In this review, we will be comparing Airmotiv XT3 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and KLH. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 and KLH Kendall compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Airmotiv XT3 and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
25×32 mm-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Airmotiv XT3 features a 25×32 mm" folded ribbon Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 8" woven fiber cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 300 Hz, 3.1 kHz. 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
Airmotiv XT3 has a frequency range of 30 Hz – 27 kHz 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 Airmotiv XT3's min frequency of 30Hz.
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
Airmotiv XT3 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 Airmotiv XT3 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Airmotiv XT3 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Airmotiv XT3, 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.
Airmotiv XT3 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Airmotiv XT3.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Airmotiv XT3 and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Emotiva Airmotiv XT3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XT3's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 has external dimensions of 1240 x 273 x 425 mm ( 48.7” x 10.75” x 16.75”) 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) .
Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 103mm wider, 219mm taller and 45mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
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 Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 is approximately 1160.3cm2 / 179.8inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Airmotiv XT3 requires 44% more surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 weighs 41.30kg / 90.9lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Airmotiv XT3 87% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Airmotiv XT3 and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall?
Here are the items that come with the Kendall:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrilleFoam port4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet (with nuts)4 Protective discsManual
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
27k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1240mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2 (212x380mm)
vs
1160cm2 (315x425mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Emotiva Airmotiv XT3 |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
Up to 300 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30 Hz – 27 kHz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
woven fiber cone |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
SBR |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
25×32 mm" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
folded ribbon |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
300 Hz, 3.1 kHz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1240.0mm (48.8") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
315.0mm (12.4") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
425.0mm (16.7") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
41.30kg (90.9lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |