KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 Review: Cinematic Sound That Wows

Experience cinematic delight with the KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 system delivering immersive, high-quality surround sound for your home theater.

A New Star in Our Home Theater

If you’re like me, a lover of all things audio, you’ve probably heard about KEF—the British audio brand that frequently graces our Hi-Fi listening room. But in our home theater space, KEF gear makes a more rare appearance. Recently, the only KEF device to hit our home cinema was their XIO soundbar.

Now, don’t get me wrong—the XIO is excellent, but a soundbar can only get you so far if you want that true cinematic experience: rich, enveloping surround sound that pulls you right into the story. That’s where 5.1 systems come into play, and KEF has long been a heavyweight in the home theater arena.

Their latest offering, the Q Concerto Meta 5.1 system, is led by a pair of five-star bookshelf speakers and complemented by other entry-level Q series models. It promises high-quality cinematic sound wrapped in a sleek, stylish design. So, does it deliver the goods? Spoiler alert: the stars have already spoken.

KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 Price Breakdown

Currently, KEF doesn’t sell this system as a single “all-in-one” package. That might change soon, but for now, you’ll need to buy each component separately, bringing the total to approximately $4,050.

Here’s the cost split:

• Q Concerto Meta Bookshelf Speakers: $1,400 per pair
• Q1 Meta Rear Speakers: $700 per pair
• Q6 Meta Center Channel: $850
• Kube 12 MIE Subwoofer: $1,100

If space is tight, KEF offers Q4 Meta wall speakers as an alternative to the Q1 Meta rear pair—$600 for one or $1,200 for a pair.

Fancy a 5.1.2 setup with Dolby Atmos height channels? You can add KEF’s Q8 Meta Dolby Atmos height modules for $900 per pair.

An obvious rival to this setup is Bowers & Wilkins’ 606 & 607 S3 system, which we initially considered at $3,799 but often sees discounts. So KEF’s Q Concerto Meta has some convincing to do to justify the extra dollars.

Sleek Design That Turns Heads

Beauty is subjective, but you’d have to try hard to convince anyone this system isn’t downright gorgeous.

The Q Concerto Meta speakers are elegant bookshelf beauties, featuring KEF’s signature Uni-Q driver array front and center. The rear Q1 Meta and center Q6 Meta share the same design language, creating a harmonious ensemble.

While the subwoofer comes only in black, the other components are available in matte white, walnut, or matte black finishes. Our test system arrived in full black stealth mode, which, if there were a beauty pageant, would take home first place hands down.

The subtle KEF logo perched atop each speaker adds a classy touch, and the slight gloss around the Uni-Q drivers breaks the monochrome look nicely. Plus, magnetic grilles come standard on both front and rear speakers.

Size-wise, the system is moderate for a surround sound setup: each Q Concerto Meta speaker measures 42 x 21 x 32 cm and weighs 9.5 kg, while the smaller Q1 Meta rears are 30 x 18 x 28 cm and 6.1 kg each.

You’ll definitely want stands, and KEF’s own SQ1 stands fetch $400 per pair—pricey, but a perfect match if you’re going for style and stability.

The Q6 Meta center channel is more imposing at 21 x 63 x 30 cm and 14.1 kg but blends well with the Concerto pair.

The subwoofer, Kube 12 MIE, is where the size starts to bulk up—measuring 41 x 39 x 41 cm and weighing 18.6 kg.

KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 Technical Specs at a Glance

• Finishes: Matte Black, Matte White, Walnut
• Bi-wiring: No
• Front Speakers: 42 x 21 x 32 cm, 9.5 kg
• Rear Speakers: 30 x 18 x 28 cm, 6.1 kg
• Center Channel: 21 x 63 x 30 cm, 14.1 kg
• Subwoofer: 41 x 39 x 41 cm, 18.6 kg

Packed with Sound Engineering Marvels

Looks aren’t everything, but KEF backs up this system with serious tech.

The Q Concerto Meta bookshelf speakers are the stars here, loaded with KEF’s proprietary driver tech to squeeze every drop of detail and banish distortion.

They sport a three-way design with a rear-firing bass reflex port, which KEF says “delivers precise separation between highs, mids, and lows for exceptional clarity and detail that brings music and movies to life.”

At their core is a 12th-generation Uni-Q driver array combining a 10 cm aluminum midrange, a 19 mm ventilated aluminum dome tweeter, and KEF’s patented metamaterial absorption technology (MAT). This MAT layer sucks up 99% of unwanted noise behind the driver for pure, natural sound.

Supporting the Uni-Q is a 16.5 cm hybrid bass driver with an aluminum shell layered on paper cones, shaped with a shallow concave design to boost stiffness and damping—resulting in improved punch and clarity.

The Q1 Meta rear speakers are the “younger siblings” here—they lack a dedicated bass driver and have a two-way bass reflex design but share a slightly larger 12th-gen Uni-Q array with a 25 mm tweeter using MAT and a 130 mm aluminum cone for mid/bass duties. Despite being a tad bigger, these drivers have more work to do given the absence of a separate woofer.

The Q6 Meta center channel uses the same Uni-Q array as the Concerto but sandwiches it between two bass drivers identical to the front.

Rounding things out is the active Kube 12 MIE subwoofer, with a 12-inch front-firing driver powered by a 300W Class D amplifier inside a sealed enclosure for flexible placement. KEF thoughtfully included a Room Position EQ switch on the back, letting you tailor bass performance based on placement—corner, open space, wall recess, or cabinet.

An Immersive Soundstage That Pulls You In

Starting with a pair of five-star bookshelf speakers doesn't guarantee cinematic magic, but here it’s a fantastic foundation—one that the Q Concerto Meta system builds upon beautifully.

We paired the system with our reference Marantz Cinema 30 AV receiver ($4,500) because it really reveals the strengths and weaknesses of connected speakers. But fear not, you could rock this setup just fine on more budget-friendly models like the Denon AVC-X6800H ($3,500) or even the AVC-X3800H.

Cue the Marvel film Thunderbolts, specifically the scene where a ragtag team plots a daring escape from a military base. The system delivers a muscular, rich yet agile sound.

The explosion that kicks off this scene hits you with solid low-frequency impact, and the Kube subwoofer delivers a punch "right to the gut" while staying tightly controlled. No flabby or muddy bass here. Compared to the Bowers & Wilkins 606/607 S3 subwoofer’s slightly sweeter tone, KEF’s Kube 12 MIE gives you a raw, dynamic kick that feels powerful.

The overall sound is grand and bold, wrapping you in a captivating surround cocoon without losing focus or dragging.

When the quiet dialogue between Elena and Bob kicks in, the prowess of the center channel shines. Voices come through with crystal clarity and texture, supported by impressively handled subtle dynamics. The result is an exceptionally natural, realistic vocal presentation with impressive projection. Plus, it blends seamlessly with the front left and right speakers.

That integration extends to the rear Q1 Meta speakers. Despite being smaller than the front Concerto pair, they match tonally without noticeable dips or loss of scale.

In the No Time To Die Mater chase scene, every bullet ping against the DB5’s bulletproof glass creates an impressively cohesive surround sound tableau, placing you dead center in the action.

The metallic clatter of shell casings hitting the ground and each shot impacting the car delivers layered, dynamic, and detailed sound, cranking up tension and excitement.

Music Playback? Absolutely Fabulous

We couldn’t resist putting the Q Concerto Meta through its paces with some favorite tunes (full KEF Concerto Q Meta review dives deeper into their music chops).

Streaming Tidal through our Marantz Cinema 30 in Pure Direct mode confirmed these speakers thrive with both movies and music.

Taylor Swift’s The Fate Of Ophelia hits with the same richness, punch, and energy we heard during films, while vocals stay pristine, deep, and detailed.

Jerry Rafferty’s Right Down The Line reveals a softer, more restrained side of KEF’s sound—smooth, warm, and inviting, perfect for easy listening that never gets dull.

Final Thoughts on KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1

Simply put, the KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 reminds us why we’re so in love with true surround sound systems.

Its rich, clear, and dynamic sound instantly pulls you into the heart of the action. And while it does take up more room than the average soundbar, you won’t mind the footprint; the sophisticated design more than justifies its place in your living room.

And naturally, it sounds way better.

Ratings

• Sound: 5/5
• Build: 5/5
• Features: 5/5

“The KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 wraps you in a cinematic embrace that only true surround sound can deliver.”

FAQ

• What components make up the KEF Q Concerto Meta 5.1 system?
  The system includes Q Concerto Meta bookshelf speakers, Q1 Meta rear speakers, Q6 Meta center channel, and Kube 12 MIE subwoofer.
• Can the system be expanded to include Dolby Atmos?
  Yes, you can add Q8 Meta Dolby Atmos height modules for a 5.1.2 setup.
• Are there color options available?
  Yes, the speakers come in matte black, matte white, or walnut finishes, while the subwoofer is only available in black.
• Does the subwoofer have any room tuning features?
  It includes a Room Position EQ switch to optimize bass response depending on placement.
• Is this system suitable for music as well as movies?
  Absolutely! The Q Concerto Meta speakers deliver excellent music fidelity alongside cinematic sound.

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