KLH Kendall 2C vs BW HTM6 S2 Comparison

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KLH Kendall 2C

Passive Center Channel | 50-20k Hz

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BW HTM6 S2

Passive Center Channel | 72-28k Hz

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KLH Kendall 2C

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BW HTM6 S2

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KLH Kendall 2C

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BW HTM6 S2

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KLH Kendall 2C vs BW HTM6 S2 Speaker Comparison

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.

KLH Kendall 2C Key Specs

3-way Design

1" Hard-Dome Tweeter

3" Midrange

2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer

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 )

BW HTM6 S2 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Decoupled Double Dome Tweeter

2 x 5" Continuum Woofer

72-28k Hz Frequency Response

87 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 8ohms

Power Range:30-120watts

Weight:7.82kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 162.0" 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Kendall 2C and BW HTM6 S2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.

**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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.

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.

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 Center Channel class in our database.

Low Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

Kendall 2C

HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Center Channel Speakers

KLH Kendall 2C

BW HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

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 2C and HTM6 S2 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 87 dB.

Sensitivity

Center Channel Speakers

Kendall 2C

HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

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 2C can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas HTM6 S2 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 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 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

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 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

KLH Kendall 2C

BW HTM6 S2

Min

Average

Max

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

Reasons to choose KLH Kendall 2C over Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition

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

Reasons to choose Bowers & Wilkins HTM6 S2 Anniversary Edition over KLH Kendall 2C

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)

KLH Kendall 2C vs BW HTM6 S2 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

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