In this review, we will be comparing kO-R2 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Compression Horn | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Paper | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-20k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 97 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 300 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 54.65kg / 120.2lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45-1/2" x 25-3/8" x 22-1/4"
1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm | 40-3/16" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm |
|---|
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 kO-R2 is a 2-way design whereas the Kendall is a 3-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.
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2KLH Kendall
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
kO-R2 features a " K-706 driver Compression Horn Tweeter and 1 x 15" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 760Hz. 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
kO-R2 has a frequency range of 39-20k 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 kO-R2's min frequency of 39Hz.
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
kO-R2 and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. kO-R2 sensitivity is rated at 97 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Kendall, 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.
kO-R2 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the kO-R2.
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
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. kO-R2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Klipsch OJAS kO-R2's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 has external dimensions of 1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm (45-1/2 x 25-3/8 x 22-1/4inch) 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).
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 433mm wider, 135mm taller and 185mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 needs about 352% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is 185mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is 135mm taller.
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 Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is approximately 3644.3cm2 / 564.9inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The kO-R2 requires 352% 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 Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 weighs 54.65kg / 120.2lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the kO-R2 147% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how kO-R2 and Kendall'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 come with the Kendall:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Foam port
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet (with nuts)
- 4 Protective discs
- Manual
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
96 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1156mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
3644cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
8498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 300 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
97 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
39-20k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Compression Horn |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
760Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1156.0mm (45.5") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
645.0mm (25.4") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
565.0mm (22.2") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
54.65kg (120.2lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Horn Loaded |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
13-ply Baltic birch plywood |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Red Oak, Hammertone |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 costs roughly 5.7x 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 | B | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 39Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (97dB vs 96dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (300W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $8,498, about 82% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 B KLH Kendall
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 39Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 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.