In this review, we will be comparing Sandwich 250 and Kendall 2B, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Leak and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Leak Sandwich 250 and KLH Kendall 2B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Leak Sandwich 250 | KLH Kendall 2B |
|---|
| Brand | Leak
United Kingdom · founded 1934 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.2" Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4.25" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 11" Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone | 6.5" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42Hz-26kHz | 55-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88.5 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-250 watts | 200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 27.30kg / 60.1lbs | 5.91kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 25.8" x 14.6" x 11.8"
655 x 370 x 300 mm | 13-1/4" x 7-3/4" x 8-1/2"
337.0 x 197.0 x 216.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Leak Sandwich 250 and KLH Kendall 2B speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Leak Sandwich 250 |
KLH Kendall 2B |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
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 Sandwich 250 is a 3-way design whereas the Kendall 2B 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.
Leak Sandwich 250KLH Kendall 2B
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Leak Sandwich 250 |
KLH Kendall 2B |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.2-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.25-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 11-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Sandwich 250 features a 1.2" Coated Textile Dome Tweeter, a 4.25" Midrange and 1 x 11" Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 470Hz and 3100Hz. On the other hand, the Kendall 2B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500 HZ.
Frequency Response
Sandwich 250 has a frequency range of 42Hz-26kHz whereas Kendall 2B has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Sandwich 250 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Kendall 2B's min frequency of 55Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Sandwich 250 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Kendall 2B which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sandwich 250 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sandwich 250 sensitivity is rated at 88.5 dB and the Kendall 2B's is rated at 86 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Leak Sandwich 250 a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Kendall 2B, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Sandwich 250 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Kendall 2B has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Sandwich 250.
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 2B features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Sandwich 250 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Leak Sandwich 250's Binding post terminals
KLH Kendall 2B's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sandwich 250 and Kendall 2B have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Leak Sandwich 250's and KLH Kendall 2B's external dimensions. Leak Sandwich 250 has external dimensions of 655 x 370 x 300 mm (25.8 x 14.6 x 11.8 inch) whereas KLH Kendall 2B has external dimensions of 337.0 x 197.0 x 216.0mm (13-1/4inch x 7-3/4inch x 8-1/2inch).
Leak Sandwich 250 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 173mm wider, 318mm taller and 84mm deeper than KLH Kendall 2B.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Leak Sandwich 250 and KLH Kendall 2B in scale.
Comparison image of Leak Sandwich 250 and KLH Kendall 2B 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 Leak Sandwich 250 is approximately 1110.0cm2 / 172.1inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall 2B is approximately 425.5cm2 / 66.0inch2. The Sandwich 250 requires 161% more surface area than the Kendall 2B 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 Leak Sandwich 250 weighs 27.30kg / 60.1lbs and the KLH Kendall 2B weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the Sandwich 250 362% heavier than the Kendall 2B.
Here is a comparison of how Sandwich 250 and Kendall 2B's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall 2B?
Here are the items that come with the Kendall 2B:
- 2 x 2B Loudspeaker and Grille
- Owners Manual
- Binding Post Wrench
- Rubber Adhesive Feet
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
11 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
42 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
337mm
vs
655mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
425cm2
vs
1110cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
999USD
vs
2399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Leak Sandwich 250 |
KLH Kendall 2B |
| Brand |
Leak |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-250 watts |
200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88.5 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42Hz-26kHz |
55-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
11" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminium-Foamcore Sandwich cone |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.2" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4.25" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
470Hz and 3100Hz |
2500 HZ |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
655.0mm (25.8") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Width |
370.0mm (14.6") |
197.0mm (7.8") |
| Depth |
300.0mm (11.8") |
216.0mm (8.5") |
| Weight |
27.30kg (60.1lbs) |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
real-wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
walnut |
Black Oak,English Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 years |
These sit in different price classes - Leak Sandwich 250 costs roughly 2.4x what KLH Kendall 2B 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 | A | Leak Sandwich 250 digs deeper - 42Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Leak Sandwich 250 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KLH Kendall 2B is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Leak Sandwich 250 takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall 2B is easier to place; Leak Sandwich 250 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | KLH Kendall 2B: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall 2B is cheaper - $999 against $2,399, about 58% less; arguably a different class. |
A Leak Sandwich 250 B KLH Kendall 2B
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?
Leak Sandwich 250 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 140% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - KLH Kendall 2B looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Leak Sandwich 250 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper KLH Kendall 2B much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Leak Sandwich 250 the better fit for a large room and a very large room, and KLH Kendall 2B for a small room.
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.