Short answer: the KEF R3 Meta. It ranks #10 of 122 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $2499.99; the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 ranks #96 and costs $3500, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the KEF R3 Meta offers: Three-way design with an unconventional concentric layout: the 1” tweeter is recessed into the throat of the 5.25” midrange driver, deeper integration than a standard coaxial arrangement. A quasi sealed/ported bass alignment gives an extended low-end shelf tuned to match typical in-room gain, reaching about 50Hz for most content - deeper than recently-tested rivals like the Focal Aria 906, Polk R200, and an 8” Aperion design. Spinorama measurements show class-leading directivity and sound power, plus very linear on-axis response (at the recommended 10° toe-out) and early-reflections directivity, so it takes EQ exceptionally well. The vertical sweet spot extends to about ±20-30° off the reference axis with nearly identical tonality, unusually wide for a two- or three-way design. A clear upgrade over the earlier, non-Meta R3, eliminating the treble brightness the original had even when toed off-axis. Outperforms similarly-priced rivals (Revel M106, Wharfedale Linton, Philharmonic BMR V2, JBL HDI 1600) specifically on directivity and linearity in the reviewer’s measurements. At $2,200/pair, called the best value in its class with near-reference-level anechoic performance. Watch for: Pointed straight on-axis, there’s a 1-2dB bump around 9kHz that stays consistent across angles thanks to the constant-directivity waveguide - only toeing the speaker out about 10° tames it. Minimum impedance dips to about 3.2 ohms nominal (EPDR as low as 1.9 ohms), so it needs a 4-ohm-stable amplifier; a standard AVR likely won’t cut it. Distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 80Hz at 96dB output and shows added deviation again near 50Hz, indicating it runs out of headroom at higher volumes - a subwoofer is recommended for loud listening. Horizontal radiation narrows from about ±70° at low frequency to ±40° at high frequency. Below about 100Hz, compression testing shows fairly wide deviations at both 86dB and 96dB output, though the reviewer notes this is typical for speakers in this size and price class. Current R3 owners who are already happy with that speaker have little reason to upgrade.
What the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 offers: 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. Watch for: 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.
Buy the KEF R3 Meta. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2. It ranks near the bottom of the 122 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF R3 Meta | Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,499.99 | $3500 |
| Ranked | #10 of 122 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #96 of 122 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 16.6"H x 7.9"W x 13.2"D (421.6 x 200.7 x 335.3 mm) | 16.3"H x 8.9"W x 14"D (414.3 x 227.0 x 355.6 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (4.2 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum ported woofer, 5" aluminum cone midrange, 1" vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 1x 6.5" mid-woofer (paper cone), 1x 1.1" (28mm) DAD soft dome tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) | 87dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 27.3 lbs / 12.4 kg each | 38.4 lbs / 17.4 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, front |
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- KEF Q Concerto Meta vs March Audio Sointuva AWG
- KEF R3 Meta vs MoFi SourcePoint 10
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs B&W 805S
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The Two Speakers In Full
KEF R3 Meta: $2,499.99 Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Three-way design with an unconventional concentric layout: the 1” tweeter is recessed into the throat of the 5.25” midrange driver, deeper integration than a standard coaxial arrangement. A quasi sealed/ported bass alignment gives an extended low-end shelf tuned to match typical in-room gain, reaching about 50Hz for most content - deeper than recently-tested rivals like the Focal Aria 906, Polk R200, and an 8” Aperion design. Spinorama measurements show class-leading directivity and sound power, plus very linear on-axis response (at the recommended 10° toe-out) and early-reflections directivity, so it takes EQ exceptionally well. The vertical sweet spot extends to about ±20-30° off the reference axis with nearly identical tonality, unusually wide for a two- or three-way design. A clear upgrade over the earlier, non-Meta R3, eliminating the treble brightness the original had even when toed off-axis. Outperforms similarly-priced rivals (Revel M106, Wharfedale Linton, Philharmonic BMR V2, JBL HDI 1600) specifically on directivity and linearity in the reviewer’s measurements. At $2,200/pair, called the best value in its class with near-reference-level anechoic performance.
Cons: Pointed straight on-axis, there’s a 1-2dB bump around 9kHz that stays consistent across angles thanks to the constant-directivity waveguide - only toeing the speaker out about 10° tames it. Minimum impedance dips to about 3.2 ohms nominal (EPDR as low as 1.9 ohms), so it needs a 4-ohm-stable amplifier; a standard AVR likely won’t cut it. Distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 80Hz at 96dB output and shows added deviation again near 50Hz, indicating it runs out of headroom at higher volumes - a subwoofer is recommended for loud listening. Horizontal radiation narrows from about ±70° at low frequency to ±40° at high frequency. Below about 100Hz, compression testing shows fairly wide deviations at both 86dB and 96dB output, though the reviewer notes this is typical for speakers in this size and price class. Current R3 owners who are already happy with that speaker have little reason to upgrade.
Full KEF R3 Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 76Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 16.6"H x 7.9"W x 13.2"D (421.6 x 200.7 x 335.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 6.5" Hybrid aluminum ported woofer, 5" aluminum cone midrange, 1" vented aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.2 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 87dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 27.3 lbs / 12.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: KEF R3 Meta: The Speaker to Beat. More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website KEF R3 Meta Review
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Upgrade Your Sound with These 6 Surprisingly Affordable Speakers!
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Personal Favorite Speakers Under $2500
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top Picks of 2023: Must-Haves Under $3000
- GR-Research: Finally… a Speaker Danny Doesn’t Have to Fix? More from GR-Research →
- New Record Day: The Gold Standard Of “Pretty Good” KEF R3 Meta Review
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for KEF R3 Meta Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2: $3500 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.
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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 38.4 lbs / 17.4 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Audio Craftsmen Victoria
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Pylon Jasper Monitor 18
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs KEF Q350
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Emotiva Airmotiv B2+
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Sonus Faber Lumina II Amator
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs JBL XPL-90
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Polk Reserve R100
- Sonus Faber Sonetto II G2 vs Klipsch RP-600M
- See all 23 comparisons