In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and HDI-3800, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and JBL HDI-3800 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | JBL HDI-3800 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 3 x 8" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 37-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | 25-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 38.08kg / 83.8lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 45" x 11-15/16" x 16-9/16"
1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Kendall is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-3800 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
KLH KendallJBL HDI-3800
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 |
JBL HDI-3800 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 8-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 HDI-3800 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas HDI-3800 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the HDI-3800's min frequency of 37Hz.
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 HDI-3800 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 HDI-3800 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the HDI-3800's is rated at 92 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL HDI-3800, 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.
HDI-3800 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the HDI-3800.
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 HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800'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 JBL HDI-3800 has external dimensions of 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm (45 x 11-15/16 x 16-9/16inch).
JBL HDI-3800 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 92mm wider, 122mm taller and 41mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and JBL HDI-3800 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and JBL HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800 is approximately 1279.8cm2 / 198.4inch2. The Kendall requires 37% less surface area than the HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800 weighs 38.08kg / 83.8lbs. This makes the HDI-3800 72% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and HDI-3800'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 JBL HDI-3800?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-3800:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- Owners Manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1279cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
5500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
JBL HDI-3800 |
| Brand |
KLH |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
25-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
37-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1143.0mm (45") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
421.0mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
38.08kg (83.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - JBL HDI-3800 costs roughly 3.7x 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 37Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 92dB), 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. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; JBL HDI-3800 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping; JBL HDI-3800: bi-amping. JBL HDI-3800 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $5,500, about 73% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Kendall B JBL HDI-3800
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 JBL HDI-3800 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 37Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, JBL HDI-3800 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Kendall is the easier speaker to get right.
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.