Short answer: the KEF R5. It ranks #10 of 59 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $2999; the KEF R11 Meta ranks #21 and costs $3499.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the KEF R5 gets right: Slim three-way tower with the acoustic advantages of KEF’s coincident Uni-Q midrange/tweeter: horizontal and vertical off-axis responses track the direct sound smoothly, producing stable imaging and a well-behaved directivity index. Set against that: The unusual gap between 77Hz F3 and 33Hz F10 indicates a gradual bass contour rather than flat deep-bass output; a subwoofer and roughly 80Hz high-pass are recommended for high-level playback.
The case for the KEF R11 Meta: CEA2034 spinorama shows a generally flat on-axis response with good directivity and very deep bass extension (F10 of 30Hz). The tradeoff: 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.
Buy the KEF R5. It ranks higher for sound quality than the KEF R11 Meta and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| KEF R5 | KEF R11 Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,999/pair Discontinued | $3,499.99 |
| Ranked | #10 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #21 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 64Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 31Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 89.5dB |
| Impedance | Approximately 3.5 ohms minimum near 150Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum tweeter coaxial with 5" midrange; dual 5.25" woofers | 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 |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 6.9"W x 13.5"D | 51"H x 12.2"W x 15.1"D (1295.4 x 309.9 x 383.5 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Weight | 59.5 lb each | 80.5 lbs / 36.5 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- MoFi SourcePoint 888 vs Revel Concerta2 F35
- KEF R5 Meta vs Revel F208
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Revel Concerta2 F35
- KEF R5 vs JBL HDI-3600
- KEF R11 Meta vs PSB Imagine T65
The Two Speakers In Full
KEF R5: $2,999/pair Discontinued
Pros: Slim three-way tower with the acoustic advantages of KEF’s coincident Uni-Q midrange/tweeter: horizontal and vertical off-axis responses track the direct sound smoothly, producing stable imaging and a well-behaved directivity index. Erin measured deep low-frequency reach for the cabinet width—77Hz F3 but 33Hz F10—and less than 1% harmonic distortion at 86dB. At 96dB it remains clean when high-passed, and its mild response deviations are suitable for equalization because the radiation pattern stays orderly.
Cons: The unusual gap between 77Hz F3 and 33Hz F10 indicates a gradual bass contour rather than flat deep-bass output; a subwoofer and roughly 80Hz high-pass are recommended for high-level playback. Erin measured a minimum near 3.5 ohms around 150Hz, although most of the curve remains above 4 ohms, so amplifier quality still matters. Sensitivity is approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m. At 102dB, compression reaches roughly 1dB around 150Hz, showing the limits of the twin 5.25-inch woofers. This original model lacks the Meta version’s MAT rear-wave absorption. Discontinued.
Full KEF R5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 77Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 6.9"W x 13.5"D |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 1" aluminum tweeter coaxial with 5" midrange; dual 5.25" woofers |
| Impedance | Approximately 3.5 ohms minimum near 150Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | Approximately 86dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 59.5 lb each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons