sensitivity, and lots of clean output, a superb partner for a subwoofer at a modest price.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q3 Meta | Ascend Acoustics CMT-340 SE2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $764.97 per pair | $798 per pair |
| Ranked | #156 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #24 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | approximately 53Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 77.6Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 84.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 92dB at 2.83V/1m anechoic |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | Two 6.5-inch woofers; 27mm soft-dome tweeter |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) | 29.1 lbs (13.2 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (357.0 x 210.0 x 305.0 mm) | 21 x 7.5 x 10.5 in each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 | 5.33 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.50 | 7.99 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 240W continuous; 400W short-term peak |
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