In this review, we will be comparing Solstice 8 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Triangle and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Triangle Solstice 8 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Triangle Solstice 8 | 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 | 2 x 6.5" Paper, concave with no dust cap | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-22k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 60-200 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 30.40kg / 66.9lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-5/16" x 12-1/8" x 15-1/2"
1075.0 x 308.0 x 394.0mm | 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 Solstice 8 and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Triangle Solstice 8KLH 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 Solstice 8 |
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
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Solstice 8 features a 1" Magnesium alloy dome Horn-Loaded Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper, concave with no dust cap Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 250Hz and 3700Hz. 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
Solstice 8 has a frequency range of 38-22k 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 Solstice 8's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
Solstice 8 and Kendall have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Solstice 8 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Kendall's is at 96 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Triangle Solstice 8, 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 Solstice 8 has a max power handling value of 130 watts RMS, 120 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.
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 Solstice 8's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Triangle Solstice 8 has external dimensions of 1075.0 x 308.0 x 394.0mm (42-5/16 x 12-1/8 x 15-1/2inch) 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 Solstice 8 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 96mm wider, 54mm taller and 14mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
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 Solstice 8 is approximately 1213.5cm2 / 188.1inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Solstice 8 requires 51% 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 Triangle Solstice 8 weighs 30.40kg / 66.9lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the Solstice 8 37% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how Solstice 8 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 |
250 watts
vs
130 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
23k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1075mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1213cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
2799USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Triangle Solstice 8 |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Triangle |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
60-200 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
38-22k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper, concave with no dust cap |
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 |
250Hz and 3700Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1075.0mm (42.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
308.0mm (12.1") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
394.0mm (15.5") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
30.40kg (66.9lbs) |
22.14kg (48.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
Teak, Birch, Black Ash, White |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Triangle Solstice 8 costs roughly 1.9x 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 38Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Kendall takes more power (250W vs 130W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Triangle Solstice 8 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 $2,799, about 46% less; arguably a different class. |
A Triangle Solstice 8 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 Solstice 8 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 38Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Triangle Solstice 8 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.
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.