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KLH Model Five vs KLH Kendall Comparison

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KLH Model Five

Passive Floor-standing | 42-20k Hz

KLH Model Five
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KLH Kendall

Passive Floor-standing | 25-23k Hz

KLH Kendall
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KLH Model Five KLH Model Five
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KLH Kendall KLH Kendall
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KLH Model Five
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KLH Kendall
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KLH Model Five vs KLH Kendall Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Model Five and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KLH

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

KLH Model Five Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 4" Midrange
  • 10" Pulp-Paper Woofer
  • 42-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90.5 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-200watts
  • Weight:20.00kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 660.0" x 13-3/4" x 13"( 660.0 x 350.0 x 292.0mm )

KLH Kendall Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 5.25" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 5.25" Midrange
  • 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 )

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Model Five and KLH Kendall 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

Both Model Five and Kendall are 3-way speakers.

Driver KLH Model Five KLH Kendall
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 4-inch 1 x 5.25-inch
Woofer 1 x 10-inch 2 x 6.5-inch

Model Five features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 10" Pulp-Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz and 2850Hz. On the other hand, the Kendall features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer .

Frequency Response

Model Five has a frequency range of 42-20k Hz whereas Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Model Five's min frequency of 42Hz.

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

Model Five
Kendall
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

KLH Model Five
KLH Kendall
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

Model Five is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Kendall which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Model Five sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Model Five, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Model Five
Kendall
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.

Model Five 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 Model Five.

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

KLH Model Five Terminals
KLH Model Five's Binding post terminals

KLH KendallBinding post 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 Model Five's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. KLH Model Five has external dimensions of 660.0 x 350.0 x 292.0mm ( 34-1/4 x 13-3/4 x 13inch) whereas 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) .

KLH Model Five is 361mm shorter and 88mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 138mm wider.

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

KLH Model Five vs KLH Kendall Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of KLH Model Five and KLH Kendall 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 Model Five is approximately 1022.0cm2 / 158.4inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Model Five requires 27% more surface area than the Kendall 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 Model Five weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kendall 11% heavier than the Model Five.

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

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
KLH Model Five
KLH Kendall
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of KLH Model Five?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Model Five:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Riser base
  • Grille
  • Owners Manual
  • What's in the Box of KLH Kendall?

    Here are the items that come with the Kendall:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Foam port
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Spike feet (with nuts)
  • 4 Protective discs
  • Manual

  • Reasons to choose KLH Model Five over KLH Kendall
    Woofer Size 10 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Height 660mm vs 1021mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces

    Reasons to choose KLH Kendall over KLH Model Five

    Sensitivity 96 dB vs 91 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 25 Hz vs 42 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 23k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Base Surface Area 805cm2 vs 1022cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 1500USD vs 2500USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    KLH Model Five vs KLH Kendall Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General KLH Model Five KLH Kendall
    Brand KLH KLH
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-200 watts up to 250 watts
    Sensitivity 90.5 dB 96 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 8 ohms
    Impedance 3.5 ohms n/a
    Frequency Response 42-20k Hz 25-23k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 10" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Pulp-Paper Woven Kevlar
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Butyl Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Hard-Dome n/a
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 4" 5.25"
    Crossover Frequency 380Hz and 2850Hz n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 660.0mm (26") 1021.0mm (40.2")
    Width 350.0mm (13.8") 212.0mm (8.3")
    Depth 292.0mm (11.5") 380.0mm (15")
    Weight 20.00kg (44lbs) 22.14kg (48.7lbs)
    Enclosure Acoustic Suspension Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood Veneer MDF/Wood Veneer
    Available Colors English Walnut, West African Mahogany Black
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 10 Years 10 Years
    Labor Warranty 10 Years 10 Years

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