In this review, we will be comparing Kendall 2F and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall 2F and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall 2F | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-20k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 250 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.82kg / 59lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41" x 12-3/4" x 19"
1042.0 x 324.0 x 483.0mm | 40-3/16" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Kendall 2F and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
KLH Kendall 2FKLH Kendall
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 2F |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Kendall 2F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 800-2500 HZ. On the other hand, the Kendall features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kendall 2F has a frequency range of 36-20k Hz whereas Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Kendall 2F's min frequency of 36Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 2F and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kendall 2F sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Kendall 2F, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 2F can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 250 watts less than the Kendall 2F.
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
Both Kendall 2F and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall 2F's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 2F's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. KLH Kendall 2F has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 324.0 x 483.0mm (41inch x 12-3/4inch x 19inch) whereas KLH Kendall has external dimensions of 1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm (40-3/16 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch).
KLH Kendall 2F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 112mm wider, 21mm taller and 103mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall 2F and KLH Kendall in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall 2F and KLH Kendall Size and External Dimensions
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 2F is approximately 1564.9cm2 / 242.6inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Kendall 2F requires 94% more surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small disadvantage 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 2F weighs 26.82kg / 59lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kendall 2F 21% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall 2F and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall 2F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kendall 2F:
- 2F Loudspeaker and Grille
- Owners Manual
- Binding Post Wrench
- Outrigg Feet and Hardware Including Metal Spikes and Rubber Feet
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall?
Here are the items that come with the Kendall:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet (with nuts)
- 4 Protective discs
- Manual
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1042mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1564cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall 2F |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
KLH |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
250 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-20k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
800-2500 HZ |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1042.0mm (41") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
324.0mm (12.8") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
483.0mm (19") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
26.82kg (59lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black Oak,English Walnut |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years |
10 Years |
Both are KLH, from different ranges - so the house sound is shared and the differences are mostly in scale, engineering and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 36Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Size |
depends |
KLH Kendall is easier to place; KLH Kendall 2F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
KLH Kendall 2F: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. |
| Price |
B |
KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $1,999, about 25% less. |
A KLH Kendall 2F
B KLH Kendall
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
KLH Kendall is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take KLH Kendall 2F if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 36Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, KLH Kendall 2F has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Kendall 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.