In this review, we will be comparing Kanta No.2 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Kanta No.2 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal Kanta No.2 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1.1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer
- 35-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-300watts
- Weight:35.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1118.0" x 12-5/8" x 18-3/4"( 1118.0 x 321.0 x 477.0mm )
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 Focal Kanta No.2 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 Kanta No.2 and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal Kanta No.2 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Kanta No.2 features a 1.1" IAL3 Beryllium Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 260 Hz - 2700 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
Kanta No.2 has a frequency range of 35-40k 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 Kanta No.2'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
Kanta No.2 and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kanta No.2 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Kanta No.2, 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.
Kanta No.2 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 Kanta No.2.
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
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kanta No.2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Kanta No.2's Binding post terminals
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 Focal Kanta No.2's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Focal Kanta No.2 has external dimensions of 1118.0 x 321.0 x 477.0mm ( 44inch x 12-5/8inch x 18-3/4inch ) 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) .
Focal Kanta No.2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 109mm wider, 97mm taller and 97mm 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 Focal Kanta No.2 is approximately 1531.2cm2 / 237.3inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Kanta No.2 requires 90% 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 Focal Kanta No.2 weighs 35.09kg / 77.2lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kanta No.2 58% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kanta No.2 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 Focal Kanta No.2?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kanta No.2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerLarge grilleSmall grilleOutrigger feet4 Spikes4 Protective discsUser Manual
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
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1118mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1531cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
14998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Kanta No.2 |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Focal |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-300 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
35-40k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Flax |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
260 Hz - 2700 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
Front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1118.0mm (44") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
321.0mm (12.6") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
477.0mm (18.8") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
35.09kg (77.2lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-ply/Polymer/Veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
High-Gloss Carrara White, High-Gloss Black/Deep Black, Matte Walnut/Dark Grey,Matte Walnut/Ivory |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |