In this review, we will be comparing Kensington and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Tannoy and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Tannoy Kensington and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Tannoy Kensington | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Tannoy
United Kingdom · founded 1926 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | — | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-27k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 93 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | — | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 37.00kg / 81.4lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43.3" x 15.9" x 13.3"
1099.8 x 403.9 x 337.8mm | 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 Kensington is a 2-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 |
Tannoy Kensington |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Kensington 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
Kensington has a frequency range of 29-27k 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 Kensington's min frequency of 29Hz.
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
Kensington and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Kensington sensitivity is rated at 93 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Tannoy Kensington, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Kensington has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/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 Tannoy Kensington's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Tannoy Kensington has external dimensions of 1099.8 x 403.9 x 337.8mm (43.3 x 15.9 x 13.3inch) 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 191.9mm narrower and 78.8mm shorter than Tannoy Kensington but it is also 42.2mm deeper.
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.
Tannoy Kensington needs about 69% more floor or shelf area. KLH Kendall is 42mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Tannoy Kensington is 79mm 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 Tannoy Kensington is approximately 1364.3cm2 / 211.5inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Kensington requires 69% 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 Tannoy Kensington weighs 37.00kg / 81.4lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Kensington 67% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Kensington 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
 High Frequency Response |
27k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
93 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1099mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1364cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
24000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Tannoy Kensington |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Tannoy |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Sensitivity |
93 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-27k 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 |
1099.8mm (43.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
403.9mm (15.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
337.8mm (13.3") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
37.00kg (81.4lbs) |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - Tannoy Kensington costs roughly 16x 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 29Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 93dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Tannoy Kensington 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 $24,000, about 94% less; arguably a different class. |
A Tannoy Kensington 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 Tannoy Kensington if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, Tannoy Kensington 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.