In this review, we will be comparing Scala Utopia Evo and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Focal and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Scala Utopia Evo and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Scala Utopia Evo | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Inverted Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 10.5" W sandwich | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 27-40k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-500 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 85.00kg / 187lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49-1/8" x 26-3/8" x 15-1/2"
1247.0 x 670.0 x 393.0mm | 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 Scala Utopia Evo and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Focal Scala Utopia EvoKLH 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 |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
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
|
1 x 10.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Scala Utopia Evo features a 1.1" Beryllium Inverted Dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 1 x 10.5" W sandwich Woofer. 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
Scala Utopia Evo has a frequency range of 27-40k Hz whereas Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go slightly deeper then the Scala Utopia Evo's min frequency of 27Hz.
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
Scala Utopia Evo and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Scala Utopia Evo sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Scala Utopia Evo, 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.
Scala Utopia Evo can handle a max power of 500 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 250 watts less than the Scala Utopia Evo.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Scala Utopia Evo and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Focal Scala Utopia Evo's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Focal Scala Utopia Evo has external dimensions of 1247.0 x 670.0 x 393.0mm (49-1/8 x 26-3/8 x 15-1/2inch) 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).
Focal Scala Utopia Evo is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 458mm wider, 226mm taller and 13mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
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.
Focal Scala Utopia Evo needs about 227% more floor or shelf area. Focal Scala Utopia Evo is 226mm 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 Focal Scala Utopia Evo is approximately 2633.1cm2 / 408.1inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Scala Utopia Evo requires 227% 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 Scala Utopia Evo weighs 85.00kg / 187lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Scala Utopia Evo 284% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Scala Utopia Evo 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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet (with nuts)
- 4 Protective discs
- Manual
 Max Input Power |
500 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
10.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
27 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1247mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
2633cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
49999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Scala Utopia Evo |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Focal |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-500 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
27-40k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
10.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
W sandwich |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Inverted Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1247.0mm (49.1") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
670.0mm (26.4") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
393.0mm (15.5") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
85.00kg (187lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Scala Utopia Evo costs roughly 33.3x 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (27Hz vs 25Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Scala Utopia Evo takes more power (500W vs 250W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Focal Scala Utopia Evo is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Focal Scala Utopia Evo: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Focal Scala Utopia Evo sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $49,999, about 97% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Scala Utopia Evo 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. In a large or open-plan room, Focal Scala Utopia Evo has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Kendall is the easier speaker to get right. 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.