In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and R5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and KEF.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and KEF R5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | KEF R5 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 12th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 58-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | 15-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 27.30kg / 60.1lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 42-3/8" x 10-3/4" x 13-13/16"
1077.0 x 274.0 x 351.0mm |
|---|
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 R5 are 3-way speakers.
KLH KendallKEF R5
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 |
KEF R5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 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 R5 features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Hybrid Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 400Hz and 2900Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas R5 has a frequency range of 58-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R5's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 R5 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the R5's is at 87 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to KEF R5, 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.
R5 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 200 watts less than the R5.
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 R5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R5's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KEF R5 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 KEF R5'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 R5 has external dimensions of 1077.0 x 274.0 x 351.0mm (42-3/8 x 10-3/4 x 13-13/16inch).
KLH Kendall is 62mm narrower and 56mm shorter than KEF R5 but it is also 29mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and KEF R5 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and KEF R5 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 R5 is approximately 961.7cm2 / 149.1inch2. The Kendall requires 16% less surface area than the R5 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 R5 weighs 27.30kg / 60.1lbs. This makes the R5 23% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and R5'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 KEF R5?
Here are the items that come with the R5:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Foam port plugs
- 4 Outrigger feet
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- Wrench
- Hex-key
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1077mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
961cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
3300USD
|
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 |
KEF R5 |
| Brand |
KLH |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
15-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
3.2 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
58-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Hybrid Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
400Hz and 2900Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1077.0mm (42.4") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
27.30kg (60.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Gloss, White Gloss, Walnut |
| 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 - KEF R5 costs roughly 2.2x 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 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Size |
depends |
KLH Kendall is easier to place; KEF R5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
KLH Kendall: bi-amping; KEF R5: bi-amping. KEF R5 sits in a wider range (5 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $3,300, about 55% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Kendall
B KEF R5
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 KEF R5 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 58Hz 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.