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  1. Home
  2. Passive Floor-standing Speakers
  3. Klipsch RP-8203F vs KLH Kendall

Klipsch RP-8203F vs KLH Kendall Comparison

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Klipsch RP-8203F

Passive Floor-standing | 35-25k Hz

Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8203F
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KLH Kendall

Passive Floor-standing | 25-23k Hz

KLH Kendall
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Klipsch RP-8203F Klipsch RP-8203F
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KLH Kendall KLH Kendall
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Klipsch RP-8203F
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KLH Kendall
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Klipsch RP-8203F vs KLH Kendall Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing RP-8203F and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and KLH.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Klipsch RP-8203F and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsKlipsch RP-8203FKLH Kendall
BrandKlipsch
United States · founded 1946
KLH
United States · founded 1957
Design2-way3-way
Tweeter1" Tractrix Horn1"
Midrange—5.25"
Woofer2 x 8" Cerametallic2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar
Frequency response35-25k Hz25-23k Hz
Sensitivity98 dB96 dB
Impedance8 ohms8 ohms
Power rangeup to 150 wattsup to 250 watts
Weight—22.14kg / 48.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)43-1/8" x 10-13/16" x 18-1/4"
1095.0 x 275.0 x 463.0mm
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.


**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that RP-8203F 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.

Tweeter - 1 inchWoofer - 8 inchWoofer - 8 inch
Klipsch RP-8203F
Tweeter - 1 inchMidrange - 5.25 inchWoofer - 6.5 inchWoofer - 6.5 inch
KLH 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 RP-8203F KLH Kendall
Driver Setup 2-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - 1 x 5.25-inch
Woofer 2 x 8-inch 2 x 6.5-inch

RP-8203F features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1630 Hz. 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

RP-8203F has a frequency range of 35-25k 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 RP-8203F'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

RP-8203F
Kendall
Min
Average
Median

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

RP-8203F and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-8203F sensitivity is rated at 98 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8203F a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Kendall, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

RP-8203F
Kendall
Min
Average
Median

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-8203F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 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.

Klipsch RP-8203F
 
KLH Kendall
 

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Both RP-8203F and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

KLH KendallBinding post Terminals
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 RP-8203F's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-8203F has external dimensions of 1095.0 x 275.0 x 463.0mm (43-1/8 x 10-13/16 x 18-1/4inch) 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 RP-8203F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 63mm wider, 74mm taller and 83mm deeper than KLH Kendall.

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 RP-8203F is approximately 1273.3cm2 / 197.4inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The RP-8203F requires 58% more surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

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 Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8203F over KLH Kendall

Sensitivity 98 dB vs 96 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Woofer Size 8 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
High Frequency Response 25k Hz vs 23k Hz Generates higher frequency

Reasons to choose KLH Kendall over Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8203F

Max Input Power 250 watts vs 150 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Low Frequency Response 25 Hz vs 35 Hz Generates deeper bass
Height 1021mm vs 1095mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 805cm2 vs 1273cm2 Takes less floor space
Price per pair* 1500USD vs 1600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Klipsch RP-8203F vs KLH Kendall Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications
General Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8203F KLH Kendall
Brand Klipsch KLH
Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
Power Range up to 150 watts up to 250 watts
Sensitivity 98 dB 96 dB
Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
Impedance 3.46 ohms n/a
Frequency Response 35-25k Hz 25-23k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 2 2
Woofer Size 8" 6.5"
Woofer Composition Cerametallic Woven Kevlar
Woofer Surround Material n/a Butyl Rubber
Tweeter Size 1" 1"
Tweeter Type Tractrix Horn n/a
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No 5.25"
Crossover Frequency 1630 Hz n/a
Firing Direction rear n/a
Physical Specs
Height 1095.0mm (43.1") 1021.0mm (40.2")
Width 275.0mm (10.8") 212.0mm (8.3")
Depth 463.0mm (18.2") 380.0mm (15")
Weight n/a 22.14kg (48.7lbs)
Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
Finish MDF (internally braced) MDF/Wood Veneer
Available Colors Ebony, Walnut Black
Grille Yes Yes
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
Other
Parts Warranty 5 Years 10 Years
Labor Warranty 5 Years 10 Years

Verdict

A generation apart: Klipsch RP-8203F is the newer design, against a 2019 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.

AreaBetterWhy
BassBKLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 35Hz.
Amplifier needsAKlipsch RP-8203F is more sensitive (98dB vs 96dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
HeadroomBKLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room.
SizedependsKLH Kendall is easier to place; Klipsch RP-8203F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
ExpandabilitydependsKlipsch RP-8203F: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-8203F sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later.
Priceevenly matchedMuch the same money ($1,600 vs $1,500 a pair).

A Klipsch RP-8203F  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 35Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-8203F 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.


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