In this review, we will be comparing Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from ELAC and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | JET 6 AMT | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6" AS XR cone | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-50k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | Up to 170 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.10kg / 42lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39.4" x 9" x 10.5"
1000 x 229 x 266 mm | 40-3/16" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GBKLH Kendall
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB features a " JET 6 AMT Tweeter and 2 x 6" AS XR cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 2400 Hz. 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
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz 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 Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB's min frequency of 30Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Kendall which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Kendall can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has a max power handling value of 170 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the Kendall.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB has external dimensions of 1000 x 229 x 266 mm (40 x 9 x 10.47 inches) 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).
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is 21mm shorter and 114mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 17mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
KLH Kendall needs about 32% more floor or shelf area. KLH Kendall is 114mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KLH Kendall is 21mm taller.
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 Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is approximately 609.1cm2 / 94.4inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB requires 24% less surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB weighs 19.10kg / 42lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kendall 16% heavier than the Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB.
Here is a comparison of how Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall?
Here are the items that come with the Kendall:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet (with nuts)
- 4 Protective discs
- Manual
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1000mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
609cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
170 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
5999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
ELAC |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 170 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
30-50k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
AS XR cone |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
JET 6 AMT |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
450Hz and 2400 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1000.0mm (39.4") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
266.0mm (10.5") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
19.10kg (42lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black High Gloss, White High Gloss, Walnut High Gloss |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB costs roughly 4x what KLH Kendall does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 30Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KLH Kendall is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 170W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB is easier to place; KLH Kendall is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $5,999, about 75% less; arguably a different class. |
A Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB B KLH Kendall
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
KLH Kendall is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Elac Vela 2.0 VFS407.2-GB if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 30Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Kendall is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.