In this review, we will be comparing Sonus faber Lumina V Amator and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Sonus and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sonus faber Lumina V Amator and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator Key Specs
- 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Cellulose Pulp Woofer
- 38-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:22.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1050.0" x 11" x 14-3/4"( 1050.0 x 280.0 x 375.0mm )
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 faber Lumina V Amator and KLH Kendall compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Sonus faber Lumina V Amator is a -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.
| Driver |
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.125-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator features a 1.125" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Cellulose Pulp 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
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator has a frequency range of 38-24k 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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
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
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator 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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sonus faber Lumina V Amator sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus faber Lumina V Amator, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
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.
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator.
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 Sonus faber Lumina V Amator 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
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 faber Lumina V Amator's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Sonus faber Lumina V Amator has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 280.0 x 375.0mm ( 41-5/16inch x 11inch x 14-3/4inch ) 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 68mm narrower and 29mm shorter than Sonus faber Lumina V Amator but it is also 5mm deeper.
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 Lumina V Amator is approximately 1050.0cm2 / 162.8inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Sonus faber Lumina V Amator requires 30% 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 Lumina V Amator weighs 22.55kg / 49.6lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Sonus faber Lumina V Amator 2% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Sonus faber Lumina V Amator and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator
What's in the Box of Sonus faber Lumina V Amator?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonus faber Lumina V Amator:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers 2 Grilles 8 Spikes 8 Protective discs 8 Nuts 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed) Owner's Manual Online Registration/Warranty Card Environmental Information
What's in the Box of KLH Kendall?
Here are the items that come with the Kendall:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrilleFoam port4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet (with nuts)4 Protective discsManual
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
90 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
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1050mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1050cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
4500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Lumina V Amator |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Sonus |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
50-300 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-24k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cellulose Pulp |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.125" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.0" |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
280.0mm (11") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
375.0mm (14.8") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
22.55kg (49.6lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Multi-layer wood/veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yrs (8 Yrs registered) |
10 Years |