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Sonus Lumina III vs KLH Kendall Comparison

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Sonus Lumina III

Passive Floor-standing | 40-24k Hz

Sonus Faber Lumina III
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KLH Kendall

Passive Floor-standing | 25-23k Hz

KLH Kendall
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Sonus Lumina III Sonus Lumina III
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KLH Kendall KLH Kendall
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Sonus Lumina III
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KLH Kendall
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Sonus Lumina III vs KLH Kendall Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Lumina III and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus Faber and KLH.

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

Sonus Lumina III Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter
  • 6" Midrange
  • 2 x 6" paper cone Woofer
  • 40-24k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 4ohms
  • Power Range:50-250watts
  • Weight:15.90kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 989.0" x 9" x 10.9"( 989.0 x 228.0 x 278.0mm )

KLH Kendall Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 5.25" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer
  • 5.25" Midrange
  • 25-23k Hz Frequency Response
  • 96 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 250watts
  • Weight:22.14kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1021.0" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"( 1021.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm )

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sonus Lumina III and KLH Kendall compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Lumina III and Kendall are 3-way speakers.

Driver Sonus Lumina III KLH Kendall
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1.15-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 6-inch 1 x 5.25-inch
Woofer 2 x 6-inch 2 x 6.5-inch

Lumina III features a 1.15" high definition DAD Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6" paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350 and 3500 Hz. 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

Lumina III has a frequency range of 40-24k 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 Lumina III's min frequency of 40Hz.

Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Lumina III
Kendall
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Sonus Lumina III
KLH Kendall
Min
Average
Max

None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

Lumina III 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 Lumina III can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Lumina III sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Lumina III, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Lumina III
Kendall
Min
Average
Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

Lumina III can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 250 watts less than the Lumina III.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Both Lumina III and Kendall features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

KLH KendallBinding post Terminals
KLH Kendall's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Physical Specs

Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Sonus Lumina III's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Sonus Lumina III has external dimensions of 989.0 x 228.0 x 278.0mm ( 38.9 x 9 x 10.9inch) 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) .

Sonus Lumina III is 32mm shorter and 102mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 16mm wider.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sonus Lumina III and KLH Kendall in scale.

Sonus Lumina III vs KLH Kendall Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sonus Lumina III 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 Sonus Lumina III is approximately 633.8cm2 / 98.2inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Lumina III requires 21% 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 Sonus Lumina III weighs 15.90kg / 35lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kendall 39% heavier than the Lumina III.

Here is a comparison of how Lumina III and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus Lumina III
KLH Kendall
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Sonus Lumina III?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Lumina III:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • 1 Manual
  • 2 Jumpers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Fabric dust guards
  • 4 Spikes
  • 4 Under spikes
  • 4 Spikes locks
  • 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 Sonus Faber Lumina III over KLH Kendall
    High Frequency Response 24k Hz vs 23k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 989mm vs 1021mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 633cm2 vs 805cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose KLH Kendall over Sonus Faber Lumina III

    Sensitivity 96 dB vs 89 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 6 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 25 Hz vs 40 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Price per pair* 1500USD vs 2199USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    Sonus Lumina III vs KLH Kendall Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Sonus Faber Lumina III KLH Kendall
    Brand Sonus Faber KLH
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 50-250 watts up to 250 watts
    Sensitivity 89 dB 96 dB
    Impedance 4 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 40-24k Hz 25-23k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition paper cone Woven Kevlar
    Woofer Surround Material n/a Butyl Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1.15" 1"
    Tweeter Type high definition DAD n/a
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 6" 5.25"
    Crossover Frequency 350 and 3500 Hz n/a
    Firing Direction bottom n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 989.0mm (38.9") 1021.0mm (40.2")
    Width 228.0mm (9") 212.0mm (8.3")
    Depth 278.0mm (10.9") 380.0mm (15")
    Weight 15.90kg (35lbs) 22.14kg (48.7lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish real multilayer wood MDF/Wood Veneer
    Available Colors Black, Wenge, Walnut Black
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 10 Years
    Labor Warranty 10 Years

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