In this review, we will be comparing ELYSIAN 3 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wharfedale and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Elysian 3 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Elysian 3 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter
- 6" Midrange
- 2 x 7" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer
- 44-22k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:30-200watts
- Weight:28.44kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 41-5/16" x 10-3/8" x 12-3/8" ( 1050.0 x 263.0 x 315.0mm )
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): 40-3/16" 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 Wharfedale Elysian 3 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
Both ELYSIAN 3 and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Elysian 3 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 7-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
ELYSIAN 3 features a " AMT (Ribbon) Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" Coated glass fibre matrix Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 375Hz and 2900Hz. 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
ELYSIAN 3 has a frequency range of 44-22k 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 ELYSIAN 3's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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
ELYSIAN 3 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 ELYSIAN 3 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. ELYSIAN 3 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Kendall's is rated at 96 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the KLH Kendall a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Elysian 3, 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. 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.
ELYSIAN 3 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Kendall has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 200 watts less than the ELYSIAN 3.
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
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. ELYSIAN 3 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
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 Wharfedale Elysian 3's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Wharfedale Elysian 3 has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 263.0 x 315.0mm ( 41-5/16 x 10-3/8 x 12-3/8inch) 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 51mm narrower and 29mm shorter than Wharfedale Elysian 3 but it is also 65mm 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 Wharfedale Elysian 3 is approximately 828.5cm2 / 128.4inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The ELYSIAN 3 requires 3% more surface area than the Kendall which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.