In this review, we will be comparing AE320 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Acoustic Energy and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of AE320 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
AE320 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.1" dome with waveguide Tweeter
- 5.2" Midrange
- 2 x 5.2" ceramic aluminium sandwich Woofer
- 35Hz - 30kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 200watts
- Weight:26.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1000.0" x 6.9" x 10.2"( 1000.0 x 175.0 x 260.0mm )
KLH Kendall Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 25-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 96 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 250watts
- Weight:22.14kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1021.0" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"( 1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the AE320 and KLH Kendall compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both AE320 and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
AE320 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.2-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.2-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
AE320 features a 1.1" aluminium dome with waveguide Tweeter , a 5.2" Midrange and 2 x 5.2" ceramic aluminium sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz and 3400Hz. On the other hand, the Kendall features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
AE320 has a frequency range of 35Hz - 30kHz whereas Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AE320's min frequency of 35Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
AE320 and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AE320 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to AE320, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
AE320 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 200 watts less than the AE320.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare AE320's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. AE320 has external dimensions of 1000.0 x 175.0 x 260.0mm ( 39.4 x 6.9 x 10.2inch) whereas KLH Kendall has external dimensions of 1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/16 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) .
KLH Kendall is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 37mm wider, 21mm taller and 120mm deeper than AE320.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the AE320 is approximately 455.0cm2 / 70.5inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The AE320 requires 44% less surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.