In this review, we will be comparing NS-777 and Kendall, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Yamaha and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Yamaha NS-777 and KLH Kendall first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Yamaha NS-777 | KLH Kendall |
|---|
| Brand | Yamaha
Japan · founded 1887 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Aluminum dome with waveguide horn | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" PMD cone | 2 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 30-35k Hz | 25-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100-250 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 24.36kg / 53.6lbs | 22.14kg / 48.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43.3125" x 10.875" x 15.375"
1100.1 x 276.2 x 390.5mm | 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 NS-777 and Kendall are 3-way speakers.
Yamaha NS-777KLH 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 |
Yamaha NS-777 |
KLH Kendall |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
NS-777 features a 1" Aluminum dome with waveguide horn Aluminum dome with waveguide horn Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 2 x 8" PMD cone 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
NS-777 has a frequency range of 30-35k 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 NS-777's min frequency of 30Hz.
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
NS-777 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Kendall which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. NS-777 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 Yamaha NS-777, 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 250 watts RMS, though NS-777 is rated 100-250 watts and Kendall up to 250 watts.
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. NS-777 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 Yamaha NS-777's and KLH Kendall's external dimensions. Yamaha NS-777 has external dimensions of 1100.1 x 276.2 x 390.5mm (43.3125 x 10.875 x 15.375inch) 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).
Yamaha NS-777 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 64.2mm wider, 79.1mm taller and 10.5mm 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.
Yamaha NS-777 needs about 34% more floor or shelf area. Yamaha NS-777 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 Yamaha NS-777 is approximately 1078.6cm2 / 167.2inch2 and base area of the KLH Kendall is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The NS-777 requires 34% 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 Yamaha NS-777 weighs 24.36kg / 53.6lbs and the KLH Kendall weighs 22.14kg / 48.7lbs. This makes the NS-777 10% heavier than the Kendall.
Here is a comparison of how NS-777 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 |
35k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1200USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1100mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1078cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Yamaha NS-777 |
KLH Kendall |
| Brand |
Yamaha |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100-250 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
30-35k Hz |
25-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
PMD cone |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Aluminum dome with waveguide horn |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5" |
5.25" |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1100.1mm (43.3") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
276.2mm (10.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
390.5mm (15.4") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
24.36kg (53.6lbs) |
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 |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |
A generation apart: KLH Kendall is the newer design, against a 2003 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KLH Kendall digs deeper - 25Hz against 30Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| 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. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 250W). |
| Size | depends | KLH Kendall is easier to place; Yamaha NS-777 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | KLH Kendall: bi-amping. Yamaha NS-777 sits in a wider range (4 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Yamaha NS-777 is cheaper - $1,200 against $1,500, about 20% less. |
A Yamaha NS-777 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 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Yamaha NS-777 is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 30Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Yamaha NS-777 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Yamaha NS-777 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.