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  1. Home
  2. Passive Floor-standing Speakers
  3. Perlisten A3t vs KLH Kendall

Perlisten A3t vs KLH Kendall Comparison

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Perlisten A3t

Passive Floor-standing | 31-27k Hz

Perlisten A3t
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KLH Kendall

Passive Floor-standing | 25-23k Hz

KLH Kendall
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Perlisten A3t Perlisten A3t
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KLH Kendall KLH Kendall
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Perlisten A3t
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KLH Kendall
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Perlisten A3t vs KLH Kendall Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing A3t and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Perlisten and KLH.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Perlisten A3t and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key SpecsPerlisten A3tKLH Kendall
Design3-way3-way
Tweeter—1"
Midrange—5.25"
Woofer—2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar
Frequency response31-27k Hz25-23k Hz
Sensitivity87.7 dB96 dB
Impedance4 ohms8 ohms
Power range50 – 300W wattsup to 250 watts
Weight—22.14kg / 48.7lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)50.59" x 11.02" x 15.35"
1285.0 x 279.9 x 389.9mm
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.


**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

Both A3t and Kendall are 3-way speakers.

Driver Perlisten A3t KLH Kendall
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter -inch 1-inch
Midrange - 1 x 5.25-inch
Woofer x -inch 2 x 6.5-inch

A3t 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

A3t has a frequency range of 31-27k 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 A3t's min frequency of 31Hz.

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

A3t
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

A3t 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 A3t can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A3t sensitivity is rated at 87.7 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Perlisten A3t, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

A3t
Kendall
Min
Average
Median

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.

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.

Perlisten A3t
 
KLH Kendall
 

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A3t has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

KLH KendallBinding post Terminals
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 Perlisten A3t's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Perlisten A3t has external dimensions of 1285.0 x 279.9 x 389.9mm (50.59 x 11.02 x 15.35inch) 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).

Perlisten A3t is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 67.9mm wider, 264mm taller and 9.9mm deeper than KLH Kendall.

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 Perlisten A3t is approximately 1091.3cm2 / 169.2inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The A3t requires 35% more surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Perlisten A3t over KLH Kendall

High Frequency Response 27k Hz vs 23k Hz Generates higher frequency

Reasons to choose KLH Kendall over Perlisten A3t

Sensitivity 96 dB vs 88 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 31 Hz Generates deeper bass
Height 1021mm vs 1285mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area 805cm2 vs 1091cm2 Takes less floor space
Price per pair* 1500USD vs 4990USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Perlisten A3t vs KLH Kendall Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications
General Perlisten A3t KLH Kendall
Brand Perlisten KLH
Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
Power Range 50 – 300W watts up to 250 watts
Sensitivity 87.7 dB 96 dB
Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
Impedance 3 ohms n/a
Frequency Response 31-27k 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 1285.0mm (50.6") 1021.0mm (40.2")
Width 279.9mm (11") 212.0mm (8.3")
Depth 389.9mm (15.4") 380.0mm (15")
Weight n/a 22.14kg (48.7lbs)
Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
Finish n/a MDF/Wood Veneer
Available Colors n/a Black
Grille Yes 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 - Perlisten A3t costs roughly 3.3x 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 31Hz. A subwoofer would even that out.
Amplifier needs B KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 88dB), 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; Perlisten A3t is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Expandability B KLH Kendall: bi-amping.
Price B KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $4,990, about 70% less; arguably a different class.

A Perlisten A3t   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 Perlisten A3t 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 31Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Perlisten A3t 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.

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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