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.
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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Kendall 2C and Polk R400 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 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.
| 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.
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 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. 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 R400 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 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. 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
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 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 loudspeakerGrilleOwners ManualOnline 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 (489x235mm)
vs
2299cm2 (618x372mm)
|
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" |
N/A" |
| 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 |