In this review, we will be comparing F55E and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Fyne Audio and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Fyne Audio F55E and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Fyne Audio F55E | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Fyne Audio
United Kingdom · founded 2017 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-38k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30 - 120 W watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 11.90kg / 26.2lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 36.42" x 8.27" x 9.29"
925.1 x 210.1 x 236.0mm | 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 F55E and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Fyne Audio F55EKLH 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 |
Fyne Audio F55E |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x 5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
F55E features a " Tweeter and x 5" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 Hz, 1800 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
F55E has a frequency range of 42-38k 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 F55E's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
F55E and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. F55E sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Fyne Audio F55E, 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 F55E has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. F55E has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Fyne Audio F55E's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Fyne Audio F55E has external dimensions of 925.1 x 210.1 x 236.0mm (36.42 x 8.27 x 9.29inch) 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 1.9mm wider, 95.9mm taller and 144mm deeper than Fyne Audio F55E.
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 62% more floor or shelf area. KLH Kendall is 144mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. KLH Kendall is 96mm 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 Fyne Audio F55E is approximately 495.8cm2 / 76.8inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The F55E requires 38% 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 Fyne Audio F55E weighs 11.90kg / 26.2lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kendall 86% heavier than the F55E.
Here is a comparison of how F55E 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
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
925mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
495cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Fyne Audio F55E |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Fyne Audio |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30 - 120 W watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-38k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
|
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350 Hz, 1800 Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
925.1mm (36.4") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
210.1mm (8.3") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
236.0mm (9.3") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
11.90kg (26.2lbs) |
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 |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |
A generation apart: Fyne Audio F55E is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 42Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Fyne Audio F55E is easier to place; KLH Kendall is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KLH Kendall: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,599 vs $1,500 a pair). |
A Fyne Audio F55E 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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, KLH Kendall has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Fyne Audio F55E is the easier speaker to get right.
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.