In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and Opticon 8 MK2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and DALI. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and DALI Opticon 8 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Kendall and DALI Opticon 8 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
Both Kendall and Opticon 8 MK2 are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KLH Kendall |
DALI Opticon 8 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Kendall features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the Opticon 8 MK2 features a 17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 8" Wood Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas Opticon 8 MK2 has a frequency range of 38-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Opticon 8 MK2's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Opticon 8 MK2 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Opticon 8 MK2 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Opticon 8 MK2's is rated at 88 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to DALI Opticon 8 II, 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 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 300 watts less than the Opticon 8 MK2.
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 and Opticon 8 MK2 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Opticon 8 II's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
DALI Opticon 8 II 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's and DALI Opticon 8 II's external dimensions. 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) whereas DALI Opticon 8 II has external dimensions of 1150.0 x 245.0 x 459.0mm ( 45-1/4 x 9-1/2 x 18-1/16inch) .
DALI Opticon 8 II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 33mm wider, 129mm taller and 79mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and DALI Opticon 8 II in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and DALI Opticon 8 II 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 is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2 and base area of the DALI Opticon 8 II is approximately 1124.6cm2 / 174.3inch2. The Kendall requires 28% less surface area than the Opticon 8 MK2 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 weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs and the DALI Opticon 8 II weighs 37.10kg / 81.6lbs. This makes the Opticon 8 MK2 68% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and Opticon 8 MK2'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?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Kendall:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrilleFoam port4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet (with nuts)4 Protective discsManual
What's in the Box of DALI Opticon 8 II?
Here are the items that come with the Opticon 8 MK2:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Binding post jumpers (pre-installed)4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (with lock nuts)4 Rubber pads4 ScrewsHex-keyWrenchQuick Start GuideCongratulations Card
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1150mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2 (212x380mm)
vs
1124cm2 (245x459mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
4200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
DALI Opticon 8 MK2 |
| Brand |
KLH |
DALI |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
40-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
38-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Wood Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
17 x 45 mm ribbon + 1.125" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Soft-dome + ribbon Hybrid |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
380Hz, 2200Hz and 14,000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1150.0mm (45.3") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
37.10kg (81.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Satin Black, Tobacco Oak, Satin White |
| 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 |