In this review, we will be comparing Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from MartinLogan and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | MartinLogan
United States · founded 1982 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 11 x 44" E-ST | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-23k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 40.82kg / 89.8lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 60-3/4" x 11-15/16" x 27-7/16"
1543.1 x 303.2 x 696.9mm | 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11AKLH 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 |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
11 x 44-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A features a 11 x 44" E-ST Tweeter and 2 x 8" 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
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has a frequency range of 29-23k Hz whereas Kendall has a frequency range of 25-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Kendall can go slightly deeper then the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A's min frequency of 29Hz.
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
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
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
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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 Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
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.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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 MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A has external dimensions of 1543.1 x 303.2 x 696.9mm () 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).
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 91.2mm wider, 522.1mm taller and 316.9mm 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.
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A needs about 162% more floor or shelf area. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is 317mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is 522mm 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 MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is approximately 2113.0cm2 / 327.5inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A requires 162% 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 MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A weighs 40.82kg / 89.8lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 84% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A
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
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1543mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
2113cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
12000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
MartinLogan |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-23k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
11 x 44" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
E-ST |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1543.1mm (60.8") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
303.2mm (11.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
696.9mm (27.4") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
40.82kg (89.8lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Composite |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
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 - MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A costs roughly 8x 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 29Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 91dB), 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 | KLH Kendall is easier to place; MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping. MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $12,000, about 88% less; arguably a different class. |
A MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, MartinLogan Masterpiece Impression ESL 11A 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Kendall is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.