In this review, we will be comparing R5 Meta and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KEF and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KEF R5 Meta and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KEF R5 Meta | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | 12th Generation Uni-Q | — |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Vented dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-28k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-200 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 24.55kg / 54lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-1/4" x 10-3/4" x 13-1/2"
1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm | 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 R5 Meta and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
KEF R5 MetaKLH 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 |
KEF R5 Meta |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
R5 Meta features a 1" Aluminum with MAT absorber Vented dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2700Hz. 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
R5 Meta has a frequency range of 52-28k 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 R5 Meta's min frequency of 52Hz.
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
R5 Meta 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 R5 Meta can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. R5 Meta sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R5 Meta, 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 R5 Meta 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 R5 Meta and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KEF R5 Meta's Custom 5-way bi-wire tool-less binding posts terminals allows 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 KEF R5 Meta's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. KEF R5 Meta has external dimensions of 1074.0 x 274.0 x 343.0mm (42-1/4-inch x 10-3/4-inch x 13-1/2-inch) 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 62mm narrower and 53mm shorter than KEF R5 Meta but it is also 37mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF R5 Meta and KLH Kendall in scale.
Comparison image of KEF R5 Meta 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 KEF R5 Meta is approximately 939.8cm2 / 145.7inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The R5 Meta requires 17% 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 KEF R5 Meta weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the R5 Meta 11% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how R5 Meta 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 KEF R5 Meta?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R5 Meta:
- R5 Meta
- Microfiber grille
- Plinth and spike accessories
- Port bungs
- User manual and warranty information
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 |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1074mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
939cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
3998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KEF R5 Meta |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
KEF |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-200 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
52-28k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Aluminum |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Vented dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
400Hz and 2700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1074.0mm (42.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
274.0mm (10.8") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
343.0mm (13.5") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KEF R5 Meta costs roughly 2.7x 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 52Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 87dB), 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 | KEF R5 Meta: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. KEF R5 Meta sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $3,998, about 62% less; arguably a different class. |
A KEF R5 Meta 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 KEF R5 Meta 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 52Hz 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.