In this review, we will be comparing Stage 280F and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 280F and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 280F | 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" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Polycellulose | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-25k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-225 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.09kg / 55.2lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-13/16" x 14-1/8" x 16-1/2"
1113.0 x 359.0 x 420.0mm | 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 Stage 280F and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
JBL Stage 280FKLH 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 Stage 280F |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Stage 280F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose 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
Stage 280F has a frequency range of 39-25k 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 Stage 280F's min frequency of 39Hz.
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
Stage 280F is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Kendall which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Stage 280F 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 JBL Stage 280F, 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 Stage 280F has a max power handling value of 225 watts RMS, 25 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. Stage 280F has a 5-Way 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 JBL Stage 280F's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. JBL Stage 280F has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 359.0 x 420.0mm (43-13/16inch x 14-1/8inch x 16-1/2inch) 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).
JBL Stage 280F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 147mm wider, 92mm taller and 40mm 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.
JBL Stage 280F needs about 87% more floor or shelf area. JBL Stage 280F is 40mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. JBL Stage 280F is 92mm 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 JBL Stage 280F is approximately 1507.8cm2 / 233.7inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Stage 280F requires 87% 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 Stage 280F weighs 25.09kg / 55.2lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Stage 280F 13% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 280F 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 Stage 280F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 280F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinth 4 Spikes 4 Screws Hex-key Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
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 |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Price per pair* |
1199USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
225 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1113mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1507cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage 280F |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
JBL |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-25k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1113.0mm (43.8") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
359.0mm (14.1") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
25.09kg (55.2lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
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 |
A generation apart: JBL Stage 280F 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 39Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KLH Kendall is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (225W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; JBL Stage 280F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL Stage 280F: Atmos drivers; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. JBL Stage 280F sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | JBL Stage 280F is cheaper - $1,199 against $1,500, about 20% less. |
A JBL Stage 280F 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 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. JBL Stage 280F is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 39Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL Stage 280F much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, JBL Stage 280F 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.
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.