KEF R11 Meta Tower Speaker Review

[Golf]

always on small two-way wireless libraries

What could that be?

 

[Mnyb]

What could that be?

Autocarrot or google translate suspect it mean two way bookshelf speaker

 

[Golf]

Autocarrot or google translate suspect it mean two way bookshelf speaker

Oh – wasn’t aware we’re looking at auto translate content here

 

[Haskil]

Qu'est-ce que ça pourrait être ?

concentric-coaxial HP : bad translate...

 

[kchap]

I went with a relative to a Hi-Fi store to compare the B&W 703s to the R11s. Note, I do own an over 20yo pair of 803s and therefore I am biased. In fact, I preferred the the R11s.

 

[Sammy135]

Can the r11's tweeter performance keep up with the dynamics of a compression driver tweeter such as the jbl hdi 3800?

Is 102 db really enough to test tweeter compression, or should you go higher?

I have the ls50 meta, and I'm planning my next upgrade, but just really worried about compression. The ls50 meta compression a lot, same with the r3s. The reference 1 tweeter measurements didn't compression at all, and doesn't look like the r11 compression that much either.

But when you put these in a movie reference levels, can it keep up with the standards that THX and Imax films has set?

I was really looking to get the jbl hdi series or the jbl 698, but rather stick to the kef family, if the r11 can keep up in dynamics

 

[Golf]

concentric-coaxial HP : bad translate...

I see ... So HP means headphone, right?

 

[Redman43]

I hate when companies and in this case reviewer states that speakers costs "3250 dollars each". Who the hell buys 1 or 3 of these ? Yes, there might be about 4 cases of that happening every decade but it's just plain stupid to put it that way. These cost 6500 and it should be stated in the review that way.

 

[Golf]

I hate when companies and in this case reviewer states that speakers costs "3250 dollars each".

I especially hate cases where the »each« would be missing.

 

[thewas]

Is 102 db really enough to test tweeter compression, or should you go higher?

In my opinion it is due to two reasons, at 102 dB / 1 meter usually the woofers of such loudspeakers are at their limits and also the energy spectrum of most music is declining to higher frequencies.

Source of plot: https://www.hifi-selbstbau.de/index...chenq-mit-dem-waveanalyzer?highlight=WzI2MF0=

 

[Tassin]

I see ... So HP means headphone, right?

HP = haut-parleur = French for loudspeaker

Best to use DeepL for translations.

 

[dzerig]

Impressive performance.

 

[Sammy135]

In my opinion it is due to two reasons, at 102 dB / 1 meter usually the woofers of such loudspeakers are at their limits and also the energy spectrum of most music is declining to higher frequencies.

Source of plot: https://www.hifi-selbstbau.de/index...chenq-mit-dem-waveanalyzer?highlight=WzI2MF0=

Makes sense for music.

But for a movie, which reference level being at about 105 db, and sitting about 3 to 4 meters away... I'd really like to know if

1) the kef tweeter can keep up at 105 vs the 102 and at that long distance
2) for how long? Tweeter drive system will probably overheat and start compression... a long 5 minute drawn out action scene

 

[thewas]

Makes sense for music.

But for a movie, which reference level being at about 105 db, and sitting about 3 to 4 meters away... I'd really like to know if

1) the kef tweeter can keep up at 105 vs the 102 and at that long distance
2) for how long? Tweeter drive system will probably overheat and start compression... a long 5 minute drawn out action scene

Even for a movie I strongly doubt someone will have an long term average of 105 dB at the high frequency at the listening position continuously, as such would be VERY loud and also dangerous for the hearing, see also above plot for the spectrum, In my experience also the limit of almost all loudspeakers comes first in the bass, even the 4 x 6.5" woofers of the R11 Meta won't easily reach that level at 3-4 meters distance.
Here are distortion measurements of the old R11 non Meta, you see that rather the woofers suffer at 100 dB /1 m:

Source of above measurement: https://www.hegel.com/images/reviews/H190audiogermany.pdf

 

[zgmf_x10a]

I hate when companies and in this case reviewer states that speakers costs "3250 dollars each". Who the hell buys 1 or 3 of these ? Yes, there might be about 4 cases of that happening every decade but it's just plain stupid to put it that way. These cost 6500 and it should be stated in the review that way.

People who put 3 of these behind acoustic transparent screens? Given the symmetrical bass drivers could probably put one on its side to use as centre channel.

 

[Prana Ferox]

I hate when companies and in this case reviewer states that speakers costs "3250 dollars each". Who the hell buys 1 or 3 of these ? Yes, there might be about 4 cases of that happening every decade but it's just plain stupid to put it that way. These cost 6500 and it should be stated in the review that way.

It means they're sold in fixed integers, so you can't walk into Best Buy and request to buy 7.2 of them to match your AVR

 

[douede]

Personally, at $3250 for the KEF R11 I would much prefer the Revel F226Be currently on sale for $3850. The Revel 70 degree horizontal beamwidth, their outstanding tweeter plus their style would push me toward the Revel. Once you reach $6500 a pair there are lots of nice options to choose from. @amirm might even have better pricing available for the F226Be.

Revel F226Be Floorstanding Loudspeaker (each)

The Revel F226Be joins the award-winning PerformaBe series as a compact floorstanding loudspeaker. As part of the PerformaBe loudspeaker line, the F226Be includes a 1-inch (25mm) beryllium tweeter driven by massive 85mm dual ceramic magnets.

upscaleaudio.com

With my brother, we drove 100kms to a shop to hear/test the Revel F226Be.
=> We found its bass too light/short...
(My brother finaly bought the Arendal 1723 Tower S THX, upgraded its crossover parts, and is happy with it. Gustard R26>Nilai>...)

 

[beagleman]

Sigh..Pffft! Does this make a difference?

Used to own that exact speaker years ago, after getting a great Demo speaker deal.

Great in some ways, and memorable looks wise, but a very tough load impedance wise..

 

[welwynnick]

I hate when companies and in this case reviewer states that speakers costs "3250 dollars each". Who the hell buys 1 or 3 of these ? Yes, there might be about 4 cases of that happening every decade but it's just plain stupid to put it that way. These cost 6500 and it should be stated in the review that way.

Absolutely.

Genelec and Neumann speakers are often priced singly for some reason. I don't think Kef or their dealers usually do that.

 

[pjn]

If you can trust KEF's distortion specs, the R11 Meta should be a lot better than the R7 Meta:

R11 Meta:
View attachment 359293

R7 Meta:
View attachment 359294
R3 Meta somehow is a bit better than R7 Meta:
View attachment 359295

Yes, but 90dB is quite loud! The R7s are likely similar at a more modest level (i.e a smaller room - mine is < 2000cuft) - I have a pair and and measured distortion is neglible at my usual listening level - <75 dB. The R7s replace venerable and recapped Kef 104.2s which were briefly replaced by Kef LS50s (nasty distortion at about 90 Hz and now relegated to back channels).
I might add that I am extremely happy with the R7s