In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and Aria 926, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Focal.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and Focal Aria 926 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | Focal Aria 926 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Focal
France · founded 1979 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" inverted dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 6.5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 2 x 6.5" Flax |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 45-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 91.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | 40-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 25.00kg / 55lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 40-7/8" x 11-9/16" x 14-11/16"
1039.0 x 294.0 x 374.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Kendall and Aria 926 are 3-way speakers.
KLH KendallFocal Aria 926
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 |
Focal Aria 926 |
|
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 Aria 926 features a 1" TNF Al/Mg inverted dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Flax Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 290Hz and 2,400Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas Aria 926 has a frequency range of 45-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Aria 926's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 and Aria 926 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Aria 926's is at 91.5 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal Aria 926, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 250 watts RMS, though Kendall is rated up to 250 watts and Aria 926 40-250 watts.
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. Aria 926 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
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 Focal Aria 926'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 Focal Aria 926 has external dimensions of 1039.0 x 294.0 x 374.0mm (40-7/8 x 11-9/16 x 14-11/16inch).
KLH Kendall is 82mm narrower and 18mm shorter than Focal Aria 926 but it is also 6mm deeper.
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 Focal Aria 926 is approximately 1099.6cm2 / 170.4inch2. The Kendall requires 27% less surface area than the Aria 926 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 Focal Aria 926 weighs 25.00kg / 55lbs. This makes the Aria 926 13% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and Aria 926'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 Focal Aria 926?
Here are the items that come with the Aria 926:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Base
- 4 Spike feet (pre-installed in base)
- 4 Plastic feet
- 4 Screws
- Allen-key
- Hex-tool
- User Manual
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1039mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1099cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
4798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
Focal Aria 926 |
| Brand |
KLH |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
40-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
91.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
2.9 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
45-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Flax |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
inverted dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
290Hz and 2,400Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1039.0mm (40.9") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
294.0mm (11.6") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
374.0mm (14.7") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
25.00kg (55lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Glass/Leather |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Aria 926 costs roughly 3.2x 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 45Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Focal Aria 926 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Focal Aria 926 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $4,798, about 69% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Kendall B Focal Aria 926
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 Focal Aria 926 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 45Hz 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.