In this review, we will be comparing WATT/Puppy and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Wilson Audio and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Wilson Audio
United States · founded 1974 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 7" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Paper pulp | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 26-30k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | from 25 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 72.57kg / 159.7lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41-5/16" x 12" x 18-11/16"
1050.0 x 305.0 x 474.0mm | 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 WATT/Puppy and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Wilson Audio WATT/PuppyKLH 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 |
Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 7-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
WATT/Puppy features a 1" Doped silk fabric Dome Tweeter, a 7" Midrange and 2 x 8" Paper 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
WATT/Puppy has a frequency range of 26-30k 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 WATT/Puppy's min frequency of 26Hz.
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
WATT/Puppy 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 WATT/Puppy can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. WATT/Puppy 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 Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy, 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 WATT/Puppy has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 250 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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Kendall features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. WATT/Puppy 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 Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy has external dimensions of 1050.0 x 305.0 x 474.0mm (41-5/16 x 12 x 18-11/16inch) 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).
Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 93mm wider, 29mm taller and 94mm deeper than KLH Kendall.
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.
Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy needs about 79% more floor or shelf area. Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy is 94mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy is 29mm 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 Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy is approximately 1445.7cm2 / 224.1inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The WATT/Puppy requires 79% 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 Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy weighs 72.57kg / 159.7lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the WATT/Puppy 228% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how WATT/Puppy 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
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
89 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
26 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1050mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1445cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1500USD
vs
41500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Wilson Audio |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
from 25 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.87 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
26-30k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper pulp |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
7" |
5.25" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1050.0mm (41.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
474.0mm (18.7") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
72.57kg (159.7lbs) |
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 |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy costs roughly 27.7x 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (26Hz vs 25Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | KLH Kendall is more sensitive (96dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | KLH Kendall is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy 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 $41,500, about 96% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy 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 Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. In a large or open-plan room, Wilson Audio WATT/Puppy 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.