In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and RP-5000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and Klipsch RP-5000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | Klipsch RP-5000F |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 35-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | up to 125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 16.36kg / 36lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 36-3/16" x 8-1/8" x 14-5/16"
920.0 x 207.0 x 364.0mm |
|---|
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 RP-5000F 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 KendallKlipsch RP-5000F
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 |
Klipsch RP-5000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-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 RP-5000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800 Hz.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas RP-5000F has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-5000F's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 RP-5000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 96 dB.
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.
Kendall can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas RP-5000F has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 125 watts less than the Kendall.
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 RP-5000F 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 Klipsch RP-5000F'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 Klipsch RP-5000F has external dimensions of 920.0 x 207.0 x 364.0mm (36-3/16 x 8-1/8 x 14-5/16inch).
KLH Kendall is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 5mm wider, 101mm taller and 16mm deeper than Klipsch RP-5000F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and Klipsch RP-5000F in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and Klipsch RP-5000F 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 Klipsch RP-5000F is approximately 753.5cm2 / 116.8inch2. The Kendall requires 7% more surface area than the RP-5000F 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 Klipsch RP-5000F weighs 16.36kg / 36lbs. This makes the Kendall 35% heavier than the RP-5000F.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and RP-5000F'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 Klipsch RP-5000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-5000F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (installed)
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Terminal jumpers (installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
920mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
753cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1038USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-5000F |
| Brand |
KLH |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
up to 125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
35-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1800 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
920.0mm (36.2") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
207.0mm (8.1") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
364.0mm (14.3") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
16.36kg (36lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 35Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (96dB vs 96dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 125W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-5000F: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-5000F sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-5000F is cheaper - $1,038 against $1,500, about 31% less. |
A KLH Kendall B Klipsch RP-5000F
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?
The usual trade-off: KLH Kendall measures better, Klipsch RP-5000F costs about about 45% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 35Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch RP-5000F much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $462 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.