In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim 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 ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim 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 Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
KLH Kendall |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 5.25-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 Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 3 x 5.25" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a frequency range of 42-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's min frequency of 42Hz.
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 Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim 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 Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim's is rated at 85 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim, 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 140 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 140 watts less than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim.
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
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim'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 Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim has external dimensions of 1013.0 x 259.0 x 328.0mm ( 39-7/8 x 10-3/16 x 12-7/8inch) .
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim is 8mm shorter and 52mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 47mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim 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 Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim is approximately 849.5cm2 / 131.7inch2. The Kendall requires 5% less surface area than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim 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 ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim weighs 0.00kg / 0lbs. This makes the Kendall inf% heavier than the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim'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 ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim?
Here are the items that come with the Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille2 Stabilizer-bars4 Spike-feet4 Protective discs4 Knobs6 Machine screws4 Hex-nutsHex-keyOperating Instructions
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
85 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
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2 (212x380mm)
vs
849cm2 (259x328mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
1720USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1013mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
ELAC Uni-Fi FS U5 Slim |
| Brand |
KLH |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
40-140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
42-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
soft dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
4" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1013.0mm (39.9") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
328.0mm (12.9") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
0.00kg (0lbs) |
| 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 |