In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KLH. KLH Kendall 2B is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Kendall 2C is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall 2B and KLH Kendall 2C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KLH Kendall 2B Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 55-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:200watts
- Weight:5.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 337.0" x 7-3/4" x 8-1/2"( 337.0 x 197.0 x 216.0mm )
KLH Kendall 2C Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer
- 3" Midrange
- 50-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:250watts
- Weight:10.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 216.0" x 19-1/4" x 9-1/4"( 216.0 x 489.0 x 235.0mm )
Kendall 2B and Kendall 2C are members of KLH's Kendall 2 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the KLH Kendall 2B and KLH Kendall 2C 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 |
KLH Kendall 2C |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Kendall 2B and KLH Kendall 2C compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Kendall 2B is a 2-way design whereas the Kendall 2C is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
KLH Kendall 2B |
KLH Kendall 2C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 Kendall 2C features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800-2500 HZ.
Frequency Response
Kendall 2B has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas Kendall 2C has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Kendall 2C can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Kendall 2B's min frequency of 55Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Kendall 2B and Kendall 2C 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 Kendall 2C's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall 2C a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Kendall 2B, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Kendall 2B can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall 2B has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Kendall 2C.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Kendall 2B and Kendall 2C 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
KLH Kendall 2C's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 KLH Kendall 2C'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 KLH Kendall 2C has external dimensions of 216.0 x 489.0 x 235.0mm ( 8-1/2inch x 19-1/4inch x 9-1/4inch ) .
KLH Kendall 2B is 292mm narrower and 19mm less deeper than KLH Kendall 2C but it is also 121mm 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 KLH Kendall 2B is approximately 425.5cm2 / 66.0inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall 2C is approximately 1149.2cm2 / 178.1inch2. The Kendall 2B requires 63% less surface area than the Kendall 2C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 KLH Kendall 2C?
Here are the items that come with the Kendall 2C:
2C Loudspeaker and Grille Owners Manual Binding Post Wrench Rubber Adhesive Feet
Base Surface Area 
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Number of Woofers 
Height