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.
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:
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.
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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
High Frequency
Center Channel 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 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. 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
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 loudspeakerGrille (pre-installed)Two-piece foam plug4 Self-adhesive rubber feet2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)ManualWarranty InformationBowers 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 (489x235mm)
vs
1354cm2 (482x281mm)
|
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 |