In this review, we will be comparing Kendall 2B and 607 S3, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KLH and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall 2B and B&W 607 S3 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall 2B | B&W 607 S3 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Aluminum | 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-20k Hz | 52-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 84 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 200 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.91kg / 13lbs | 4.65kg / 10.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-1/4" x 7-3/4" x 8-1/2"
337.0 x 197.0 x 216.0mm | 11.8" x 6.5" x 9.3"
300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KLH Kendall 2B and B&W 607 S3 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
KLH Kendall 2B |
B&W 607 S3 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Kendall 2B and 607 S3 are 2-way speakers.
KLH Kendall 2BB&W 607 S3
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KLH Kendall 2B |
B&W 607 S3 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Kendall 2B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 HZ. On the other hand, the 607 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kendall 2B has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas 607 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 607 S3 can go slightly deeper then the Kendall 2B's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Kendall 2B and 607 S3 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kendall 2B sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the 607 S3's is at 84 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall 2B a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 607 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 2B can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas 607 S3 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Kendall 2B.
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 Kendall 2B and 607 S3 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall 2B's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
B&W 607 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Kendall 2B and 607 S3 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 KLH Kendall 2B's and B&W 607 S3's external dimensions. KLH Kendall 2B has external dimensions of 337.0 x 197.0 x 216.0mm (13-1/4inch x 7-3/4inch x 8-1/2inch) whereas B&W 607 S3 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm (11.8 x 6.5 x 9.3inch).
B&W 607 S3 is 31mm narrower and 37mm shorter than KLH Kendall 2B but it is also 19mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall 2B and B&W 607 S3 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall 2B and B&W 607 S3 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 KLH Kendall 2B is approximately 425.5cm2 / 66.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 607 S3 is approximately 390.1cm2 / 60.5inch2. The Kendall 2B requires 9% more surface area than the 607 S3 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of KLH Kendall 2B and B&W 607 S3 on a Media Console
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 KLH Kendall 2B weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs and the B&W 607 S3 weighs 4.65kg / 10.2lbs. This makes the Kendall 2B 27% heavier than the 607 S3.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall 2B and 607 S3's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall 2B?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kendall 2B:
- 2 x 2B Loudspeaker and Grille
- Owners Manual
- Binding Post Wrench
- Rubber Adhesive Feet
What's in the Box of B&W 607 S3?
Here are the items that come with the 607 S3:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Two-piece foam port plugs
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
52 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
300mm
vs
337mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
390cm2
vs
425cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
900USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall 2B |
Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3 |
| Brand |
KLH |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
200 watts |
30-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
84 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.0 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-20k Hz |
52-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Continuum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Decoupled Double Dome Titanium |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500 HZ |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
337.0mm (13.3") |
300.0mm (11.8") |
| Width |
197.0mm (7.8") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
216.0mm (8.5") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Weight |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
4.65kg (10.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Oak,English Walnut |
Matte Black, Matte White, Oak, Red Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-26" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | B&W 607 S3 digs deeper - 52Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Kendall 2B is more sensitive (86dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | KLH Kendall 2B takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall 2B: bi-amping; B&W 607 S3: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($999 vs $900 a pair). |
A KLH Kendall 2B B B&W 607 S3
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 2B has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate KLH Kendall 2B the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and B&W 607 S3 for near-field listening and a small room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Kendall 2B 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.