In this review, we will be comparing Kendall and RTi A9, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Kendall and Polk RTi A9 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Kendall | Polk RTi A9 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 2 x 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 3 x 7" Polymer composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-23k Hz | 30-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | 50-500 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs | 34.09kg / 75lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 48-1/16" x 10-11/16" x 21-1/2"
1221.0 x 272.0 x 547.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Kendall and RTi A9 are 3-way speakers.
KLH KendallPolk RTi A9
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 |
Polk RTi A9 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
2 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 7-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 RTi A9 features a 1" Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 7" Polymer composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz whereas RTi A9 has a frequency range of 30-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RTi A9's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 RTi A9 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kendall sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the RTi A9's is at 90 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk RTi A9, 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.
RTi A9 can handle a max power of 500 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 250 watts less than the RTi A9.
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 RTi A9 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 Polk RTi A9'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 Polk RTi A9 has external dimensions of 1221.0 x 272.0 x 547.0mm (48-1/16 x 10-11/16 x 21-1/2inch).
Polk RTi A9 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60mm wider, 200mm taller and 167mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Kendall and Polk RTi A9 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Kendall and Polk RTi A9 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 Polk RTi A9 is approximately 1487.8cm2 / 230.6inch2. The Kendall requires 46% less surface area than the RTi A9 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 Polk RTi A9 weighs 34.09kg / 75lbs. This makes the RTi A9 54% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kendall and RTi A9'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 Polk RTi A9?
Here are the items that come with the RTi A9:
- Floor-standing speaker
- Detachable black cloth grille
- 4 Screw-on spike feet
- Owners Manual
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1221mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1487cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
500 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Woofer Size |
7 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1498USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Kendall |
Polk Audio RTi A9 |
| Brand |
KLH |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
50-500 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
25-23k Hz |
30-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Polymer composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
1221.0mm (48.1") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
547.0mm (21.5") |
| Weight |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
34.09kg (75lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
Real wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Cherry |
| 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 |
A generation apart: KLH Kendall is the newer design, against a 2008 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 30Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Polk RTi A9 takes more power (500W vs 250W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Polk RTi A9 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping; Polk RTi A9: bi-amping. Polk RTi A9 sits in a wider range (4 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,500 vs $1,498 a pair). |
A KLH Kendall B Polk RTi A9
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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 30Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Polk RTi A9 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.