In this review, we will be comparing PerformaBe F226Be and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Revel and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Revel PerformaBe F226Be and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Revel PerformaBe F226Be | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Revel
United States · founded 1996 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" DCC Aluminum | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-40k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-200 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.36kg / 58lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41-5/16" x 9-13/16" x 13-3/4"
1050.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm | 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
Both PerformaBe F226Be and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Revel PerformaBe F226BeKLH 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 |
Revel PerformaBe F226Be |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
PerformaBe F226Be features a 1" beryllium dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" DCC Aluminum 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
PerformaBe F226Be has a frequency range of 50-40k 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 PerformaBe F226Be's min frequency of 50Hz.
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
PerformaBe F226Be and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. PerformaBe F226Be sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Revel PerformaBe F226Be, 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 PerformaBe F226Be has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 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 PerformaBe F226Be 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 Revel PerformaBe F226Be's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Revel PerformaBe F226Be has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 250.0 x 350.0mm (41-5/16 x 9-13/16 x 13-3/4inch) 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 38mm narrower and 29mm shorter than Revel PerformaBe F226Be but it is also 30mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Revel PerformaBe F226Be and KLH Kendall in scale.
Comparison image of Revel PerformaBe F226Be 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 Revel PerformaBe F226Be is approximately 875.0cm2 / 135.6inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The PerformaBe F226Be requires 9% 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 Revel PerformaBe F226Be weighs 26.36kg / 58lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the PerformaBe F226Be 19% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how PerformaBe F226Be 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 Revel PerformaBe F226Be?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of PerformaBe F226Be:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Locking rings
- 4 Washers
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Foam port plug
- Owners Manual
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 |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1050mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
875cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
7700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Revel PerformaBe F226Be |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Revel |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-200 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-40k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
DCC Aluminum |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with proprietary acoustic lens waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
250.0mm (9.8") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
350.0mm (13.8") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
26.36kg (58lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Wood/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Gloss 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 |
These sit in different price classes - Revel PerformaBe F226Be costs roughly 5.1x 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 50Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Revel PerformaBe F226Be: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Revel PerformaBe F226Be sits in a wider range (4 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $7,700, about 81% less; arguably a different class. |
A Revel PerformaBe F226Be 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 Revel PerformaBe F226Be 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 50Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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.