SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS by TYPE
    • Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    • Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    • Passive Center Channel Speakers
    • Passive In-wall Speakers
    • All Passive Speakers
    • Powered Subwoofers
    • Powered Stereo Speakers
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

KLH Kendall vs KEF Q950 Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

KLH Kendall

Passive Floor-standing | 25-23k Hz

KLH Kendall
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
KEF Q950

Passive Floor-standing | 44-28k Hz

KEF Q950
CHECK PRICE
KLH Kendall KLH Kendall
See at AMAZON
KEF Q950 KEF Q950
See at AMAZON
KLH Kendall
See at AMAZON
KEF Q950
See at AMAZON
KLH Kendall vs KEF Q950 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and Q950, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and KEF.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of KLH Kendall and KEF Q950 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

KLH Kendall Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 5.25" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 25-23k Hz Frequency Response
  • 96 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 250watts
  • Weight:22.14kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1021.0" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"( 1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm )

KEF Q950 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
  • 1.5" Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer
  • 44-28k Hz Frequency Response
  • 91 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:15-200watts
  • Weight:20.68kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1117.0" x 14-1/4" x 12-3/8"( 1117.0 x 362.0 x 315.0mm )

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Kendall and KEF Q950 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Kendall is a 3-way design whereas the Q950 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.

Driver KLH Kendall KEF Q950
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1.5-inch
Midrange 1 x 5.25-inch -
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 2 x 8.0-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 Q950 features a 1.5" vented aluminum Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8.0" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.

Frequency Response

Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas Q950 has a frequency range of 44-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Q950's min frequency of 44Hz.

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

Kendall
Q950
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

KLH Kendall
KEF Q950
Min
Average
Max

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 and Q950 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Q950's is at 91 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF Q950, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Kendall
Q950
Min
Average
Max

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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 200 watts less than the Q950.

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. Q950 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KLH Kendall Terminals
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 KEF Q950'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 KEF Q950 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 362.0 x 315.0mm ( 43-15/16 x 14-1/4 x 12-3/8inch) .

KLH Kendall is 150mm narrower and 96mm shorter than KEF Q950 but it is also 65mm deeper.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and KEF Q950 in scale.

KLH Kendall vs KEF Q950 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and KEF Q950 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 KEF Q950 is approximately 1140.3cm2 / 176.7inch2. The Kendall requires 29% less surface area than the Q950 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 KEF Q950 weighs 20.68kg / 45.5lbs. This makes the Kendall 7% heavier than the Q950.

Here is a comparison of how Kendall and Q950's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
KLH Kendall
KEF Q950
Min
Average
Max

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 KEF Q950?

    Here are the items that come with the Q950:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • 2 Outrigger feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 6 Screws
  • 6 Washers
  • 4 Rubber inserts
  • Hex-key
  • Owners Manual
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose KLH Kendall over KEF Q950
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Sensitivity 96 dB vs 91 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Low Frequency Response 25 Hz vs 44 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Height 1021mm vs 1117mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 805cm2 vs 1140cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 1500USD vs 2200USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose KEF Q950 over KLH Kendall

    Woofer Size 8.0 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    High Frequency Response 28k Hz vs 23k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Passive Radiator 2 x 8-inch vs None Increases the bass performance
    Dolby Atmos Drivers Optional vs No Dolby Atmos Compatibility
    KLH Kendall vs KEF Q950 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KLH Kendall KEF Q950
    Brand KLH KEF
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range up to 250 watts 15-200 watts
    Sensitivity 96 dB 91 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance n/a 3.2 ohms
    Frequency Response 25-23k Hz 44-28k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 8.0"
    Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar Aluminum
    Woofer Surround Material Butyl Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1.5"
    Tweeter Type n/a Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 5.25" No
    Crossover Frequency n/a 2200Hz
    Firing Direction n/a front
    Physical Specs
    Height 1021.0mm (40.2") 1117.0mm (44")
    Width 212.0mm (8.3") 362.0mm (14.3")
    Depth 380.0mm (15") 315.0mm (12.4")
    Weight 22.14kg (48.7lbs) 20.68kg (45.5lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Passive Radiator
    Finish MDF/Wood Veneer MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Black Walnut
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 10 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 10 Years 5 Years

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction