KLH Kendall 3-Way Floorstanding Speaker - Each (Walnut)

The KLH Kendall Speaker system is so good that it begs to be paired with an Amp that compliments its ability to reproduce simply great sound from top to bottom! I'll come back to that in a minute... First thing that was apparent when the first speaker arrived was just how solid/rigid the cabinet is. And it's deeper than you might think as well by a few inches. Its conventional box design with its beautiful real wood finish and magnetically detachable grill, tells you that no money was wasted on trying to make this system a visual standout. Yet with the grille off, it is impressive!! I won't get into the packaging as it is top notch. Rubber feet and Spikes with plates are included but I used the rubber feet and here is a trick....I screwed two of the Nuts from the Spikes on each of the front rubber feet to get a good tilt up!! Really helps create a higher soundstage. Soooo... lets talk about that soundstage!! These speakers are as good as any towers I have ever heard under 5 Thousand Dollars....seriously. I've listen to Martin Logan's, Monitor Audio, Def Tech', B&W and many other speaker systems, and this system is on par with all of them. No matter what you play through the KLH Kendalls, I cant find anything to criticize!! And do these speakers get as low as the advertised 25Hz....YES... in the most controlled and tightest way I've ever heard!! There is simply no need for a subwoofer at all! And I do watch movies on these as well, although I built this system for listening to Music. So, lets take a step back to what must be considered for understanding how good these speakers are. I originally had the BlueSound PowerNode2i, rated at 60 Watts via Class D amplification. The all-in-one streaming device more than did its job and very well! But there was still, from experience listening to many sound systems, something missing in the deep mid and low end. SOooo.... I researched for an integrated Amp as I wanted to stay within my budget, and what stood out was the YAMAHA A-S801. Rated at a clean high amperage of 100wats per channel @ 8ohms, via Class A-B Amplification, I can tell you that there is no better Speaker/Amp combination for the money!! This Integrated Amplifier simply allows the KLH Kendalls to compete with $10,000 systems...seriously...I am not exaggerating. I have an OPPO Blu-Ray player I purchased used for 2-Channel Playback of my CD collection, and when the Amp is operating in its CD Direct mode as well as its "Pure Direct" mode for streaming music from the non-powered BlueSound Node2i, which replaced the PowerNode, the music is as uncolored and pristine as anything you can hear for anywhere near this price!! My Reference CD is the Thom Rotella Band on the DMP label, where years ago they recorded the Band live to disc in a all digital environment. The music reproduced is simply sublime as cymbals and bass kicks and guitar plucks grace a soundstage that exceeds far beyond the cabinets of the KLH Kendalls. And here is a piece of advice that will save you the effort....DO NOT BI-AMP THESE SPEAKERS using the Yamaha A-S801!! BASS becomes...well, uncontrolled and overwhelming. While the Amp has no HDMI, I run an optical link from the Sony 55in TV, fed from the OPPO Blu-ray Player and my ROKU Streaming Device via HDMI, and the sound is very, very good for watching Live TV and Movies. I purchased the Black finish as I like my equipment to disappear when I listen to music at night or watch a movie, and the Black Walnut finish is all but non reflective. I simply can't express how the Yamaha A-S801, with its build quality and just like KLH, its decision to focus on what's inside and not on the outside with a minimalistic design, is an AMP that sonically punches more than "well" above its price range. There is a reason why this Speaker System is the "Amazon Choice"...it is that good!! But paired with the Yamaha A-S801.....you will be simply "open mouthed" at what you will be listening to!!! Added April 13,2021: One more thing that needs to stressed when “tweeking” these speakers in achieving the optimal sound is its “Dual Port” design and the included Port Plug. Most often times when heavier gauge cables, Silver instead of Gold connectors are used, a bump in conductivity will result in a boost in the Bass and lower Midrange frequencies....And it’s sonically noticeable!! When I switched out my gold plated banana plugs for some AudioQuest Silver Banana plugs the bass was immediately “punchier”....in fact it was a bit too much, but the Midrange was much richer and fuller! Solution....use the included port plug on the bottom Port!! Not only was the Bass tighter and more controlled, the soundstage became much more focused and cleaner sounding. These included plugs are priceless....keep them close and when the come out of the box they are a bit compressed and mis-shaped, but in about a week or two they will be a perfect circle. The KLH Kendall Loudspeker system will one day be one of those cult Audiophile Items as it represents a true "BARGAIN" in Audio Equipment. But at any price, the sound quality is one of the most pleasing you could experience!! Added August 24, 2021: After a good bit of A-B testing, these Speakers most definitely sound just a bit cleaner without the grills on for listening to music. I leave them on while watching TV or Movies so the beauty of the drivers don't distract while watching!

Backstory. Twenty years ago I was an avid audiophile. I'd sit for hours listening to music in a system anchored by Magnapan MG IIIs. Loved them. But I moved. Maggies didn't go with me, and I slowly lost interest. I replaced everything with well reviewed but decidedly marginal components. And they sat while I listened to Spotify through headphones. Then, and this is important. My daughters had been badgering me for two years (for the record, I'm 75) that I should get my hearing tested. ("I hear fine!") Finally three months ago I did: Mild to moderate high frequency hearing loss, the frequencies where diction and overtones reside (2000-4000hz). I got hearing aids tuned precisely to that loss...and my life changed. I got a new amp with a built in DAC (Denon PMA 1600 NE). And I bought new speakers. (Isn't that what this review is about?) Are the Kendalls the equal of the Maggies? Can't really say - it's been twenty years! - but they're damned close. Terrific bass, smooth transition to the mid and high. Balanced. The soundstage is detailed and fabulous, instruments exactly where they belong. I discovered Tidal, streaming that's high end audio. I've been listening for (checks watch) six hours. Just like twenty years ago. Yep. Music is back. These are fabulous speakers.

Absolutely spectacular sound. Really exceeded my expectations across the board. They look great as well. My only complaints: 1. As others have noted, the “walnut” has a lot of red in it and is somewhere between cherry and walnut. 2. The packaging they come in is absolutely horrible. I received 5 speakers before I had two that weren’t damaged from shipping. There are two types of boxes, one blue and one brown. The blue ones are absolute garbage and don’t protect the speakers at all. They’ll be smashed if you get the blue box for sure.

Typical metallic brittle highs, honky mid-range, limited 6.5" bass driver extension that rattles at 105 dB SPL, I don't get the hype. Finish looks good and imaging is also good but overall sound is fatiguing even compared to Klipsch RP-8000F, which I returned last year. The search continues. Do they require burn-in? I will report if they change after a week.

These speakers are very impressive and punch above their weight in terms of price, but really they don't leave me wanting anything a more expensive set might offer anyway. These are very clear at all frequencies. All of the instruments sound distinct and not in any way blurred together. Ok some recordings I'm not sure I could tell the difference blindfolded if the performer were in the room in front of me. I listen to a wide variety of music genres and it seems to me these recreate the sound exactly as it was produced in each case.

This is an American made product an icon well made and awesome sound.

Boy, this is a fabulous set of speakers. More than I expected for the money. I lack the vocabulary to adequately describe what I'm hearing. I'm giving away my 7 year old Polk center, surround, mains and sub because they're now unnecessary. I'm pretty sure your going to like these KLH Kendall's.

I bought these speakers in June 2091 and I couldn't be happier. I drive them with a McIntosh MA5200. They sound crisp, deep, accurate, and extremely well defined at all power levels. KLH did a very fine job.

A little surprised that they were being sold in singles rather than pairs but the product and service excellent