Short answer: the KEF R11 Meta. It ranks #19 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $3499.99; the JBL HDI-3600 ranks #21 and costs $3800, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the KEF R11 Meta gets right: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response with good directivity and very deep bass extension (F10 of 30Hz). The catch: A dip around 1-1.2kHz on-axis is attributed to a diffraction effect, and shows up as a smaller dip in the predicted in-room response.
What the JBL HDI-3600 offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a fairly even on-axis response and flat overall frequency response, with high 90dB sensitivity and very low distortion through the midrange. Watch for: A wide shelving-down above 2kHz affects the in-room response, and vertical dispersion is a bigger issue than horizontal - the reviewer noted the dip is wider here than on the smaller HDI-1600, making it more audible.
Buy the KEF R11 Meta. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL HDI-3600 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF R11 Meta | JBL HDI-3600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3,499.99 | $3800 |
| Ranked | #19 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #21 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 62Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 78Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 51"H x 12.2"W x 15.1"D (1295.4 x 309.9 x 383.5 mm) | 40.5"H x 10.2"W x 13.5"D (1029 x 260 x 343 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms nominal |
| Drivers | 4 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofers, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 2410H-2 1" compression driver, 3x 6.5" Advanced Aluminum Matrix woofers |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 80.5 lbs / 36.5 kg each | 61.7 lbs / 28 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, dual rear-firing |
| Frequency Response | - | 38Hz - 30kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
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- Revel F228Be vs Revel Concerta2 F35
- Revel F228Be vs Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
- MoFi SourcePoint 888 vs Revel Concerta2 F35
- KEF R11 Meta vs MoFi SourcePoint 10
- JBL HDI-3600 vs PSB Imagine T65
The Two Speakers In Full
KEF R11 Meta: $3,499.99 Amazon
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response with good directivity and very deep bass extension (F10 of 30Hz). Predicted in-room response is very smooth aside from the small 1-1.5kHz dip. The coaxial Uni-Q driver gives excellent, symmetric vertical directivity, unusual for a tower speaker. Distortion is incredibly low even down to 30Hz at 86dB SPL/1m, and stays low even at 96dB and 102dB SPL/1m - the reviewer found essentially no audible tonality change across that whole output range.
Cons: A dip around 1-1.2kHz on-axis is attributed to a diffraction effect, and shows up as a smaller dip in the predicted in-room response. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±40 degrees is on the narrower side, though the transition from wide to constant directivity is smooth. Minimum impedance dips to 3.2 ohms around 580Hz, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. 4-ohm nominal impedance overall.
Full KEF R11 Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 51"H x 12.2"W x 15.1"D (1295.4 x 309.9 x 383.5 mm) |
| Drivers | 4 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) hybrid aluminium cone woofers, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB |
| Weight | 80.5 lbs / 36.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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JBL HDI-3600: $3800 Audioadvice
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a fairly even on-axis response and flat overall frequency response, with high 90dB sensitivity and very low distortion through the midrange. Triple 6.5” Advanced Aluminum Matrix woofers and a 1” compression driver in JBL’s HDI waveguide.
Cons: A wide shelving-down above 2kHz affects the in-room response, and vertical dispersion is a bigger issue than horizontal - the reviewer noted the dip is wider here than on the smaller HDI-1600, making it more audible. Narrow vertical sweet spot means careful listener-height positioning matters more than usual.
Full JBL HDI-3600 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 40.5"H x 10.2"W x 13.5"D (1029 x 260 x 343 mm) |
| Drivers | 2410H-2 1" compression driver, 3x 6.5" Advanced Aluminum Matrix woofers |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 30kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 61.7 lbs / 28 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual rear-firing |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons