The new Q series has great value for money across the range, so maybe a smaller model from that, it depends if you're set on a floorstander, or open to a bookshelf
I recently auditioned the Q11s and the R11s. I found the Rs to be dull due to a bloated midrange. In comparison, Q11s had a more realistic sound with more contrast, depth, breadth, and air. I got a strong sense of the performance venue, which the R11s did not communicate. I separately auditioned a home cinema showroom with the R series throughout, and the sound was closed in and artificial, though impactful. Just my impression.
@InfiniteBaffle you mention you used a Naim Nova to drive these speakers? Is that the 80wpc Nova, or the 150Wpc Nova PE. I'm not looking at a Naim amp, but am looking at an Arcam or Advance Paris amp in the 75-80wpc 8ohm range instead. I don't want to spend more than the speakers on the amp, but don't want to spend quite a lot on the speakers and not be able to drive them properly either.
Wanting to change my front channels for HT and stereo listening. Would the Q11 meta be a better choice than the non meta R11? Most likely going with the R6 meta centre for HT duties. Last update to the system was 15yrs ago, so most likely to have the next ones I choose for a good while also. Currently running iQ9/iQ6c. Will be sharing the room with iQ8D’s, and Kef ceiling mounted units for atmos are being added during the next few months. Thoughts?
As good as the Q11s are the R11s are still superior, if you’re purely talking about performance that is, but the Q11s aren’t far off and are a good chunk cheaper, it depends how much you value that edge the R11s will give you!
Damn. I currently have a 16' long seating distance from speakers. May be able to shorten it to 14'. Wonder if having 3 mid-bass drivers would become a must at that point; even if you use a 68dB volume at MLP.
My room is about 90 cubic metres/3200 cubic feet (3m/10 feet ceilings). I was thinking the Q7s but do you think that room size warrants the Q11s? Also I have 2 Kube 10b subs (and am considering a third), so is the extra low end difference in the Q11s likely to still be noticeable? Usage is probably 75% movies 25% music. Thanks for your great review videos on the new Q11 meta range!
I have noticed these only come with rubber floor spikes and KEF are selling the metal spikes separately for £69! How well do they sit on carpets with the adjustable rubber spikes? And how far do these need to be placed from the back walls? I think the Q7’s would probably be a better fit in my room but i would much prefer these !
The feet are a little bit adjustable I believe, but it is a peev of mine that they don’t have ‘proper’ spikes which would definitely be an improvement!
The Q and R range are much closer than I think anyone expected, between those two I think it really depends on if you’re after a bookshelf, or a floor stander, both always have their strengths & weaknesses
Q7s would do the job, but the Q11s would be better, there’s a pretty big difference, especially on the low end side of things, it depends how much you value that!
I auditioned both. Actually still doing it. If you have any sort of moving watching I would seriously take a look at the q11s. It’s the presence man. The R3s idk, I feel like I need more time to dial in perhaps with the right sub. The Q11s just blasted. I watched a bit of the new gladiator movie… I knew right there I’d keep the q11s over the r3. Just my own thoughts.
Don't waste your money I bought the kef Q11 meta and Q6 meta. They sounded good for about a week then I guess after break in they sounded like someone took out the tweeter midrange and tweeter. They sound absolutely dull and lifeless with no highs. I have 2 Onkyo RZ50s and 2 Emotiva XPA 5s for a 5.2 setup in my living room and a 3.1 setup in my bedroom. At 1st I thought maybe something was wrong with my receiver so I did a factory reset no change then I ran dirac no change then I switched the receiver with the one in the living room did a factory reset no change in the kefs dull sound then ran dirac still no change. Spent time changing the crossovers put speakers to small to full range back and forth messed with the equalizer messed with the ohms setting and still no change. Then I thought maybe it was the Amplifier so I switched the Amplifier with the one in the living room still no change. I did another factory reset on the receiver still no change then I ran dirac still no change in the bad sounding lifeless dull kefs. The amount of hours I put in retesting, resetting, switching out,calibrating was immense. I put the kefs in my junk room and reconnected my 15 year old def techs and all is good now again. Kef q11 meta is garbage and so is the Q6 meta center. Don't waste your money. Im not trolling either you can see I own them in my videos
Sounds like it might be an issue with the speakers, it’s worth contacting KEF, I’ve listened to the Q11 METAs pretty extensively and found them nothing but great 🤷
What is the point in sound clips on RUclips? It's compressed to an inch of It's life to reduce data. Ridiculous. Furthermore, what the hell do you mean by 'musical', it literally means nothing at all. No amp suggestions to speak of, A/B vs class D, or valve or anything. Sorry but I've literally learned nothing from this video.
I think sometimes these things can be hard to quantify without listening yourself, and I actually do partly agree on the recording front, but a lot of people ask for it, I think maybe it can give you a feel for the speaker, but get what you mean. Sorry you didn’t enjoy, appreciate the feedback though
[1] Do they disappear? Yes or no? [2] How good is front-to-back depth of image? [3] Does it pin-point image? [4] Is the top end airy, delicate, and extended? [4] Is the midrange fatiguing? You address none of these vital questions, because you're incapable of perceiving sound at a high-end level. At best, you're only capable of mid-fi, duhhh sounds-good-to-me drivel.
Great video and review! I’m wondering if the KEF R11’s would work in a small room where it’s about 10 to 12 feet from listening position?
I’d say they might be a bit big for a space like that, especially if you’re blasting them!
@InfiniteBaffle yes, that’s what I was worried about! Any recommendations as to a KEF for a small room? Maybe I should give the KEF E3 Meta’s a look?
The new Q series has great value for money across the range, so maybe a smaller model from that, it depends if you're set on a floorstander, or open to a bookshelf
I recently auditioned the Q11s and the R11s. I found the Rs to be dull due to a bloated midrange. In comparison, Q11s had a more realistic sound with more contrast, depth, breadth, and air. I got a strong sense of the performance venue, which the R11s did not communicate. I separately auditioned a home cinema showroom with the R series throughout, and the sound was closed in and artificial, though impactful. Just my impression.
Really interesting! As I mentioned it really surprises me how close they are!
@InfiniteBaffle you mention you used a Naim Nova to drive these speakers? Is that the 80wpc Nova, or the 150Wpc Nova PE. I'm not looking at a Naim amp, but am looking at an Arcam or Advance Paris amp in the 75-80wpc 8ohm range instead. I don't want to spend more than the speakers on the amp, but don't want to spend quite a lot on the speakers and not be able to drive them properly either.
This was with the standard 80W Nova!
Thank you for the review. How are they for dialogue clarity without center channel? And how are they for low volume listening?
I’ve only listened to them in a two channel system, and I found vocals clear, and accurate!
Wanting to change my front channels for HT and stereo listening. Would the Q11 meta be a better choice than the non meta R11?
Most likely going with the R6 meta centre for HT duties. Last update to the system was 15yrs ago, so most likely to have the next ones I choose for a good while also. Currently running iQ9/iQ6c.
Will be sharing the room with iQ8D’s, and Kef ceiling mounted units for atmos are being added during the next few months.
Thoughts?
As good as the Q11s are the R11s are still superior, if you’re purely talking about performance that is, but the Q11s aren’t far off and are a good chunk cheaper, it depends how much you value that edge the R11s will give you!
Thank you for the review.. My listening distance would be around 8feet, do you think if it will be too close for Q11 meta?
I think the 11s would be fine, but it is on the cusp, the 7s might be a better fit
Damn. I currently have a 16' long seating distance from speakers. May be able to shorten it to 14'.
Wonder if having 3 mid-bass drivers would become a must at that point; even if you use a 68dB volume at MLP.
My room is about 90 cubic metres/3200 cubic feet (3m/10 feet ceilings). I was thinking the Q7s but do you think that room size warrants the Q11s? Also I have 2 Kube 10b subs (and am considering a third), so is the extra low end difference in the Q11s likely to still be noticeable? Usage is probably 75% movies 25% music.
Thanks for your great review videos on the new Q11 meta range!
Given you have the subwoofers I would say the jump up will be less noticeable, though in a room that size the 11s would amazing!
I have noticed these only come with rubber floor spikes and KEF are selling the metal spikes separately for £69!
How well do they sit on carpets with the adjustable rubber spikes?
And how far do these need to be placed from the back walls?
I think the Q7’s would probably be a better fit in my room but i would much prefer these !
The feet are a little bit adjustable I believe, but it is a peev of mine that they don’t have ‘proper’ spikes which would definitely be an improvement!
With regards to the walls they aren’t too bad at all, certainly no more than a foot from my experience
My Q11s sit less than 100mm from the wall. I can't see any issues. Foam bungs are in, I'm quite happy with the rubber feet on a wooden floor.
@@davidcurry4433
I have carpet floors so the rubber feet would be useless for me,
Having to pay an additional £69 for 8 metal spikes is annoying
How does the Q11 Meta compare to R3 Meta?
The Q and R range are much closer than I think anyone expected, between those two I think it really depends on if you’re after a bookshelf, or a floor stander, both always have their strengths & weaknesses
My room size 21 sqft 12×18.I am confuse between Q 7 and Q11 meta.How much difference in sound bw q11 and q7 meta?
Q7s would do the job, but the Q11s would be better, there’s a pretty big difference, especially on the low end side of things, it depends how much you value that!
I auditioned both. Actually still doing it. If you have any sort of moving watching I would seriously take a look at the q11s. It’s the presence man. The R3s idk, I feel like I need more time to dial in perhaps with the right sub. The Q11s just blasted. I watched a bit of the new gladiator movie… I knew right there I’d keep the q11s over the r3. Just my own thoughts.
Don't waste your money I bought the kef Q11 meta and Q6 meta. They sounded good for about a week then I guess after break in they sounded like someone took out the tweeter midrange and tweeter. They sound absolutely dull and lifeless with no highs. I have 2 Onkyo RZ50s and 2 Emotiva XPA 5s for a 5.2 setup in my living room and a 3.1 setup in my bedroom. At 1st I thought maybe something was wrong with my receiver so I did a factory reset no change then I ran dirac no change then I switched the receiver with the one in the living room did a factory reset no change in the kefs dull sound then ran dirac still no change. Spent time changing the crossovers put speakers to small to full range back and forth messed with the equalizer messed with the ohms setting and still no change. Then I thought maybe it was the Amplifier so I switched the Amplifier with the one in the living room still no change. I did another factory reset on the receiver still no change then I ran dirac still no change in the bad sounding lifeless dull kefs. The amount of hours I put in retesting, resetting, switching out,calibrating was immense. I put the kefs in my junk room and reconnected my 15 year old def techs and all is good now again. Kef q11 meta is garbage and so is the Q6 meta center.
Don't waste your money.
Im not trolling either you can see I own them in my videos
Sounds like it might be an issue with the speakers, it’s worth contacting KEF, I’ve listened to the Q11 METAs pretty extensively and found them nothing but great 🤷
What is the point in sound clips on RUclips? It's compressed to an inch of It's life to reduce data. Ridiculous. Furthermore, what the hell do you mean by 'musical', it literally means nothing at all. No amp suggestions to speak of, A/B vs class D, or valve or anything. Sorry but I've literally learned nothing from this video.
I think sometimes these things can be hard to quantify without listening yourself, and I actually do partly agree on the recording front, but a lot of people ask for it, I think maybe it can give you a feel for the speaker, but get what you mean.
Sorry you didn’t enjoy, appreciate the feedback though
I love demos and maybe it's not as accurate as we wish but you can still tell differences in speakers by these demos
[1] Do they disappear? Yes or no? [2] How good is front-to-back depth of image? [3] Does it pin-point image? [4] Is the top end airy, delicate, and extended? [4] Is the midrange fatiguing? You address none of these vital questions, because you're incapable of perceiving sound at a high-end level. At best, you're only capable of mid-fi, duhhh sounds-good-to-me drivel.
Howard, I have a pumpkin on my head in the thumbnail.
Appreciate the feedback
Highly encourage a knowledgable person and a perceiver of high end sound like you to start your own youtube channel and be a service to all of us.
I bet he can count