In this review, we will be comparing Kendall 2C and RP-450C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KLH and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall 2C and Klipsch RP-450C 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 )
Klipsch RP-450C Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tractrix horn Tweeter
- 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer
- 58-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 97 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:16.23kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 174.0" x 31-1/8" x 14-9/16"( 174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm )
What size room are the KLH Kendall 2C and Klipsch RP-450C 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 |
Klipsch RP-450C |
| 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 Klipsch RP-450C 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 RP-450C 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 |
Klipsch RP-450C |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
4 x 5.25-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 RP-450C features a 1" titanium Tractrix horn Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer .
Frequency Response
Kendall 2C has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas RP-450C has a frequency range of 58-25k 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 RP-450C's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 RP-450C have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kendall 2C sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the RP-450C's is at 97 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-450C a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Kendall 2C, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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 RP-450C has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 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
Kendall 2C features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. RP-450C has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall 2C's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RP-450C's Binding post terminals
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 Klipsch RP-450C'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 Klipsch RP-450C has external dimensions of 174.0 x 791.0 x 370.0mm ( 6-13/16 x 31-1/8 x 14-9/16inch) .
KLH Kendall 2C is 302mm narrower and 135mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-450C but it is also 42mm 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 2C is approximately 1149.2cm2 / 178.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-450C is approximately 2926.7cm2 / 453.6inch2. The Kendall 2C requires 61% less surface area than the RP-450C which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.