In this review, we will be comparing Amati and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus faber and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Amati and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sonus faber Amati | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Sonus faber
Italy · founded 1983 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 4-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8.5" Paper | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-35k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-450 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 61.00kg / 134.2lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 46-5/16" x 16-3/16" x 20-3/16"
1176.0 x 411.0 x 512.0mm | 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 Amati is a 4-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.
Sonus faber AmatiKLH 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 |
Sonus faber Amati |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
4-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Amati features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 8.5" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 200, 270, 2200 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
Amati has a frequency range of 28-35k 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 Amati's min frequency of 28Hz.
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
Amati 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 Amati can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Amati 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 Sonus faber Amati, 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.
Amati can handle a max power of 450 watts RMS, whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the Amati.
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 Amati 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 Sonus faber Amati's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Sonus faber Amati has external dimensions of 1176.0 x 411.0 x 512.0mm (46-5/16 x 16-3/16 x 20-3/16inch) 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 faber Amati is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 199mm wider, 155mm taller and 132mm 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.
Sonus faber Amati needs about 161% more floor or shelf area. Sonus faber Amati is 132mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Sonus faber Amati is 155mm 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 Sonus faber Amati is approximately 2104.3cm2 / 326.2inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Amati requires 161% 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 Sonus faber Amati weighs 61.00kg / 134.2lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Amati 176% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Amati 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 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
 Max Input Power |
450 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
4-way
vs
3-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8.5 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 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
28 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1176mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
2104cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
29998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Amati |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Sonus faber |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-450 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-35k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
200, 270, 2200 Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1176.0mm (46.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
411.0mm (16.2") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
512.0mm (20.2") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
61.00kg (134.2lbs) |
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 |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Sonus faber Amati costs roughly 20x 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 28Hz. 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. |
| Headroom | A | Sonus faber Amati takes more power (450W vs 250W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Sonus faber Amati is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Sonus faber Amati: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Sonus faber Amati sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $29,998, about 95% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sonus faber Amati 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 Sonus faber Amati if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, Sonus faber Amati 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.