In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and UFR52, 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 Ref UFR52 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" soft dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 4" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 3 x 5.25" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 40-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | up to 140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 23.80kg / 52.4lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 39-9/16" x 9-1/4" x 13-5/16"
1005.0 x 235.0 x 339.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Kendall and UFR52 are 3-way speakers.
KLH KendallELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52
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 Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 |
|
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 UFR52 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 UFR52 has a frequency range of 40-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the UFR52'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 UFR52 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 UFR52's is rated at 86 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52, 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 UFR52 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
Both Kendall and UFR52 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 Port
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 Uni-Fi Ref UFR52'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 Ref UFR52 has external dimensions of 1005.0 x 235.0 x 339.0mm (39-9/16 x 9-1/4 x 13-5/16inch).
ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 is 16mm shorter and 41mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 23mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 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 Ref UFR52 is approximately 796.7cm2 / 123.5inch2. The Kendall requires 1% more surface area than the UFR52 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 Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 weighs 23.80kg / 52.4lbs. This makes the UFR52 7% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and UFR52'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 Uni-Fi Ref UFR52?
Here are the items that come with the UFR52:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 2 Stabilizer-bars
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Knobs
- 6 Machine screws
- Hex-key
- Operating Instructions
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
2400USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1005mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
796cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
ELAC Uni-Fi Reference UFR52 |
| Brand |
KLH |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
up to 140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
40-35k 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") |
1005.0mm (39.6") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
235.0mm (9.3") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
339.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
23.80kg (52.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Satin Black with Walnut Sides, Satin White with Oak Sides |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
3 Years |
These sit in different price classes - ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 costs roughly 1.6x 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 86dB), 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 Uni-Fi Ref UFR52: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $2,400, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Kendall B ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52
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 ELAC Uni-Fi Ref UFR52 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.