In this review, we will be comparing Australe Ez and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Triangle and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Esprit Australe Ez and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Esprit Australe Ez | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Triangle
France · founded 1980 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 6.5" Double ferrite fibreglass | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-22k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92.5 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100-200 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 38.80kg / 85.4lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 44-1/2" x 7-7/8" x 14-9/16"
1130.0 x 200.0 x 370.0mm | 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 Australe Ez and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Triangle Esprit Australe EzKLH 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 |
Triangle Esprit Australe Ez |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Australe Ez features a 1" Titanium dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Double ferrite fibreglass Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 215Hz and 3500Hz. 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
Australe Ez has a frequency range of 35-22k 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 Australe Ez's min frequency of 35Hz.
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
Australe Ez and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Australe Ez sensitivity is rated at 92.5 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Triangle Esprit Australe Ez, 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 Australe Ez has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 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.
Triangle Esprit Australe Ez
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Australe Ez 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 Triangle Esprit Australe Ez's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Triangle Esprit Australe Ez has external dimensions of 1130.0 x 200.0 x 370.0mm (44-1/2 x 7-7/8 x 14-9/16inch) 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).
Triangle Esprit Australe Ez is 12mm narrower and 10mm less deeper than KLH Kendall but it is also 109mm taller.
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.
KLH Kendall needs about 9% more floor or shelf area. Triangle Esprit Australe Ez is 109mm 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 Triangle Esprit Australe Ez is approximately 740.0cm2 / 114.7inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Australe Ez requires 8% 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 Triangle Esprit Australe Ez weighs 38.80kg / 85.4lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Australe Ez 75% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Australe Ez and Kendall's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Triangle Esprit Australe Ez
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
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Base Surface Area |
740cm2
vs
805cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
93 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1130mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
3180USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Esprit Australe Ez |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Triangle |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100-200 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92.5 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
35-22k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Double ferrite fibreglass |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Horn-Loaded |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
215Hz and 3500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1130.0mm (44.5") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
200.0mm (7.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
370.0mm (14.6") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
38.80kg (85.4lbs) |
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 |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Triangle Esprit Australe Ez costs roughly 2.1x 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 35Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 93dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Triangle Esprit Australe Ez: bi-amping; KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Triangle Esprit Australe Ez sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | KLH Kendall is cheaper - $1,500 against $3,180, about 53% less; arguably a different class. |
A Triangle Esprit Australe Ez 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 Triangle Esprit Australe Ez 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 35Hz 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.