In this review, we will be comparing Bronze 200 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Monitor Audio and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio Bronze 200 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Monitor Audio Bronze 200 | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" C-CAM | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-30k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-120 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.84kg / 28.2lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 36" x 9" x 12-1/8"
915.0 x 229.0 x 308.0mm | 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.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Bronze 200 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.
Monitor Audio Bronze 200KLH 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 |
Monitor Audio Bronze 200 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Bronze 200 features a 1" gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" C-CAM 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
Bronze 200 has a frequency range of 35-30k 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 Bronze 200'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
Bronze 200 and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Bronze 200 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio Bronze 200, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Kendall can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Bronze 200 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 130 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Bronze 200 and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 200's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Monitor Audio Bronze 200 has external dimensions of 915.0 x 229.0 x 308.0mm (36 x 9 x 12-1/8inch) 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).
Monitor Audio Bronze 200 is 106mm shorter and 72mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 17mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Monitor Audio Bronze 200 and KLH Kendall in scale.
Comparison image of Monitor Audio Bronze 200 and KLH Kendall 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 200 is approximately 705.3cm2 / 109.3inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Bronze 200 requires 12% less surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small advantage 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 Monitor Audio Bronze 200 weighs 12.84kg / 28.2lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kendall 72% heavier than the Bronze 200.
Here is a comparison of how Bronze 200 and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio Bronze 200?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Bronze 200:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet (w/ 4 adjustment dials and locking-nuts)
- 4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Large course-thread screws
- 4 Small machine screws
- 2 Terminal-jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Hex-key
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
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
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
915mm
vs
1021mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
705cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1150USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Monitor Audio Bronze 200 |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-120 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-30k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
gold dome C-CAM with uniform dispersion (UD) waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
915.0mm (36") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
229.0mm (9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
308.0mm (12.1") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
12.84kg (28.2lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 35Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Monitor Audio Bronze 200 is easier to place; KLH Kendall is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 200: bi-amping and Atmos drivers; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Monitor Audio Bronze 200 sits in a wider range (11 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Monitor Audio Bronze 200 is cheaper - $1,150 against $1,500, about 23% less. |
A Monitor Audio Bronze 200 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?
The usual trade-off: KLH Kendall measures better, Monitor Audio Bronze 200 costs about about 30% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 35Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Monitor Audio Bronze 200 much easier to justify. 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.