In this review, we will be comparing Kendall 2C and R400, two Passive Center Channel speakers from KLH and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall 2C and Polk R400 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall 2C | Polk R400 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
|---|
| Midrange | 3" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-20k Hz | 48-39K Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 250 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 10.91kg / 24lbs | 14.91kg / 32.8lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 7-13/16" x 24-5/16" x 14-5/8"
199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KLH Kendall 2C and Polk R400 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 |
Polk R400 |
| 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 R400 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 2CPolk R400
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 |
Polk R400 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 R400 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall 2C has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas R400 has a frequency range of 48-39K Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the R400 can go slightly deeper then the Kendall 2C's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 R400 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 R400's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk R400 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. 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 R400 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 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
Kendall 2C features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R400 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
Polk R400's Binding post terminals
Polk R400 dual Port
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 Polk R400'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 Polk R400 has external dimensions of 199.0 x 618.0 x 372.0mm (7-13/16 x 24-5/16 x 14-5/8inch).
KLH Kendall 2C is 129mm narrower and 137mm less deeper than Polk R400 but it is also 17mm 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 Polk R400 is approximately 2299.0cm2 / 356.3inch2. The Kendall 2C requires 50% less surface area than the R400 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 Polk R400 weighs 14.91kg / 32.8lbs. This makes the R400 37% heavier than the Kendall 2C.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall 2C and R400'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 Polk R400?
Here are the items that come with the R400:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
1149cm2
vs
2299cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
39k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
199mm
vs
216mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
649USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall 2C |
Polk Audio Reserve R400 |
| Brand |
KLH |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
250 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
48-39K Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
800-2500 HZ |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
216.0mm (8.5") |
199.0mm (7.8") |
| Width |
489.0mm (19.3") |
618.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
235.0mm (9.3") |
372.0mm (14.6") |
| Weight |
10.91kg (24lbs) |
14.91kg (32.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black Oak,English Walnut |
Black, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (50Hz vs 48Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk R400 is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | KLH Kendall 2C takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall 2C is easier to place; Polk R400 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| 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. Polk R400 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk R400 is cheaper - $649 against $999, about 35% less. |
A KLH Kendall 2C B Polk R400
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate KLH Kendall 2C the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and Polk R400 for a small room. In a large or open-plan room, Polk R400 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Kendall 2C is the easier speaker to get right.
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.