In this review, we will be comparing Kendall 2F and RP-8000F II, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall 2F and Klipsch RP-8000F II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the KLH Kendall 2F and Klipsch RP-8000F II 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 2F and Klipsch RP-8000F II 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 2F is a 3-way design whereas the RP-8000F II 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 2F |
Klipsch RP-8000F II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-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 RP-8000F II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1630 Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall 2F has a frequency range of 36-20k Hz whereas RP-8000F II has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-8000F II can go slightly deeper then the Kendall 2F's min frequency of 36Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 2F and RP-8000F II 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 RP-8000F II's is at 98 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F II 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. 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 2F can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-8000F II has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Kendall 2F.
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 2F and RP-8000F II 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
Klipsch RP-8000F II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Kendall 2F and RP-8000F II have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 2F's and Klipsch RP-8000F II'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 Klipsch RP-8000F II has external dimensions of 1097.0 x 277.0 x 447.0mm ( 43-3/16 x 10-7/8 x 17-9/16inch) .
Klipsch RP-8000F II is 47mm narrower and 36mm less deeper than KLH Kendall 2F but it is also 55mm 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 2F is approximately 1564.9cm2 / 242.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-8000F II is approximately 1238.2cm2 / 191.9inch2. The Kendall 2F requires 26% more surface area than the RP-8000F II 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 Klipsch RP-8000F II weighs 28.00kg / 61.6lbs. This makes the RP-8000F II 4% heavier than the Kendall 2F.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall 2F and RP-8000F II'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 Klipsch RP-8000F II?
Here are the items that come with the RP-8000F II:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (pre-installed)Grille2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Rubber cap (pre-installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
1042mm
vs
1097mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Base Surface Area |
1238cm2 (277x447mm)
vs
1564cm2 (324x483mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1798USD
vs
1999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall 2F |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II |
| Brand |
KLH |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
250 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-20k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Cerametallic cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
800-2500 HZ |
1630 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1042.0mm (41") |
1097.0mm (43.2") |
| Width |
324.0mm (12.8") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
483.0mm (19") |
447.0mm (17.6") |
| Weight |
26.82kg (59lbs) |
28.00kg (61.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Oak,English Walnut |
Walnut, Black |
| 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 |