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  1. Home
  2. Passive Floor-standing Speakers
  3. Magnepan 3.7x vs KLH Kendall

Magnepan 3.7x vs KLH Kendall Comparison

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Magnepan 3.7x

Passive Floor-standing | 35-40k Hz

Magnepan 3.7x
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KLH Kendall

Passive Floor-standing | 25-23k Hz

KLH Kendall
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Magnepan 3.7x Magnepan 3.7x
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KLH Kendall KLH Kendall
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Magnepan 3.7x
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KLH Kendall
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Magnepan 3.7x vs KLH Kendall Speaker Comparison

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 SpecsMagnepan 3.7xKLH Kendall
Design—3-way
Tweeter—1"
Midrange—5.25"
Woofer—2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar
Frequency response35-40k Hz25-23k Hz
Sensitivity86 dB96 dB
Impedance4 ohms8 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.


**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 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

3.7x
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

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

3.7x
Kendall
Min
Average
Median

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.

Magnepan 3.7x
 
KLH Kendall
 

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.

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


Reasons to choose Magnepan 3.7x over KLH Kendall

High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 23k Hz Generates higher frequency
Base Surface Area 251cm2 vs 805cm2 Takes less floor space

Reasons to choose KLH Kendall over Magnepan 3.7x

Driver Setup 3-way vs -way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Sensitivity 96 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 4 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs inches Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response 25 Hz vs 35 Hz Generates deeper bass
Height 1021mm vs 1803mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Price per pair* 1500USD vs 13000USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Magnepan 3.7x vs KLH Kendall Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications
General Magnepan 3.7x KLH Kendall
Brand Magnepan KLH
Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
Sensitivity 86 dB 96 dB
Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
Frequency Response 35-40k Hz 25-23k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity 2
Woofer Size " 6.5"
Woofer Composition Woven Kevlar
Woofer Surround Material n/a Butyl Rubber
Tweeter Size - 1"
Aimable Tweeter No No
Midrange Driver No 5.25"
Physical Specs
Height 1803.4mm (71") 1021.0mm (40.2")
Width 609.6mm (24") 212.0mm (8.3")
Depth 41.3mm (1.6") 380.0mm (15")
Weight n/a 22.14kg (48.7lbs)
Enclosure Dipole Bass Reflex
Finish n/a MDF/Wood Veneer
Available Colors n/a Black
Grille n/a Yes
Moisture Resistancy No No
Connections
Biamp Inputs n/a Yes
Other
Parts Warranty 10 Years
Labor Warranty 10 Years

Verdict

These sit in different price classes - Magnepan 3.7x costs roughly 8.7x 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.

AreaBetterWhy
Bass B KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 35Hz.
Amplifier needs B KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier.
Amplifier match B KLH Kendall is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it.
Size depends Magnepan 3.7x is easier to place; KLH Kendall is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Cabinet depends Dipole vs Ported.
Expandability B KLH Kendall: bi-amping.
Price B KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $13,000, about 88% less; arguably a different class.

A Magnepan 3.7x   B KLH Kendall
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Magnepan 3.7x if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. 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, KLH Kendall has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Magnepan 3.7x 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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