Thirteen floorstanding speakers. The published figures are measured four different ways, so we convert them to one basis and show the working.
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It does not affect our findings, which come from manufacturer-published specifications, each linked.
Full disclosure · How we work
Last verified: 2026-08-09
What this ranks
We hold 15 floorstanding speakers in the database. Their manufacturers publish sensitivity using 4 different measurement conventions, so the printed figures are not comparable to each other. Converting them to a common basis of 1 watt at 1 metre in full space is arithmetic, not opinion, and the conversion is shown below so you can check it.
10 of the 15 can be put on that basis. 5 cannot, and they are listed as gaps rather than estimated. Across the ranked set the corrected figures span 11 dB.
Sensitivity is not a quality judgement. It tells you how much level a speaker produces for a given amount of power, which decides how much amplifier you need and how loud the system will play at your seat. It says nothing about how anything sounds, and we do not.
How big these actually are
Every cabinet below is drawn to the same scale from the dimensions its manufacturer publishes, front elevation, standing on a common floor line. The 300 mm bar underneath is the reference.
We draw these rather than reproduce product photographs, because the photographs belong to the manufacturers and we have no licence to republish them. The drawing also answers a question a press shot does not: whether the thing fits where you intend to put it. 13 of the 15 are missing from the drawing. For KEF Q7 Meta, KEF R7 Meta, Polk Audio Reserve R600, Polk Audio Reserve R700, SVS Ultra Evolution Tower, Klipsch RP-8000F II, Q Acoustics 5040, Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3, ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2, Wharfedale EVO 4.4, Focal Vestia N°3, Revel Concerta2 F36, Magnepan LRS+ we have not yet read a manufacturer source for the dimensions, which is our gap rather than theirs, and we would rather say so than measure a photograph.
Every floorstanding speaker in detail
Each entry below lists what the manufacturer publishes, then what those figures favour and what to check. Both lists are worked out from the published data, not from listening: we have not heard any of these.
Klipsch RP-8000F II
95.0 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 98 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, half space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 35 Hz – 25 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 95.0 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 35 Hz – 25 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
What to check before buying
- The headline 98 dB is a half-space figure. On the full-space basis everyone else here uses it is 95.0 dB — 3 dB lower than the box suggests.
no verified
product listing
product listing
Focal Vestia N°3
92.0 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 92 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 2.9 ohms
- Frequency response
- 42 Hz – 30 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 92.0 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 42 Hz – 30 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 40–300 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Impedance drops to 2.9 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
Q Acoustics 5040
90.2 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 91.5 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 6 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3 ohms
- Frequency response
- 39 Hz – 30 kHz -6dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 90.2 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 39 Hz – 30 kHz at -6dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 25–150 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Published at 2.83 V into 6 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 90.2 dB.
- Impedance drops to 3 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
no verified
product listing
product listing
Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3
90.0 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 90 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3 ohms
- Frequency response
- 46 Hz – 28 kHz ±3dB from reference axis
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 90.0 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Frequency response published as 46 Hz – 28 kHz at ±3dB from reference axis. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 30–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Impedance drops to 3 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
no verified
product listing
product listing
Revel Concerta2 F36
89.7 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 91 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 6 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 51 Hz – 0 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Above the median of this set on a common basis: 89.7 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it reaches a given level on less amplifier power.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 30–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Published at 2.83 V into 6 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 89.7 dB.
no verified
product listing
product listing
Wharfedale EVO 4.4
89.0 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 89 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 8 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 4.3 ohms
- Frequency response
- 44 Hz – 22 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Minimum impedance stays at 4.3 ohms, so it is an easier load than most of this set.
- Frequency response published as 44 Hz – 22 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 30–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 89.0 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
no verified
product listing
product listing
SVS Ultra Evolution Tower
85.7 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 87 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 6 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 30 Hz – 40 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 30 Hz – 40 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 20–300 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 85.7 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Published at 2.83 V into 6 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 85.7 dB.
ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2
85.7 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 87 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 6 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 39 Hz – 35 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Nothing stands out in the published data.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 85.7 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Published at 2.83 V into 6 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 85.7 dB.
- Frequency response published as 39 Hz – 35 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
KEF R7 Meta
85.0 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 88 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 4 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3.2 ohms
- Frequency response
- 48 Hz – 28 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 48 Hz – 28 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 15–250 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 85.0 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Published at 2.83 V into 4 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 85.0 dB.
- Impedance drops to 3.2 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
KEF Q7 Meta
84.0 dBcomparable, 1 W / 1 m full space
- Published sensitivity
- 87 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- 4 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- 3.2 ohms
- Frequency response
- 46 Hz – 20 kHz ±3dB
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 46 Hz – 20 kHz at ±3dB. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 15–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Below the median of this set once corrected: 84.0 dB against a median of 89.7 dB, so it needs more power for the same level.
- Published at 2.83 V into 4 ohms, which is more than one watt. Corrected to 1 W the figure falls to 84.0 dB.
- Impedance drops to 3.2 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
Polk Audio Reserve R600
—cannot be placed on the common basis
- Published sensitivity
- 87.5 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- 4 ohms
- Frequency response
- 43 Hz – 38 kHz -3dB limits
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Minimum impedance stays at 4 ohms, so it is an easier load than most of this set.
- Frequency response published as 43 Hz – 38 kHz at -3dB limits. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 25–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
Polk Audio Reserve R700
—cannot be placed on the common basis
- Published sensitivity
- 88 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- 3.6 ohms
- Frequency response
- 38 Hz – 38 kHz -3dB limits
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Frequency response published as 38 Hz – 38 kHz at -3dB limits. Quoting the tolerance is the exception here, not the rule.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 50–300 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
What to check before buying
- Impedance drops to 3.6 ohms. Check your amplifier publishes a 4-ohm rating before driving it hard — most AV receivers do not.
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
no verified
product listing
product listing
Magnepan LRS+
—cannot be placed on the common basis
- Published sensitivity
- 86 dB, 500 Hz tone
- Nominal impedance
- 4 ohms
- Minimum impedance
- not published
- Frequency response
- 50 Hz – 20 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Nothing stands out in the published data.
What to check before buying
- Frequency response published as 50 Hz – 20 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
Polk Audio Monitor XT60
—cannot be placed on the common basis
- Published sensitivity
- 86 dB, 2.83V/1m
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- 4.4 ohms
- Frequency response
- 38 Hz – 40 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Minimum impedance stays at 4.4 ohms, so it is an easier load than most of this set.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 25–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 925 × 191 × 231 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
- Frequency response published as 38 Hz – 40 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
Polk Audio Monitor XT70
—cannot be placed on the common basis
- Published sensitivity
- 89 dB, 2.83V/1m
- Nominal impedance
- not published
- Minimum impedance
- 4 ohms
- Frequency response
- 35 Hz – 40 kHz, no tolerance stated
- Type
- passive — needs an amplifier
What the published figures favour
- Minimum impedance stays at 4 ohms, so it is an easier load than most of this set.
- Manufacturer states a recommended amplifier power of 25–200 W, which many of its competitors leave out.
- Cabinet dimensions published: 1027 × 235 × 318 mm, so you can check it fits before ordering.
What to check before buying
- No nominal impedance published at all, only a minimum. That is the figure needed to convert the sensitivity, so we cannot place it in the ranking.
- Frequency response published as 35 Hz – 40 kHz, with no tolerance stated. Without a ±dB window the range does not tell you how flat it is inside it.
The arithmetic
A figure published at 2.83 V is converted to 1 watt by subtracting 10·log₁₀(8.0089 ÷ nominal impedance). At 8 ohms that is nothing at all; at 4 ohms it is 3 dB, because 2.83 V into 4 ohms is 2 watts, not 1. A half-space figure has a further 3 dB subtracted, because half space is a measurement against a boundary and full space is not. A figure already published at 1 W and 1 m needs no conversion.
The full explanation, including the 26-speaker set where 22 of 300 pairwise comparisons reverse once corrected, is in Two speakers, both “87 dB”, three decibels apart.
The whole set at a glance
The same figures in table form, for scanning rather than reading.
Ranked by comparable sensitivity
| # | Photo | Speaker | Published | As published on | Comparable, 1 W / 1 m full space | Nominal impedance | Source | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | | Klipsch RP-8000F II | 98 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, half space | 95.0 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 2 | — | Focal Vestia N°3 | 92 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 92.0 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 3 | | Q Acoustics 5040 | 91.5 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 90.2 dB | 6 ohms | source | Check price |
| 4 | — | Bowers & Wilkins 603 S3 | 90 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 90.0 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 5 | — | Revel Concerta2 F36 | 91 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 89.7 dB | 6 ohms | source | Check price |
| 6 | — | Wharfedale EVO 4.4 | 89 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 89.0 dB | 8 ohms | source | Check price |
| 7 | — | SVS Ultra Evolution Tower | 87 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 85.7 dB | 6 ohms | source | Check price |
| 8 | | ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 | 87 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 85.7 dB | 6 ohms | source | Check price |
| 9 | | KEF R7 Meta | 88 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 85.0 dB | 4 ohms | source | Check price |
| 10 | | KEF Q7 Meta | 87 dB | 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | 84.0 dB | 4 ohms | source | Check price |
We do not print prices. A price typed into a page is wrong the week after it is typed, and a speaker its maker lists per pair is often listed per speaker by a retailer, which is a 100 per cent error. The link goes to the live listing, where the price is whatever it actually is today.
What we could not rank, and why
| Photo | Speaker | Published | Why it is not on the list above | Source | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polk Audio Reserve R600 | 87.5 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | no nominal impedance published, so the 2.83 V figure cannot be converted | source | Check price |
| Polk Audio Reserve R700 | 88 dB, 2.83 V at 1 m, full space | no nominal impedance published, so the 2.83 V figure cannot be converted | source | Check price |
| — | Magnepan LRS+ | 86 dB, 500 Hz tone | published on a different basis (500Hz-tone), not convertible | source | Check price |
| Polk Audio Monitor XT60 | 86 dB, 2.83V/1m | no nominal impedance published, so the 2.83 V figure cannot be converted | source | Check price |
| Polk Audio Monitor XT70 | 89 dB, 2.83V/1m | no nominal impedance published, so the 2.83 V figure cannot be converted | source | Check price |
We could put a number in those rows by assuming a nominal impedance. We do not, because the assumption would be ours and the figure would look like the manufacturer’s.
Related
- Two speakers, both “87 dB”, three decibels apart — why the published figures are not comparable
- System Headroom Calculator — what these figures mean for level at your listening seat
- Which AV receivers actually publish a 4-ohm rating — the amplifier side of the same question
- The gear database — every figure above, with its source
- How we work — the method, and where it breaks