In this review, we will be comparing L100 Classic 80 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L100 Classic 80 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L100 Classic 80 | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Pulp | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40Hz-40k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.59kg / 58.5lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 25-5/16" x 15-3/8" x 14-7/16"
643.0 x 391.0 x 367.0mm | 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 L100 Classic 80 and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
JBL L100 Classic 80KLH 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 |
JBL L100 Classic 80 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
L100 Classic 80 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp 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
L100 Classic 80 has a frequency range of 40Hz-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 L100 Classic 80's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
L100 Classic 80 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 L100 Classic 80 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L100 Classic 80 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL L100 Classic 80, 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 L100 Classic 80 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 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
Both L100 Classic 80 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 JBL L100 Classic 80's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. JBL L100 Classic 80 has external dimensions of 643.0 x 391.0 x 367.0mm (25-5/16inch x 15-3/8inch x 14-7/16inch) 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).
JBL L100 Classic 80 is 378mm shorter and 13mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 179mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L100 Classic 80 and KLH Kendall in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L100 Classic 80 and KLH Kendall Size and External Dimensions
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 JBL L100 Classic 80 is approximately 1435.0cm2 / 222.4inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The L100 Classic 80 requires 78% 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 JBL L100 Classic 80 weighs 26.59kg / 58.5lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the L100 Classic 80 20% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how L100 Classic 80 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 JBL L100 Classic 80?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100 Classic 80:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Speaker stands
- Quick Start Guide
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
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
643mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1435cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
6999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL L100 Classic 80 |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
JBL |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40Hz-40k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
643.0mm (25.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
391.0mm (15.4") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
367.0mm (14.4") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
26.59kg (58.5lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/wood veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Oak |
Black |
| Recommended Stand Height |
9.3125" |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5Yrs(spkr) / 1yr(stand) |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5Yrs(spkr) / 1yr(stand) |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - JBL L100 Classic 80 costs roughly 4.7x 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 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), 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 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL L100 Classic 80: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. JBL L100 Classic 80 sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $6,999, about 79% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL L100 Classic 80 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 JBL L100 Classic 80 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 40Hz 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.