In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and VELA FS 407, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and ELAC.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and ELAC VELA FS 407 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | ELAC VELA FS 407 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | handmade JET 5 folded ribbon |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 6" Aluminum/Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 30-50k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | 40-130 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 19.14kg / 42.1lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 40-1/4" x 8-13/16" x 10-3/4"
1023.0 x 224.0 x 274.0mm |
|---|
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 VELA FS 407 are 3-way speakers.
KLH KendallELAC VELA FS 407
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 VELA FS 407 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6-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 VELA FS 407 features a " handmade JET 5 folded ribbon Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 1 x 6" Aluminum/Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas VELA FS 407 has a frequency range of 30-50k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the VELA FS 407's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 VELA FS 407 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 VELA FS 407 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the VELA FS 407's is rated at 88 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC VELA FS 407, 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.
VELA FS 407 can handle a max power of 130 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 130 watts less than the VELA FS 407.
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 VELA FS 407 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 VELA FS 407'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 VELA FS 407 has external dimensions of 1023.0 x 224.0 x 274.0mm (40-1/4 x 8-13/16 x 10-3/4inch).
KLH Kendall is 12mm narrower and 2mm shorter than ELAC VELA FS 407 but it is also 106mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and ELAC VELA FS 407 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and ELAC VELA FS 407 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 VELA FS 407 is approximately 613.8cm2 / 95.1inch2. The Kendall requires 31% more surface area than the VELA FS 407 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 VELA FS 407 weighs 19.14kg / 42.1lbs. This makes the Kendall 16% heavier than the VELA FS 407.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and VELA FS 407'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 VELA FS 407?
Here are the items that come with the VELA FS 407:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Base plate
- 2 Jumper straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Pucks
- 4 Rubber pads
- 4 Machine screws
- 4 Washers
- Hex-key
- Operating And Safety Instructions
 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
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1023mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
5800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
613cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
ELAC VELA FS 407 |
| Brand |
KLH |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
40-130 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
30-50k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminum/Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
- |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
handmade JET 5 folded ribbon |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1023.0mm (40.3") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
224.0mm (8.8") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
19.14kg (42.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Aluminum |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| 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 VELA FS 407 costs roughly 3.9x 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 30Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| 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. |
| Size |
depends |
ELAC VELA FS 407 is easier to place; KLH Kendall is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
KLH Kendall: bi-amping; ELAC VELA FS 407: bi-amping. ELAC VELA FS 407 sits in a wider range (4 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $5,800, about 74% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Kendall
B ELAC VELA FS 407
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 VELA FS 407 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 30Hz 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.