In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and Evoke 30, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Dynaudio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and Dynaudio Evoke 30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | Dynaudio Evoke 30 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 2 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 40-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | up to 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 15.50kg / 34.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40-3/16" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm | 36-1/4" x 10-1/2" x 13-1/2"
920.0 x 268.0 x 342.0mm |
|---|
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 is a 3-way design whereas the Evoke 30 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 KendallDynaudio Evoke 30
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 |
Dynaudio Evoke 30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 5.5-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 Evoke 30 features a 1.1" Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1200Hz and 2300Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas Evoke 30 has a frequency range of 40-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Evoke 30's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Evoke 30 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 Evoke 30 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Evoke 30's is rated at 88 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Dynaudio Evoke 30, 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 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Evoke 30 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Kendall.
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 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Evoke 30 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Dynaudio Evoke 30's Binding post terminals
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's and Dynaudio Evoke 30'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 Dynaudio Evoke 30 has external dimensions of 920.0 x 268.0 x 342.0mm (36-1/2 x 10-5/8 x 13-1/2inch).
Dynaudio Evoke 30 is 101mm shorter and 38mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 56mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and Dynaudio Evoke 30 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and Dynaudio Evoke 30 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 Dynaudio Evoke 30 is approximately 916.6cm2 / 142.1inch2. The Kendall requires 12% less surface area than the Evoke 30 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 Dynaudio Evoke 30 weighs 15.50kg / 34.1lbs. This makes the Kendall 43% heavier than the Evoke 30.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and Evoke 30'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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet (with nuts)
- 4 Protective discs
- Manual
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Evoke 30?
Here are the items that come with the Evoke 30:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Locking nuts
- 8 Washers
- 8 Screws
- Foam port plug
- Hex-key
- Tweeter protection cover (pre-installed)
- Instructions for Use
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Card
 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 |
 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 |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
916cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
3500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Height |
920mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
Dynaudio Evoke 30 |
| Brand |
KLH |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
up to 200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
40-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1200Hz and 2300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
920.0mm (36.2") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
268.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
15.50kg (34.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Oak (blonde) |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years (8 Years registered) |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Evoke 30 costs roughly 2.3x what KLH Kendall does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | KLH Kendall is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Dynaudio Evoke 30 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $3,500, about 57% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Kendall B Dynaudio Evoke 30
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?
KLH Kendall is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Dynaudio Evoke 30 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 40Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Kendall is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.