Short answer: the KEF Blade Two Meta on measured sound quality, the Q Acoustics 5040 on price. The KEF Blade Two Meta ranks #3 of 188 floorstanding speakers, rated 4.8/5, at $28,000. The Q Acoustics 5040 ranks #97, rated 4.1/5, at $4,014.96, $23,985.04 cheaper.
The case for the Q Acoustics 5040: C3 (Continuous Curved Cone) driver profile technology provides smooth midrange integration, controlled cone breakup, and improved bass damping. Watch for: Free-field frequency response exhibits a noticeable mid-bass scoop around 200Hz (~6dB lower than mean SPL), causing an F3 of 70Hz (F10 of 39Hz) in open space and requiring boundary placement (11-22 inches from front wall) to reinforce upper bass output.
The KEF Blade Two Meta is the more accurate, deeper-bass choice. True point-source coaxial design (four 6.5in mid-bass drivers flanking a coincident mid/tweeter) with matched ~50 degree horizontal and vertical dispersion, unusual for a multi-driver speaker. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.99 against 3.80 for the Q Acoustics 5040. Its bass reaches about 31Hz before falling 3dB, against 70Hz for the Q Acoustics 5040. The tradeoff: 2dB dip and slight resonance around 200Hz, also visible in KEF white paper and likely cabinet-related.
Buy the Q Acoustics 5040 if the price is the priority over sound quality, or the KEF Blade Two Meta if sound quality is the priority over the price.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Q Acoustics 5040 | KEF Blade Two Meta | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,014.96 per pair | $28,000 per pair only sold in stores |
| Ranked | #97 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #3 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 38.1”H x 11.5”W x 14.2”D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) | 46.6”H x 13.5”W x 14.8”D (1183.6 x 342.9 x 375.9 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.8dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers | 4 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone, force cancelling woofers, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs (18.0 kg) each | 79.4 lbs (36 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.80 | 6.99 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.41 | 8.11 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- KEF Blade Two Meta vs Revel F328Be
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Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Q Acoustics 5040: $4,014.96 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Q Acoustics 5010 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.5/5), the Q Acoustics 5020 (larger bookshelf, rated 2.2/5), the Q Acoustics 5050 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.3/5) and the Q Acoustics 5090 (center, estimated 3.7/5).
Pros: C3 (Continuous Curved Cone) driver profile technology provides smooth midrange integration, controlled cone breakup, and improved bass damping. High voltage sensitivity (91.5dB SPL at 2.83V/1m) allows loud listening with low-to-moderate amplifier wattage. Cabinet features Point-to-Point (P2P) internal bracing and Helmholtz Pressure Equalizer (HPE) tubes to suppress internal standing waves and panel vibrations. Measured bass extension of 70Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91.5dB.
Cons: Free-field frequency response exhibits a noticeable mid-bass scoop around 200Hz (~6dB lower than mean SPL), causing an F3 of 70Hz (F10 of 39Hz) in open space and requiring boundary placement (11-22 inches from front wall) to reinforce upper bass output. Measurements indicate an enclosure resonance near 300Hz visible in sound power data. Minimum impedance drops to 3.0 ohms, demanding a stable 4-ohm rated amplifier despite high sensitivity.
Full Q Acoustics 5040 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 70Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 38.1”H x 11.5”W x 14.2”D (967 x 293 x 361 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.88 in. decoupled dome tweeter, twin 5.0 in. C3 Continuous Curved Cone woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (3.0 ohms minimum, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 91.5dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.80 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.41 |
| Weight | 39.7 lbs (18.0 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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KEF Blade Two Meta: $28,000 per pair only sold in stores eBay
Same family: the KEF Blade One Meta (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.8/5).
Pros: True point-source coaxial design (four 6.5in mid-bass drivers flanking a coincident mid/tweeter) with matched ~50 degree horizontal and vertical dispersion, unusual for a multi-driver speaker. Fully rounded, edgeless cabinet eliminates baffle diffraction. Frequency response holds within about 2.5dB across the listening window. Extremely low harmonic and multitone distortion even at 96dB, with under 0.5dB of compression at full output, rivaling the KEF Reference 1 Meta and JBL 4367 in dynamic range. Reviewer described the imaging and soundstage depth as revealing recording details other speakers he tested (PS Audio Aspen FR10, MoFi SourcePoint 8, Neumann KH80) masked. Available in any custom finish at no extra charge. Measured bass extension of 31Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.8dB.
Cons: 2dB dip and slight resonance around 200Hz, also visible in KEF white paper and likely cabinet-related. Bass rolls off fairly quickly below its 31Hz F3. Horizontal dispersion (~50 degrees) is narrower than the reviewer preferred 70-80 degrees; benefits from toeing out 10-20 degrees to open soundstage without losing image focus. Needs a separate power amp, not AVR-friendly.
Full KEF Blade Two Meta review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 26Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 46.6”H x 13.5”W x 14.8”D (1183.6 x 342.9 x 375.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 4 x 165 mm (6.5 in.) aluminium cone, force cancelling woofers, 125 mm (5 in.) aluminium cone midrange, 25 mm (1 in.) aluminium dome with MAT tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.8dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.99 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.11 |
| Weight | 79.4 lbs (36 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- KEF Blade Two Meta vs GR-Research NX-Treme
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