Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. It ranks #113 of 222 bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $468; the KEF Q3 Meta ranks #156, rated 3.4/5, and costs $764.97, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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 70Hz for the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. The catch: 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 CBM-170 SE2 is the more accurate pick. Compact two-way bookshelf speakers with a SEAS tweeter, a very flat midrange and smooth sound that suits most rooms. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.30 against 4.66 for the KEF Q3 Meta. Watch for: A narrow dip in the on-axis and listening-window response appears in the 3-5kHz range (down to about -2.7dB), mirrored by a matching dip in the directivity index at the same frequencies: likely a brief widening of dispersion right at the tweeter/woofer crossover.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KEF Q3 Meta 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.
Coaxial bookshelf speakers with very wide dispersion, punchy kick drums and bass tuning that works close to a wall.
Compact two-way bookshelf speakers with a SEAS tweeter, a very flat midrange and smooth sound that suits most rooms.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q3 Meta | Ascend Acoustics CBM-170 SE2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $764.97 per pair | $468 per pair |
| Ranked | #156 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #113 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 50Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 70Hz (measured, manufacturer spinorama data) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 84.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 86.8dB (2.83V/1m, measured, manufacturer spinorama data; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 27mm custom SEAS soft dome tweeter, 6.5” proprietary composite polygel cone woofer |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) | 15 lbs (6.8 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (357.0 x 210.0 x 305.0 mm) | 12H x 9W x 9.5D in |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 | 6.30 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.50 | 8.66 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 200W continuous, 400W peak |
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