In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and Debut 2.0 F6.2, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" dome with wide-dispersion waveguide |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 2 x 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 39-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | up to 140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 19.95kg / 43.9lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 44-5/16" x 8-1/8" x 11-5/8"
1126.0 x 207.0 x 296.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Kendall and Debut 2.0 F6.2 are 3-way speakers.
KLH KendallELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2
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 |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 Debut 2.0 F6.2 features a 1" silk dome with wide-dispersion waveguide Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woven Aramid-Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 90Hz and 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas Debut 2.0 F6.2 has a frequency range of 39-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Debut 2.0 F6.2's min frequency of 39Hz.
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 Debut 2.0 F6.2 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Debut 2.0 F6.2's is rated at 87 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2, 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 Debut 2.0 F6.2 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 110 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. Debut 2.0 F6.2 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2's 5-Way 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2'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 ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 has external dimensions of 1126.0 x 207.0 x 296.0mm (44-5/16 x 8-1/8 x 11-5/8inch).
ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 is 5mm narrower and 84mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 105mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 is approximately 612.7cm2 / 95.0inch2. The Kendall requires 31% more surface area than the Debut 2.0 F6.2 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 weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs and the ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 weighs 19.95kg / 43.9lbs. This makes the Kendall 11% heavier than the Debut 2.0 F6.2.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and Debut 2.0 F6.2'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 ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 F6.2:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spikes (hex-nuts attached)
- Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1126mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Base Surface Area |
612cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1060USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 |
| Brand |
KLH |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
up to 140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
39-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Woven Aramid-Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome with wide-dispersion waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
90Hz and 2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1126.0mm (44.3") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
296.0mm (11.7") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
19.95kg (43.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
3 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 39Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | KLH Kendall is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 140W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping; ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2: Atmos drivers. ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 is cheaper - $1,060 against $1,500, about 29% less. |
A KLH Kendall B ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2
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?
The usual trade-off: KLH Kendall measures better, ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 costs about about 42% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 39Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ELAC Debut 2.0 F6.2 much easier to justify. 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.