Short answer: the March Audio Sointuva AWG for measured driver quality, the Reference 1 Meta for build technology. The Sointuva AWG’s Purifi drivers deliver exceptionally low midrange distortion, though its listening axis sits about 7° above the tweeter. The Reference 1 Meta places a Helmholtz resonator behind the tweeter, but it costs $9,999.98 and its radiation narrows from about ±60° in the midrange to ±50°.
Buy the KEF Reference 1 Meta if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the March Audio Sointuva AWG if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Extremely accurate bookshelf speakers, with a superb three dimensional soundstage, no harshness, and tightly matched pairs.
A Purifi powered bookshelf speaker with extremely flat sound, very low distortion, and unusually deep bass for its size.
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Specifications Side By Side
| KEF Reference 1 Meta | March Audio Sointuva AWG | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9999.98 per pair | $4150 per pair |
| Ranked | #3 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers | #5 of 222 in Large Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 32Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 17.3”H x 8.1”W x 16.6”D (439.4 x 205.7 x 421.6 mm) | 17.7”H x 9.4”W x 8.7”D (449.6 x 238.8 x 221 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 2.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms |
| Drivers | 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone woofer, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT tweeter | 6.5” Purifi PTT-OEM Midwoofer, Satori TW29BNWG-4 Beryllium Dome Tweeter with Waveguide |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 82.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 40.1 lbs (18.2 kg) each | 11 lbs (5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | passive radiator |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.48 | 6.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.29 | 8.45 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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