Short answer: the KEF Q3 Meta for dispersion, the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 if you will toe it out about 30 degrees. The Sonetto II G2 uses a 1.125” damped Apex Dome silk tweeter and 6.5” cone woofer on a concrete, aluminum and steel base, but it sounds notably bright on-axis; toeing out about 30 degrees tames the treble and sibilance. The KEF’s coaxial layout spreads about +/-60 degrees each way.
Buy the KEF Q3 Meta. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Q3 Meta | Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $899.99 per pair | $3500 per pair |
| Ranked | #92 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #106 of 134 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (357.0 x 210.0 x 305.0 mm) | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 | 4.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.50 | 6.54 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF Q3 Meta: $899.99 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Older model: the KEF Q350 (ranked lower, rated 3/5).
Pros: Coaxial two-way design (1” vented aluminum dome tweeter with Meta absorber embedded in a 6.5” aluminum cone mid/bass driver) delivering unusually wide dispersion both horizontally and vertically (about ±60° each): wider than typical KEF models, which usually run closer to ±50° horizontal and ±15-20° vertical for non-coaxial designs. A deliberate ~2dB bump around 120Hz gives a satisfying sense of kick-drum impact, a voicing choice the reviewer personally favors even though it’s not strictly accurate. Extended bass-shelf tuning allows placement close to a rear wall (about 1 foot) without sounding boomy. Good directivity overall means it takes well to EQ correction if desired. Cabinet resonances around 350-370Hz and 600Hz look concerning in impedance measurements, but blind ABX testing (24 trials) after adding damping material couldn’t reliably distinguish the treated cabinet from the untreated one: these particular resonances appear to fall below the threshold of audibility. Sturdier build than previous KEF Q-series models. Measured bass extension of 52Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 84.5dB.
Cons: 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. A slight loss of attack and clarity around 1-2kHz was noticeable both subjectively and in measurements. F3 of 52Hz with a fairly quick rolloff below 50Hz means a subwoofer is still recommended for real bass extension, even for moderate-volume home theater use. Sealed configuration (using the included port bungs) pushes the bass rolloff up into the 100Hz+ region: the reviewer recommends leaving it in ported mode instead. Sounds best pointed directly at the listener; toeing it out 30° rolls off the top end without a meaningful soundstage benefit. Compression testing shows real breakdown at 102dB/1m, with the woofer losing excursion control: confirms the practical output ceiling. An unexplained -5dB dip appears in on-axis measurements that the reviewer couldn’t attribute to a specific cause.
Full KEF Q3 Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 14.1”H x 8.3”W x 12”D (357.0 x 210.0 x 305.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.7 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 84.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.66 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.50 |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2: $3500 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Two-way design with a 1.125” damped Apex Dome silk tweeter and 6.5” cone woofer, using a base of concrete, aluminum, and steel with under-cabinet venting. Notably more neutral than Sonus Faber’s own Lumina 2, which runs 2-5dB hotter in the treble. Horizontal directivity narrows at a fairly constant, well-behaved rate rather than narrowing-then-widening-then-narrowing like some rivals (including the Lumina 2), meaning sidewall reflections match the direct sound well enough that the reviewer doesn’t recommend sidewall absorption for this speaker. The tweeter-to-woofer crossover handoff around 3kHz looks clean, suggesting a higher-order crossover than typical for the size/price class. Good dynamic range: the low end loses only about 2dB from 76dB to 96dB, otherwise holding up well. Not a difficult amplifier load (about 4.2 ohms minimum impedance). Bass extension reaches a genuine 50Hz in-room, fuller than the Lumina 2. Measured bass extension of 62Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: Sounds notably bright pointed directly on-axis; toeing the speaker out about 30° reduces treble energy and sibilance meaningfully. A resonance around 700Hz gives vocals a slightly nasal, hollow quality. A dip in the upper midrange (roughly 1-2kHz) reduces perceived detail and attack, while the elevated treble can read as “analytical” or “detailed” to some listeners despite being a coloration rather than true resolution. Needs more clearance from the rear wall than some rivals (about 1.5-2 feet in an ideal room, more or less depending on your specific room modes) or the 80-120Hz region can become boomy. Vertical listening window is limited to about ±10-15° from the tweeter axis. Some unexplained directivity irregularities appear around 1.2kHz and 1.6kHz, possibly port-related, along with a longer decay in the 800Hz-1600Hz range in burst-decay measurements. Multitone distortion approaches the reviewer’s 3% threshold through the midrange, though likely not obviously audible without direct A/B comparison. A resonance in the cabinet appears around 400Hz in impedance measurements.
Full Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 16.3”H x 8.9”W x 14”D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 6.5” mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1” (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.25 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.54 |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs (17.4 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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