6 Reasons to Avoid the KEF R3 Speakers at All Costs

Why should you avoid the KEF R3 speakers? KEF is a name synonymous with top-shelf quality when looking at home audio. There are some who think you can’t do better than the audio quality put out by some of the high-end choices from KEF. The KEF R3, in particular, has received its fair share of acclaim.

That said, these speakers might be fantastic, but there are some interesting design flaws present. When you’re purchasing a pair of speakers in this price bracket, you’re after top performance. While the R3 speakers sound fantastic, there are a few things that bear mention. This review will cover some of the top reasons you might want to avoid these speakers for your home listening.

What Are the KEF R3 Speakers?

The KEF R3 stand mount speakers are luxury audio personified. KEF’s speaker set features a tight frequency response and extremely well-done construction. The speakers themselves are near flawless at first glance and come with a trio of drivers. Frequency response is equally impressive and is the real stand-out feature for the R3.

You won’t notice a lack of bass response or mids. They do falter in some areas, in terms of overall frequency response, which will be discussed. That said, if you’re an audiophile on the hunt for an impressive set of speakers, these might be a good fit. However, you would need to overlook the design flaws present in the speakers.

Specs	KEF R3 Stand Mount Speakers
Frequency Range	38Hz to 50kHz
Frequency Response	58Hz to 28kHz
Drivers	1-inch high-frequency, 5-inch medium-frequency, 6.5-inch bass frequency
Crossover Frequencies	400Hz, 2.9kHz
Height	16.6 inches
Width	7.9 inches
Depth	13.2 inches
Weight	29.8 pounds

Reasons to Avoid the KEF R3 Speakers

Keep reading to find out why you should avoid the KEF R3 speakers and look at alternatives.

The High Overall Cost

At around $2000 for a pair of KEF R3 speakers, these are on the upper end of the price spectrum. Now, there are certainly audiophiles out there who will drop far more just on the cabling and amplifier to drive these speakers. However, if you’re just looking for an upgrade to your current hi-fi setup, these speakers are an expensive solution.

There are comparable solutions on the market that cost far less while still getting close in terms of overall performance. Really, you’d be dropping this much on a pair of speakers if you had an exceptionally trained ear.

Low-Volume Listening Could Be Better

Every speaker set has a sweet spot in terms of volume. Too low and the sound might as well be monophonic in origin. The KEF R3 doesn’t excel at low-level listening, which can be a major drawback if you want versatility.

The sweet spot for the KEF R3 is somewhere in the middle, too high and you run into other issues as you’ll see. Simply speaking, you’ll want to keep the overall volume on the KEF R3 around 60 to 80dB, which should be comfortable for listening while also providing plenty of room for the drivers to breathe.

The Sound Stage Lacks Width

The overall sound stage on the KEF R3 is stunningly detailed. You’ll notice intricacies in your favorite songs that you might have never noticed. However, when it comes to the overall width of the stereo field, the KEF R3 speakers come up sorely lacking.

There is a general lack of presence and air in the stereo field, at least in terms of width. Overall detail is certainly there, but these don’t sound naturally open. You could argue just this is just part of the design, which is fine. However, at this price point, you’d like to expect detail and width at the same time.

The Treble Lacks Definition

While the human ear is naturally attuned to mid-frequencies, you’ll most likely associate treble with the airiness or crispness of a given song. Make no mistake, the KEF R3 has a fairly astounding frequency response, especially in a room with good natural reflections. That said, the treble as a whole is somewhat lacking.

It is certainly there, and you can tell. However, it lacks the same detail and clarity you’ll find in the more balanced bass and mid-frequency areas. The lower to mid-range of the sound spectrum respond far better to the larger drivers present on the KEF R3. When you look at the treble, there’s only a single 1-inch driver per speaker, which could explain the lack of overall clarity.

Harmonic Distortion Occurs at Higher Volumes

The bane of any audiophile’s existence is going to be THD or total harmonic distortion. Now, music as a whole can benefit from THD when it comes to the recording process. However, you’re looking at a different set of characteristics. Typically, you don’t want to hear any sort of digital distortion on your audio.

The KEF R3 starts experiencing total harmonic distortion at around 90dB of overall volume, which is definitely on the louder side. If you’re trying to push the volume to fill up a larger room, however, this is going to be immediately noticeable.

The Speakers Don’t Respond Well to Acoustic Treatment

Acoustic treatment can be a great way to isolate the resonance build-up that can occur in a given space. Most speakers respond quite well to acoustic treatment, eliminating nasty bass reflections and taking away some of the shrill frequencies that might catch your ear first.

If you’ve already invested a sizable amount into acoustic treatment, the KEF R3 might not be the best fit. Numerous users have cited the speakers becoming deadened significantly by the presence of acoustic foam panels or rock wool room treatment. At this price point, you certainly wouldn’t expect something as benign as room treatment to have a massive impact on sound quality.

Alternatives to the KEF R3 Speakers

Here are three of our favorite alternatives to the KEF R3 stand mount speakers.

Klipsch RP-600M

The Klipsch RP-600M is a great and budget-friendly alternative to most speakers on the market. These might lack the overall detail and clarity seen with the KEF R3 speakers, but they cost nearly a quarter of the price for a pair.

Klipsch has been a known quantity in the home audio market for years, and the RP-600M is a great way to get detailed sound in your listening space without breaking the bank. You’ll still need money for a decent amplifier and acoustic treatment. However, you’d still need a good amp with the KEF R3 speakers, so you might as well save where you can.

Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2

The 606 S2 from Bowers & Wilkins is close in terms of overall performance to the KEF R3. You’ll find a similar level of frequency response, and perhaps a touch less detail when looking at the higher end of the listening range. That said, you’re spending about half the price of the R3 on a pair of these speakers.

The 606 S2 are two-way speakers, rather than the triple-driver design seen in the R3 speaker set. However, the overall sound quality pushed out by these is fantastic. Breakup and distortion are a lot less prominent on these as well when pushed to higher volumes, which definitely bears mention.

KEF LS50 Meta

The LS50 Meta from KEF is a high-end alternative to its own R3 speaker set. You’ll notice similar performance and frequency response while spending a fair bit less overall for the speakers themselves. This is also a two-way set of speakers, but the performance is comparable.

You’ll still find the same deadening quality when looking at acoustic treatment, which does bear mention. This can be attributed to the metamaterial absorption array on the drivers themselves. That said, if you’re looking for high-end performance at a lower cost, the LS50 Meta speakers won’t disappoint.

Closing Thoughts

The KEF R3 speakers are a stunning set for most use. The flaws pointed out in this guide are definitely things you can adjust for, which most users likely will. Simply put, the KEF R3 is a great set of speakers if you’re willing to work around their limitations. The main sticking point is the higher overall cost, which doesn’t even account for the amplifier or receiver in a setup.

Best Alternatives to the KEF R3 Stand Mount Speakers

1. Klipsch RP-600M
2. Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2
3. KEF LS50 Meta

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