What makes a SPEAKER the BEST? KEF R11 Meta Review! All around speaker

[@AnotherAnonymousMan]

WOW. This is a rare occasion where a video transcends being a review due to the excellence of a product and we get the privilege of seeing an expert with decades of experience being genuinely moved. For me, this is all you can ever ask for from the entire Hi-Fi pursuit or the review genre overall. Personally, I've fallen in love with active speakers lately, but this is a reminder not to overlook the passive/ separates segment. Thanks for the fantastic video, as always!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Active speakers can be really wonderful. If not for the channel, (as I'm more of a minimalist by nature) I might go that route and call it a day. Thank you so much for the view!

[@trey81373]

Demo’ing KEF LS60’s at the moment. So I get it. 👍🏼

[@crispincrunch2453]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Sooo, the LS60 comparison is… 🫣(suspense)🍿

[@Donly1pt]

These look absolutely gorgeous. Even at that size. But credit has to be given where credit is due. You guys have the best looking home theater equipped living room I have seen on YT. The way you guys curate the look for each review is just top notch. The interior design part of equipping a living room to make it look as good as it sounds is something I'd really like to see more of.

[@KristiWright]

❣

[@SteveRig82]

My thoughts on the KEF R11 Meta that I purchased for my vacation home. First of all your review was spot on!! My listening room is about 13'x13' raised wood floor basically empty room with good sized rug in the middle. Driving the KEFs with my MAC7200 w/DA2 (HDMI). First listening experience was way too much room reflections so I added some peel and stick acoustic wall treatment. which tamed the room significantly. So after adjusting the KEF's positions. WOW, do they sound amazing!! Very good tight bass extension, better than I expected. Mid-range - crystal clear vocals. Highs are great well matched with the mid-range, great imaging and sound-stage. I also added a pair of SVS SB1000 Pro subs but for most music the subs are not needed. Oh, BTW I'm using SVS sub rubber feet on the KEFs, looks and sounds great! Again thank you so much!!

[@ryanchappell5962]

The speakers are absolutely beautiful and that matters to me.

[@jonnyfinlay5665]

Yep. Heard the Reference 5 meta and basically couldn’t stop listening. AMAZING

[@KristiWright]

We haven't heard those but thanks for sharing your experience.

[@raycasias]

I own the KEF R3s. I absolutely LOVE them! I even got to test the R3 Metas. I could definitely tell the difference As I mixed non META on left and META on the right. I will eventually upgrade to R11s Meta or LS60s

[@RealDiGiPHiX]

After waiting for almost a year I have finally taken ownership of KEF Reference 1 Metas and I can whole heartedly say that it was worth the wait and I may never want another speaker in my lifetime. Would love to see you get the chance to review something from the Reference Meta line.

[@vaksilvaksil9939]

Hi, if you can answer it will be great Which amp do you have, how is the ref 1 at low-level volume listening, 55 db, is it fair enough? What about mid-bass? I heard that they are playing like floor speakers instead of average shelf speakers I heard they sound big enough to fill up small to medium space, do use a sub, and if yes which one

[@nonametofame]

The R3 non meta sat at the top of my speaker rotation for awhile. It did everything I wanted, especially with detail retrieval and imaging. I later fell in move with ls50 meta, assuming at first this was a simple refresh of an existing line, offering the smallest of upgrades. But the refinements were uncanny. Fast forward to the r3 meta and I think KEF really went all out on these, offering stunning improvements over the previous non meta R series. Kef once again reclaims the throne.

[@Spaceboy00013]

This video resulted in swaying me to take the plunge and pick up the R3 Metas. Picked them up yesterday and have been listening non-stop since. These are some amazing speakers at their price point. I really appreciate your videos and your thoughtful approach to HiFi. Back to listening now!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

That's awesome. I'm glad you're enjoying your new speakers.

[@whitecrowuk575]

I’ve got R3 Metas and it’s head and shoulders above old R line - so happy you got these in the end. Before getting them I thought I need to fork out £££ to get KEFs reference but tried these and immediately got the end game feeling for fraction of the cost. I miss absolutely nothing when it comes to performance. I can only imagine how R11 metas push this even slightly further. There are some pros and cons of metallic woofers - precision is a pro but the downside is not getting this prolonged sounds like drums. Metallic woofers stop it too quickly. Best performance for me was R3s with Arendal 1723 S1 subs (more importantly non metallic woofers) - Arendals give me realistic drum slam while KEFs give that precision razor sharp soundstage. Absolutely glorious. Have got now R3 meta, R6 meta, R3s, ls50 meta, Arendals and ci200rr for Atmos - and this setup stopped wanting me for more, filled the void, fed the curiosity.

[@jharismaiden]

Hi, thanks for sharing that. Could you share how R3 meta is better than R3? My complaints with R3 are that the highs are rolled off, making poor recordings tolerable but requiring brighter amps to be more resolving. And they don’t disappear in my room as well as the LS50 meta. And certain recordings can have a weird metallic timbre (especially snare drums). Does the R3 meta address any of this?

[@whitecrowuk575]

@@jharismaiden well because KEF speakers are pin point sharp when it comes to soundstage - they will expose any soundtrack imperfections more then those which are much less. In simple terms R3 meta is a child born out of R3 and Ls50 meta - wonder kid that is better because it combines best out of the parents. In that way it’s much different speaker altogether compared to old R3s. Not sure if I had a problem with R3 disappearing - ls50s for sure did, and so do R3s metas. Positioning and avoiding early reflections is the key - using bungs if too close to wall as well. Slight toe in, like Andrew mentions, worked best for me as well. I’m using class G amp at the moment - which add nice little decay - especially good with metallic woofers. However used to have Purifi amps and those were razor sharp imagining - very holographic.

[@saltaormina9404]

After owning & enjoying brands including Wharfedale, Dynaudio, B&W, and Focal, my KEF R3 connected to the Rega Aethos, to my ears is incredible. Add in a sub, and wow! The R11 is def an upgrade path one day and so happy to hear how impressed you were with it. Cheers to a great Sunday!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you so much for the kinds words and support. Sal! We hope to see you on the next one!

[@curt5802]

Seems the r7-meta might be better "fit" for most folks, with somewhat smaller rooms. However, I'm still more intrigued by two others: the Klipsch Forte IV and the Q Acoustics Concept 50... but I'll keep an open mind, and hopefully the Andrew and Kristi will have the opportunity to review a KEF r7-Meta soon and be able to do a direct comparison with it and other likely contenders, including the Polk r700 also.

[@gregnewman3807]

I would like to see a review of R-meta 7 vs the Martin Logan xtF100 since they are of more similar price.

[@vincemarasigan199]

Thank you Andrew and Kristi for the imformative review of the R11 Meta. I've had my original R11's since 2019 and enjoy listening to them. They are mated with a pair of REL S510's.

[@phibonez]

My kef r11 meta's finally arrived. I have them hooked up with a Tube amplifier! O m g. They rock! They are way better than the Wharfedale Elysian 4's i had.

[@liamporter1137]

Great review and comparison. Hope to see R3 Meta review in the future. Thanks for sharing.

[@JJ-no2ob]

I’ve had my KEF 104/2 for 30+ years with many changes to source front end & other similarly spec- ed speakers. They are the one constant in my rig - I love em! KEF = WCS (world class speakers)

[@perrysmiles60]

Wow JJ, amazing to hear that someone else than myself owns an old pair of Kefs... I have the 103/4 ...and I have them since the mid 1990's.

[@kellycook1910]

I have them... I love them. The imaging and the soundstage and just how amazing these things present music is really something to behold. I have mine paired with the Rotel Michi X3 I stream using a blue sound node 2i and I augment the base performance with a REL s510 sub I don't know how I could get any better

[@wiseguy2600]

I'll tell you how. Get rid of that Node 2i and get a Zen Stream with a iPower X and you will immediately notice what you were missing...

[@bearclaw5115]

Since you asked, the Blue Sound Node 2i is the weak link in your set up.

[@ssd1123]

Got myself the Kef r2c center channel and am blown away, can't imagine what these sound like! Would love you guys to review the r3/r3 metas, see how they stack up! Cheers

[@rustytubbs3006]

Great review of the R11 speakers. I would very much like to see a review of the R7s as I think many people would likely choose them as they are not as imposing and many of us must consult with the esthetics comity prior to purchase.

[@hsavov]

I am not an expert, but I believe the main different between the two given the specs is the bass.

[@rickshaw5595]

So glad to see you finally reviewed the R11. I 100% agree with your review and I only have the regular R11s. I love mine so much and don't regret selling my Klipsch Cornwall's one bit!

[@MDavis2112]

Morning all, KEF will be the next upgrade to my living room system, although a bit less expensive than these 😊

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Which KEF speakers are you contemplating picking up for yourself?

[@MDavis2112]

I'm currently running Def-Tech Studio Monitor 350's so probably one of their less expensive bookshelf units in the Q line. I'm getting ready to buy a Cinema 60 AVR next week, replacing my 10 y/o Marantz NR-1402. 4K here I come! 🤘

[@andrewholt5659]

Just bought the original Kef R11s on clearance for 50% of the price of the new Metas. I think that was a great deal. Couldn’t afford the new version, but Kef appears to have hit a home run with the new Metas. Great review. Glad Kef finally gave you a set for review.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

🔔For those asking for a comparison to Perlisten. We've only heard the S4B - bit.ly/3Dhgb4B so this won't be a true comparison. Both speakers are exception and are the type which strive for neutrality over character. Both sound great for both movies and music covering all genres. In my opinion, the KEF represents the greater value because you are getting more speaker and a greater range of frequencies for less money. I certainly would rather look at the KEFs.

[@martifilipponi1024]

You hit the nail on the head on Two things I noticed when I first listened was the huge soundstage both high wide and deep you can hear pianos playing in the far-back and a stand up bass coming down low in the front it's like watching a live concert with a round stage you can hear all the instruments in the back. it's amazing the next thing I heard was that it reminded me of the original klipschorn I heard of when I was a kid I remember when the salesperson turned it up and it engrossed the entire room. This speaker gives you all of the fine details while also filling a large room with sound emulating a live performance.. I'm so glad I chose these over the B&s and Focals BTW these and most KEFS Open up after about three months of normal hours of listening. you need to turn them up pretty loud to get them to loosen up in that time period but after that you'll be able to listen at low levels and enjoy them just the same.. At least 120 wpc and 10 gauge ofc wire is recommended

[@GO_HUSL]

I had been anxiously waiting for this review since I saw them sitting in the background of your live session. Thank you for the review. I was already leaning toward Kef R-series and your review put the final piece in place to solidify that decision. Hegel H390 + Kef R11 + Rel T7/x. Build in process.... :)

[@mchambliss2]

I absolutely agree with you about the KEF R11 🎉🎉🎉🎉I have the KEF Non-Meta and I love it!!!! I recently replace the KEF R2c with the R6 Meta center speaker. R6 Meta has the same size drivers as the 11s and it is worth it. If you think about getting new front speakers, KEF should be at the top of your list.

[@bearclaw5115]

I think I'd like these R11 Meta's but that doesn't mean everyone should have them at the top of their list. Are you home theater or music oriented? Both? What genre's do you like? How much room do you have? What's your budget? And probably 37 other variables. We all have unique tastes, preferences and use cases. That's why there are so many brands in audio.

[@syanhc]

I love the enthusiasm. This channel never ceases to deliver!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

You are so kind. Thank you.

[@matthewkershaw8341]

They look spot-on in your room! I live 5 miles from KEF facility in Maidstone and they have always blended aesthetics with function to my mind 👍

[@KristiWright]

Their design is always on point.

[@mcrelly]

I have had kef ls50 Originals, The Metas, now I am considering upgrading to the r7's. I was going to consider the R5's but the only speakers that I could audition were the R3 or the R11 and I figured the R3 was too small of an increase in choice. So I'm going to bite the bullet and go with the R7 and I think I will be extremely happy!

[@AOmega72]

I have the R11 using a cheap tube amp for music and wow do they ever sound good I can listen to to them all day zero fatigue from the warm sound the tube amp produces you can pick one up for less than a 1000 from china hifi

[@Doozer72]

I’m an LS50 and LS50 Meta owner. I thought I wanted a vintage vibe and more ‘character’ for my next speaker like Klipsch Forte IV, KLH Model 7, Mission 770, Wharfedale Dovedale… etc but I may have to reconsider. My favourite local dealer recently picked up KEF.

[@betze7169]

Our Sunday is almost over. Greetings from Germany!

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Well, better late than never. Hope you had a good day!

[@KristiWright]

Hallo!

[@asuben27]

I demoed these in Best Buy. At first I was listening intently. Then I started smiling. Then rocking out. Thanks for the review.

[@chinmeysway]

same. just wish ppl who worked there new more or how to switch between speakers better!

[@dan-qe1tb]

@@chinmeysway I had encountered a salesman who was an audiophile himself, last time, and it had gone better for me. The demos were flawed at times when other people were doing them.

[@t8500shx]

Excellent review thank you 👍🏽. I also have trouble hearing dialogue so Kristi’s comment about dialogue clarity is very helpful for Me. The R11’s are a more affordable dream speaker compared to the Elysian 😁

[@howardskeivys4184]

I have these speakers. I’ve had them for a while. This may astound some people, but, I traded in my Q Acoustic Concept 500 to purchase them. A decision I’ll never regret. I auditioned them alongside many similarly priced speakers and the final battle was between the Kefs and the ATC SCM40s. I felt the Kefs were less power hungry and retained better tonality at lower volumes. Yes, the Kefs feet aren’t the most streamlined or aesthetically pleasing but, I have my Kefs stood on isolation podiums which look old world industrial, or as the wife puts it “damned ugly”. She says they look “like they’re about to get up and walk out of the room”. I think that’s wishful thinking on her part. They are all that Andrew says they are, with 1 tiny caveat. I find them slightly lacking in mid-bass slam. They do have bass slam, but lower down. My old Q Acoustics would hit you hard in the chest. The Kefs kick you firmly in the stomach. I listen to a lot of female vocal trance, with it’s ubiquitous 120 BPM. I do miss that chest slam the q Acoustics used to bring to the table, but, in every other regard the Kefs reign supreme.

[@gordthor5351]

I don't understand how so many people don't like aluminum drivers. In my opinion paper cones ring like a gong, which makes it next to impossible to achieve natural sounds. Every element in the universe has a certain resonance point which is unavoidable, but at least aluminum is way up in the frequency range. Thus, most of the audio band doesn't "ring" (mudding the sound). Aluminum tweeters can typically get bright (harsh) in the upper frequencies, but Kef has incorporated a lot of technology to mitigate the nasty point of resonance. The realism and accuracy of Kef drivers allows for the tiniest of nuances to shine through on roll off (especially on the R series and up). Kef speakers like neutral everything on the front end and when you give them that, nothing bites you at any frequency. The R11 Metas are in sync. They are "toe tapping", fast and agile and can stop and start on a dime. They are a match made in heaven with JC 1 mono blocks, which have the same traits.

[@Greg.Siucrazyforaudio2016]

Kef can sound clean natural but can be lean at the same time Thank you.

[@ceecee130x]

Growing up in the 90s and 00s as a bothering Stereophile, B&O had always been more avant garde furniture than hi-fi equipment. Good to see that they can make such a remarkable piece. B&O has always been premium $$$, so $4000 is not out of their norm. Now if we can get our hands on that second unit 🤫. You're right... in my journey, I've now spent about the same amount as a pair of these on my main system. No regrets... I've enjoyed and is still enjoying several classic quality pieces from Marantz, Infinity (when it's still independent), Bryston, Linn, KEF, Rogue and Audiolab. Can't always afford top-of-the-line models, but always loving what I've got. Happy joyful journey, everyone.

[@BenjiGator23]

Awesome review! Would love for you guys to review the R3 bookshelves if you can.

[@klaverro]

Wow, well done for this review! Had a pair of white KEF R7's a few years ago and they were my return to high end audio. The R11's were already great speakers back then (almost sounded like their Reference line). Have already heard the Reference 5 Meta and Blade 2 Meta and they were also really great! (definition, power, bass, timing, etc.) About those R11 feet, try a pair of Auva (70 or 100) speaker isolators from Stack Audio. They look (IMO) better than those IsoAccoustics and also seem to perform better in terms of sound....;-).

[@ywsx6489]

my wallet regrets watching this video.

[@KristiWright]

^ me every time I open Zillow. :)

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

@@KristiWright Second

[@JohnTwo1]

Buy the older r series instead.

[@willworld3007]

But your ears will be so happy trust me the R11 are the best speakers I have heard

[@keepitshema]

@@JohnTwo1 is there a huge diffrence? And what about q950(bigger woofer for example)?

[@Harry-Giles]

R11s definitely look absolutely amazing. Epic review. The Meta tech is pretty cool as well.

[@lonniefarmer7067]

Caught this on the big screen and all one can do is like. Thanks, and I am beyond the moon on seeing the Marantz seperates.

[@Luke-qs2cg]

Having had the original r11 for a few years now, I can agree the r series is one of the top performing speakers of all time for me.

[@SgtKeffer]

I bought La Scalas because of your review, LOVE them

[@stelioskritikakis]

A brilliant and more practical way to describe "how do they sound" is the one Kristi did with Beastie Boys.. But to be fair, Andrew is doing all the hard work and Kristi gets the credits, so kudos to you both

[@franciscoortiz6980]

Great review, great channel. Kef r3 are also crazy good... hard to beat at 2k pair! As a 50+ yr old i do need touch more high freq, so they are still not my forever speaker.

[@scottmackenzie6699]

Thank you for an informative video. Your excitement for this speaker goes beyond words. Have a great week, Andrew and Kristi.

[@gordthor5351]

Parasound JC1 mono blocks are a match made in heaven for these speakers. The bass control is that of an authoritarian dictator and 25watts of pure class A makes the vocals very sweet, yet open and detailed with extended nuances. The LS50s love the JC1s too. I was blown away how loud and clean the LS50s can go (in a large room) when hooked to an amp that can keep the single tiny driver perfectly controlled. I was amazed how these little speakers could pump out so much (tight) bass in a big room? The LS50s are really 4 ohm speaker, because they dip to 3.5 ohms over a very broad range (700Hz to 5kHz). Coupled with 85db sensitivity, they suck the life out of most amps long before reaching their full potential.

[@IBCrazyR]

Kristi thank You!!! Kim heard Andrews review of the KEF R11 Meta. Once she heard your comments, she looked at me and said if I really want them then get them. Yeah for me! Sorry Andrew... must be one of those women things. They have to hear it from the same species. 😅 Hope to be home early to catch the Live stream. Have a few super chat questions, like surround speaker parings. See ya soon!

[@pcfreakx]

Months ago I was begging you two to review KEFs R Series cause I bought R3's (x4 + R2C Center + KF92 Sub) and I'm glad you finally got some in. I have the gloss white and everyone who comes over says the speakers are gorgeous.

[@paulday3936]

Your reviews make me smile. You bring the fun to HI FI reviewing. Keep it up guys.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you, Paul.

[@raycimbalnik5159]

Truly one of the most attractive speakers I've ever seen! Great review as well!

[@jamienaquin3918]

First off, as always, another great review. I'm looking to upgrade my speakers between now and the new year. I went to two local stores yesterday to audition speakers. The Kef R11 were spectacular. I was very surprised with how good they were. They bested the Martin Logan F100 playing metal. However, I did slightly prefer the F100 overall. I found the F100 to have better separation and soundstage. It's very close, though. I also have the Sonus Faber Sonneto V on my short list. What a fun hobby!

[@stevewright1539]

Whyyyy did I buy the LSX ii’s?!! Really loving the KEF sound on those and what Andrew said about the F100’s compressing depth is spot on. Has me thinking about selling the ML’s. Maybe I just have too much time on my hands, but pretty sure I would have went with the R11’s if I had to do it all over again.

[@tellthemborissentyou]

How do they compare to the Q Acoustics Concept 500 and the Concept 50 you loved?

[@syanhc]

If you love them, just buy a pair! You deserve it!

[@craigjohnchronicles2504]

Cool that you found a "set 'em and forget 'em" speakers. ...a TOP 5 speakers is exceedingly high praise. For other people who can't afford KEF R11, the R3 + a sub will also be dynamite. For me, the R3 were a bit bright for me, but good GOD, they image like MF'ers. They have gobs and gobs of texture and detail - even in bass. If you're listening to a bassist, you can really hear the texture of fingers drawing down a bass string (Tony Levin playing his Chapman Stick during "Osmosis" off the Liquid Tension Experiment" album). Great review.

[@kenmace933]

Who doesn't love some Tony Levin Chapman stick!! LTE!

[@Greg.Siucrazyforaudio2016]

They are good in end game clarity and separation refinement but let down by it's tweeters , not enough sparkling in high frequency. Because they are smooth sounding non fatigue speakers . My Dali ikon 7 sparkling perfectly but won't have the clarity and refinement of KEF. They are all good speakers, just nit pick for personal preference Thank You. Great detail in the review with much love for Andrew and Kristi. best hobby so far only hurting my wallet 😅. Thank You.

[@aussierob7177]

I wonder how the R11 Metas compare to my pair of LS50 Metas plus 2 SVS 1000 Pro.Subs ? Amplification is a Tube Preamplifier plus a 200 watt/ch. Rotel Power amplifier. I know the R11's are much more expensive than the LS50's, but price does not always indicate quality, and multiple drivers do not always give you a wide soundstage. My favourite speakers were the Rogers Studio 1 Monitors. Power input... 300 watts continuous. Frequency response...25 to 23,000 HZ plus or minus 2 HZ.

[@tbone5654]

I run the Kef R3 with twin Yamaha SW300 250 Watt subs and a 15 year old Yamaha RX-V461 receiver worth $80. I bought everything used for $1500. My friend who has the B&W 802 D2 Diamonds with a $20,000 Classe amp agrees at normal listening volume, my system is almost as good as his $50K setup.

[@Sammy-wz9jy]

Amazing review and job with the comparison's between levels of speakers! The KEF R11's have been on my shortlist of upgrades from the R700's. Kristi, you are getting some serious chops. Over the years, you two have grown in your interplay and I personally find variation in your views to well encompass my personal tastes. Thank you again, I really appreciated this review from the others I have seen for this speaker. From your question, I LOVE the look of the metas but have serious concerns about their longeveity as you see a lot of posts where there is physical damage to the Uni-Q drivers due to use. I fully accept it is likely that people are seriously pairing/using them incorrectly, but the failure rate seems higher than other medium-lower/upper range speakers. This has really turned me off from their brand personally.

[@ottoinct]

Not a KEF fanboi, but here's just one data point: I have a pair of Soundfield Audio SAM1s that use a 10th gen KEF Uni-Q driver, and it's been playing for 6-12 hours a day for over 300 days each year since 3Q 2011. And I will crank these to near reference levels for a few hours each week. Still perform as new in 2023. Maybe KEF is slacking off?

[@taramm572]

Hi guys, thanks for the review. Your video drew my attention to the R3 Meta since I don’t have enough space for tower speakers. I would really appreciate it if you could review these.

[@davidrivera2165]

Excellent review of the R11 towers. Kristi being the surrogate representative of your viewers is always my favorite part of your (together) review. Kristi, thank you for extracting more detail info and needed caveats from Andrew when comparing speakers.

[@KristiWright]

Thank you, David!

[@chrisculp8123]

Another Great Review! I always appreciate your comparisons . After purchasing the KEF R3s and center, with a LS50 sorroundds (at huge discount), I am definitely a KEF fan now. I feel they have great build quality, sound stage and sound depth. I connected my KEFs through my Marantz Cinema 40 and have fully enjoyed the music and the movies, especially with my dual subs. Now looking at EverSolo DMP-A6. Any thoughts?

[@toddstyles7194]

Just purchase the r3 meta Luv these speakers. My room is smaller at 16x15. The r3 is perfect for me.

[@Spaceboy00013]

Currently have a 5.1 set-up comprised of all LS50 Metas and a SVS Micro 3000. Seriously considering replacing the front soundstage with R3 Metas and an R2C Meta. This review may have sealed the deal. 😊

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

Great current setup but going for the R3s Metas are about the biggest upgrade there is. That woofer really takes the load off that small concentric driver and that will make all the difference. I really wonder how the new R3 Meta sounds, because I definitely liked how the LS50 Meta sounds WAY more than the old R3.

[@Spaceboy00013]

@@AbsoluteFidelity I auditioned the original R3’s before I got the LS50 metas. I almost pulled the trigger on them but decided to wait until I could listen to the LS50 Metas to compare. I’m glad I did. I found the tweeter on the non-Meta R3 to be a little forward for my taste. The LS50 metas were much better to my ear on the highs. I really liked the full sound of the R3 with its 3-way design. The meta version seems to be the best of both worlds!

[@AbsoluteFidelity]

@@Spaceboy00013 totally agree that the LS50 Metas sound better than the OG R3s. The Meta is just more coherent from top to bottom, the R3 sounded like they were broken up into lows, mids and highs. Will try to listen to the R3 Metas and hope they carry forward the characteristics of the LS50 Metas. Thr only problem I have with the LS50 Meta is they would run out of steam real fast when you crank it.

[@CrescendoHomeTheater]

Martin Logans are my absolute favorite speakers. Thank you for such an in-depth review of these speakers. I'll make sure to get a better mic for my reviews as yours is crystal clear.

[@Scav68]

KEF R3 meta review in the future?

[@LuisMarreiros-m8i]

I´ve owned the POlk R700 for 11 months which blew me away...I´d love to hear the KEF´s but the price point should justify its better sound...

[@alantan6786]

I went a little cuckoo after watching your video and ended up building an entire KEF home theater system with the KEF meta series including the KEF R11 metas. You mentioned replacing the feet with IsoAcoustic GAIAs. I would love to see a video on audio/home theater accessory recommendations like the GAIAs.

[@Retro_Analog]

I put the IsoAcoustic GAIAs on my KEF R7s non-metas. Huge improvement in the soundstage!

[@howardskeivys4184]

I mounted my R11s on a pair of Townshend Isolation Podiums. Not nice to look at. My wife says it makes the R11s look as though they’re about to get up and walk out the door. But, I think that’s wishful thinking on her part. Anyways, they do exactly what it says on the tin and allow the R11s to shine.

[@michaelchiekelard929]

Andrew I still remember this review and how much you guys loved the R11 Meta. The new Q11 Meta have just dropped and adopting the R Meta technology, would be very interested in the review.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Stay very tuned...

[@josephquinto5812]

Are you planning on getting your hands on the KEF Reference 1 Meta? I would love your thoughts between that and the B&W 805 D4s considering they’re $500 apart.

[@jeffreyzuidgeest5798]

I have the "normal" R11, and think they are not far off, very happy with it. Nice review. I also change the feet by aluminum machined legs, as the original legs are ugly.

[@curt5802]

I was really hoping for a comparison btwn these and the Concept 50 ... help?

[@dirtroadie5747]

I almost pulled the trigger on a pair of R3's (non-meta) since they are on closeout, but I promised myself there would be a pause on buying hi-fi gear for a couple of years now that I have good quality separates and a pair of Lintons. I really have my eye on the R7, as I think the R11 would be a bit much for my space. I always considered myself and old-school audiophile looking for a warm, buttery sound, but now that I have good components I have become a fan of detail and articulation, and I think the Kefs would fit the bill nicely.

[@Altyros]

I just demoed the Martin Logan XTF100s and the KEF meta 11s side by side using 6 different songs ranging from rock, alternative and classical and pop. the ML is def more forward and in your face with noticeable bass boost, the kefs had clarity and loudness but sounded hollow on certain songs and then on others it sounds amazing especially on strings, cymbals and instruments. Now for the movies I demoed, dark knight, Harry potter deathly hollows, oblivion the MLs sounded like a movie theater, the kefs sounded great too but sounded scaled back and not as clear sounding in regards to sound separation but accurate tonal balance as I suppose the artists wanted you to hear the sound. I can’t decide which one to buy, accuracy or bass with clarity?

[@MarcFeldman-sc6ex]

Steven: You experience seems similar to my brief comparison between the xtf 100 and the old KEF r11. Where did you compare it to the meta?

[@Altyros]

@@MarcFeldman-sc6ex I know it’s not ideal but it was at the big magnolia in DFW METROPLEX in Dallas area, they had the kef meta series for demo alongside the f200 Ml and f100 ml and no matter how hard I tried to want the kefs to outshine, the ML sound was more pleasant and sounded larger than life versus the kef which is what I went there to buy sounded flat and didn’t leave me going wow but the MLs did. I’m actually going back there today to demo 30 songs from diff genres to see if my mind changes.

[@MarcFeldman-sc6ex]

@@Altyros No 200s near me. Please let me know what you think after your more extensive audition. Maybe flat is not for everyone.

[@crazycomments8038]

I am in the same boat as you and demoed them at a magnolia. I am still sleeping on it!

[@Altyros]

@@MarcFeldman-sc6ex ok so I did my demo and out of 33 tracks 18 went to Martin Logan and 15 to kef. Easiest way to describe this choice is this, if you want a live sound where it sounds like ur there at a concert or live event go ML, if you want a sound as if you were in the studio recording it with the artist go kef. Surprisingly the kefs did better on EDM music than the Logan’s considering EDM is bass heavy. I found the kefs to keep the mid range, bass and vocals all same volume level throughout versus the MLs on certain songs can make the vocals rise above the mids or vice versa but can also sometimes be equal throughout .also to get the best sound from the kefs they need to be several feet way from the wall where as the Logan’s you don’t. So if you don’t have a big room to space the kefs 9+ feet then the MLs win hands down, if not then it’s a toss up on taste.

[@jeremyr722]

What do I think? Well, I really appreciate what Kristi said about being honest about the kind of music you listen to. As a fan of awfully recorded and bright 70’s and 80’s music, KEF’s in general probably aren’t for me. That’s a shame, cause I really like dual concentric drivers.

[@KristiWright]

I'm so glad you found that part helpful.

[@bearclaw5115]

It definitely sucks when there is an awesome speaker you'd like to own but it doesn't work for your particular use case! For me, these KEF's likely require more space than I can give them.

[@andreas.abrahamsson]

You mentioned a 4 ohm amplifier is recommended. Would the Marantz Cinema 40 be able to drive these well? Everything says 8 or 6 ohms in its specification...

[@hiphopapotomas]

I've been wondering this as well.. The crutchfield website says the 40 and 50 can drive down to a 4 ohm load

[@SoberBassHead]

I just scored a pair of Jamo C109 towers and they are fantastic. Have you ever heard them? I can’t believe how good they are. Truly the best sounding towers I’ve ever heard.

[@dragonstone6594]

You should review the Kef Reference 5 and compare it to the R11 now. :)

[@scottmcguire1774]

“I love the Beastie Boys!”………….😳🥰😍 Andrew?! She is a keeper! Intergalactic is a bass beast.

[@Novilicious]

I still like the Wharfdale Elysians better. Kristi… thank you for including that comparison!!! ❤ Now I wonder how much better the Kef reference 5s are compared to this!!

[@charleskatz2606]

Huh?I just watched the Q Acoustic Concept 50 and can't understand what was said in that review and they (or the 300/500's) weren't mentioned

[@graysonpeddie]

15:57 I remember the good old days where there's that loudness button in a full-tower stereo system back during the 90s. The speakers' height matched the stereo equipment that has a radio, a CD player, a cassette tape player, and a very sleek-looking design. And some tower stereo equipment has a subwoofer. I remember a subwoofer that had two vertical meters that lit up in red. Man I love that. I miss those old times. But now I only listen to music on my computer connected to my home theater receiver, which then hooks up to my JBL Stage A180 floorstanding speakers. Of course, nothing beats having that nostalgic feeling of having a full tower stereo equipment with two tower speakers put to each side. But I definitely need to dedicate a room for two-channel listening.

[@rvaillant]

Funny. 3 of the worst, by far, speaker demos were all klipsch La Scalas. That plywood bass bin rang like a bell, or gymnasium.

[@rickmarshall6397]

Thanx u guy's, I'm a big fan of kef, I've had my model 3's since the late 90's,never once thought about swapping them out.bravo!

[@andreasmoller9798]

At this price point its all about taste plenty of good speakers, to choise from

[@ben23a31]

Love the review and you guys nailed it. For as much as I would want to demo these for keeps I have some reservations. 1. their size and the lack of lower frequency limitations. With 4 base drivers on each I expect more and having to get sub to fill in the 30hz gap is disappointing. Again for a speaker of this size and cost 2. For as great as they may sound on a critically listening level they don't seem to be "fun" speakers for everyday use like the Klipsch RF7 III's , Arendal 1723's, Perlisten R series or the new Martin Logan Motion XT F100's. But I digress... 3. Thanks again guys for the outstanding and honest review you made it less stressful for me having to order them ✊🏼 The journey continues. Oh this hobby is nerve wrecking 😂

[@veggiechowder8877]

Bro, let me take you in the wayback machine to 1980 and the Ohm speakers with a Nackamichi rack.... transcendent. You could literally stand next to the speaker and not be able to tell where the sound was eminating from, with a monster soundstage

[@ericschwartzberg5083]

Great review team thank you. I was at Best Buy and had the higb end room to my self for an hour using a 5 k Marantz receiver and comparing Martin Logan B& W high end and the Kef Q 750 which goes for $1800 a pair. I was really impressed I c a n only imagine what the R series sounds like

[@EnormousSmartass]

Andrew, after seeing your reviews and reading a lot on the R11s and comparisons between Meta and pre Meta, I tried the R11 (pre Meta). I was CERTAIN they needed to be so much better than my current speakers. Everybody said so, right? I set them up and wow, they sounded great! I also know I like the modern KEF sound, as I use a pair of Q150s on my desk and I'm still flabbergasted by their value. The R11s however just sounded great. Nothing more. As soon as I started AB-ing against my current speakers (my amp supports it) the disappointment was immeasurable. Things I learned (again): - You simply cannot rely on auditory memory concerning details of the sound. - The R11s were handedly beat by my current speakers. - A lot of what I consider a fault in the KEFs sound only became apparent to me when I compared directly. - I either find the R11 overrated, although I found many things to be true for me as well, or my current ones absurdly underrated. - I returned the R11s and found new love for my old speakers, however I'm also quite disappointed that I apparently would need to go up MUCH further in the food chain of speakers to get the upgrade I'm seeking. My current speakers are 7 year old ML ESL ElectroMotion. I know you love them as well, hence also why I was looking forward to the R11s so much. I would like to ask you to do blind AB testing. This is interesting for everybody, your audience included. I get that is difficult to achieve for obvious reasons. However, please consider it when there's the chance to do so. I cannot stress enough: blind and AB is the key. Even a minute in between speakers is enough to vail a ton of differences. I have made this experience every time I tried it.

[@michaels3003]

As you know, attempts for objective comparisons are extremely rare. The speakers would need to be in exactly the same location and the midrange volume must be exactly the same. This is somewhat challenging to do. A lot of objective tests would reveal small differences between the gear being tested. The industry needs people to believe that spending a lot of money on new gear results in large improvements to the audio or visual experience. When there were audio print magazines (in the US), all published reviews were positive overall. If something bad was discovered during a review (that could not be corrected), the review would not be published. Also, at some point in time, results from measurements (audio and video) were no longer published, but they were vaguely mentioned. The final step was publishing opinions only. The measurements that have been done by (or for) Audioholics are now exceptions.

[@kevinstaib715]

Beastie Boys Sabotage: one of the great songs of all time! Also wondering if Andrew is planning on reviewing the KLH model 7 in the near future. Thanks.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

We do not have any plans to review the 7.

[@MrBobsher]

Hey! Pretty new to the channel, and am loving it (I also work in mental health and was REALLY impressed by your video addressing that stuff when you obviously don't have to). Dude, your top 5 speaker list is a master class in diversity - it's like if someone asked "What different kinds of speakers are there?" Your top 5 would cover almost all of them (except planars, electrostatics and all those variations, which have never really convinced me): Fully active with built-in room compensation? Fully horn-loaded? Crazy materials? Separate compartment for tweeter? Coaxial? You got it all covered. And the R11s are by far the most affordable. I am starting to think that some of those who dislike KEF have been hearing them with insufficient power. I needed something simple, so my main system is the Kef LS50 Wireless 2 with 2 KC 62 subs (I listen at about 7 feet, so this suits my needs perfectly. My only other component besides a TV is a U-Turn Orbit turntable). With the subs, my KEF system is rocking a pretty ridiculous 1380 watts per channel (!), significantly more than even the LS60s' 700. If KEF throws that much power at their active speakers, that should tell us all something. Personally, I love my setup, and could see being happy with nothing but KEF gear for life. Just get the right amp (or go active) and they sing!

[@perrysmiles60]

The crossover points would be interesting to know as well on these Kefs Andrew...?

[@ralph8401]

Andrew, how would you say the R7 Meta compare to the R11's. Regards Ralph

[@antonygriffiths6764]

Hi Andrew and Kirsti, I’ve been a subscriber for about 3 months now. I always enjoy your channel. Your reviews are informative, interesting, fun and entertaining. The KEF R11s are too big for my room, but, the R7s were just right. KEF have a Reference Series that is positioned above the R Series range (which is position above their baseline Q Series). The apparent equivalent of the R11 in their Reference Series is the Reference 5. A pair of R11s is approx. $7,250 USD and a pair of Reference 5s is approx. $22,500 USD. I would be really interested if you both were able to do a comparison review and between the KEF R11s vs, the Ref.5s and obviously sound/build quality vs. value/cost as part of the review. I have to say, this comparison may not be possible; as all KEF Reference Series speakers are hand made to order at KEF H.O in Maidstone, England. However, given the high-end speaker products you both have reviewed previously, I’m hoping you will be intrigued enough to want to experience their premiere speaker range that draws from their pinnacle KEF Muon and Blade series speakers vs. their highly regarded premium R series. Obviously, the price difference and the made to order from the UK were a deciding factor, for me, why I went for the KEF R7s instead of the equivalent KEF Reference 3s. But, I still have the “what if questions”. Kindest regards, TonyG.

[@photobriangray]

Having lived with the R3 for a while now, I have occasionally had wonder lust about other speakers. Given my medium sized room, great sub integration via Dirac and dynamic power from NAD, it is gonna take something special to get me to open my wallet. The best part, I got these the first time KEF briefly discounted them in their long production run, basically the same price as LS50s. Your comment on setting them up and just being happy lands.

[@thobekanikhoza4038]

Your presentation is some fine craftsmanship Team! Always. 😊

[@adsph]

Great take on this loudspeaker. Thank you both for your efforts.

[@kashkashio]

Hi Andrew, great review as always thank you! I decided to change from ls60 to passive r system, started with r11 meta and marantz cinema 40, planning to add r6 as center and r3 metas as surround. You think the cinema will hold? And if not which int. stereo amp i should get? Gone pair it to two kf92 aubs, thanks!

[@DavidCNavas]

I just ran across the R6s the other day, and honestly, it made me give this review another look, because while the R11s were a bit on the ginormous side, and a little weighty on the pocketbook as well, the fact is that there are very few centers that work (for a non-projection setup given where you should sit vs how wide speakers have to throw) and the R6 looks like it could be one of those. [If only companies would get off their gloss kick ... good lord.] Upshot: I have many of these same questions. I've heard that the Rs work better on amps with high damping, so purifi or hypex is probably going to be my go-to, but I've been leaning towards Buckeye already, so I may be justifying, and I haven't auditioned/tested any of this myself. I'd be curious how you're going to setup the R3s. I'd love to be able to hang them on the wall, but the rear port and their massive depth is making me wonder if there isn't a better alternative.

[@whitecrowuk575]

What made you change from ls60 to r11 meta? Those are speakers I’m considering for both movies (predominantly) and music. Was there something you didn’t like about them? How much better R11 meta you find?

[@yankai1209]

i have exact same amp questions as you for R11/R6/R3 combination . Wondering if you got good answers?

[@DavidCNavas]

@@yankai1209 If that's to me, what you see is what you get (ie: nothing). That said, wife is insisting on as little floor space as possible, so I'm likely looking at on/in walls at this point.

[@jozefserf2024]

KEF were making great speakers 30 years ago, so these are unlikely to be bad.

[@jmpersic]

The great thing about Andrew and Kristi is they make audio gear fun even when you can't test it or heck, afford it yourself. Do you have a video where you explain all the terminology and how to listen for it? I have a feeling that video would do very well if it doesn't exist.

[@andrewrobinsonreviews]

Thank you for the kind words, Milo! We did something like that a couple of years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bJmyfoOIqtN6rqs

[@jmpersic]

@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks Andrew!