In this review, we will be comparing 3.7x and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Magnepan and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Magnepan 3.7x and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Magnepan 3.7x | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Magnepan
United States · founded 1969 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | — | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-40k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 71" x 24" x 1.625"
1803.4 x 609.6 x 41.3mm | 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 3.7x is a -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.
| Driver |
Magnepan 3.7x |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3.7x features a " Tweeter and x " Woofer. 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
3.7x has a frequency range of 35-40k 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 3.7x'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
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
3.7x is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Kendall 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 3.7x can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. 3.7x sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Magnepan 3.7x, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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.
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 Magnepan 3.7x's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Magnepan 3.7x has external dimensions of 1803.4 x 609.6 x 41.3mm (71 x 24 x 1.625inch) 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 Kendall is 397.6mm narrower and 782.4mm shorter than Magnepan 3.7x but it is also 338.7mm deeper.
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.
KLH Kendall needs about 220% more floor or shelf area. KLH Kendall is 339mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Magnepan 3.7x is 782mm 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 Magnepan 3.7x is approximately 251.8cm2 / 39.0inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The 3.7x requires 69% less surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small advantage 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