In this review, we will be comparing Kendall 2C and HTM6 S2, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KLH and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall 2C and BW HTM6 S2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall 2C | BW HTM6 S2 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Bowers Wilkins
United Kingdom · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Decoupled Double Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum | 2 x 5" Continuum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 72-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 250 watts | 30-120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.91kg / 24lbs | 7.82kg / 17.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-1/2" x 19-1/4" x 9-1/4"
216.0 x 489.0 x 235.0mm | 6-3/8" x 18-15/16" x 11-1/16"
162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KLH Kendall 2C and BW HTM6 S2 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 2C |
BW HTM6 S2 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Kendall 2C is a 3-way design whereas the HTM6 S2 is a 2-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.
KLH Kendall 2CBW HTM6 S2
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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 2C |
BW HTM6 S2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the HTM6 S2 features a 1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Continuum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kendall 2C has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas HTM6 S2 has a frequency range of 72-28k 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 HTM6 S2's min frequency of 72Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 2C and HTM6 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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 2C can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas HTM6 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 watts less than the Kendall 2C.
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 2C and HTM6 S2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall 2C's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
BW HTM6 S2 '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 KLH Kendall 2C's and BW HTM6 S2 's external dimensions. 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) whereas BW HTM6 S2 has external dimensions of 162.0 x 482.0 x 281.0mm (6-3/8 x 18-15/16 x 11-1/16inch).
BW HTM6 S2 is 7mm narrower and 54mm shorter than KLH Kendall 2C but it is also 46mm deeper.
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 2C is approximately 1149.2cm2 / 178.1inch2 and base area of the BW HTM6 S2 is approximately 1354.4cm2 / 209.9inch2. The Kendall 2C requires 15% less surface area than the HTM6 S2 which gives it a small advantage 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 KLH Kendall 2C weighs 10.91kg / 24lbs and the BW HTM6 S2 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs. This makes the Kendall 2C 40% heavier than the HTM6 S2.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall 2C and HTM6 S2's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall 2C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kendall 2C:
- 2C Loudspeaker and Grille
- Owners Manual
- Binding Post Wrench
- Rubber Adhesive Feet
What's in the Box of BW HTM6 S2 ?
Here are the items that come with the HTM6 S2:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (pre-installed)
- Two-piece foam plug
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Manual
- Warranty Information
- Bowers Wilkins brochure
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
72 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1149cm2
vs
1354cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
162mm
vs
216mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
899USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall 2C |
Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition |
| Brand |
KLH |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
250 watts |
30-120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.3 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
72-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| 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 |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
800-2500 HZ |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
216.0mm (8.5") |
162.0mm (6.4") |
| Width |
489.0mm (19.3") |
482.0mm (19") |
| Depth |
235.0mm (9.3") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
10.91kg (24lbs) |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Oak,English Walnut |
Black, White, Oak |
| 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 | A | KLH Kendall 2C digs deeper - 50Hz against 72Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | KLH Kendall 2C takes more power (250W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall 2C: bi-amping; BW HTM6 S2 : bi-amping. |
| Price | B | BW HTM6 S2 is cheaper - $899 against $999, about 10% less. |
A KLH Kendall 2C B BW HTM6 S2
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?
The usual trade-off: KLH Kendall 2C measures better, BW HTM6 S2 costs about about 11% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 72Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper BW HTM6 S2 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate KLH Kendall 2C the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and BW HTM6 S2 for a small room.
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.