November 20th, hear the new KLH Model Seven speakers at a curated listening session at The Wallis.

As part of ongoing focus on hi-fi equipment from the past and present, we’ll be featuring the new KLH Model Seven acoustic suspension floorstanding speakers at various listening events around Los Angeles. First up, join us on Thursday, November 20th for a curated hi-fi listening session before performances from Lonnie Holley and Moor Mother. Tickets are available here. Below, a bit more information about KLH’s Model Seven.

Background:

KLH was originally founded in 1957 by visionary audio engineer and entrepreneur Henry Kloss and partners Malcolm S. Low, and Josef Anton Hofmann. Over the next decade, the company would become known for its innovations in electronics and high-fidelity sound including the groundbreaking Model Eight high-selectivity FM Radio, the first full-range electrostatic loudspeaker Model Nine, and the development of the acoustic suspension loudspeaker system, which was a breakthrough in home listening allowing for more precise sound in compact enclosures. In an effort to democratize hi-fi, Kloss also later founded the beloved speaker company Advent, which produced quality speakers at affordable prices. We’ve featured both KLH and Advent speakers in previous features on “Great Vintage Bookshelf Speakers” and “Killer Vintage Speakers That Won’t Bust Your Budget.”

In 2018, the KLH brand was reborn under the ownership and direction of former Klipsch president David P. Kelley. Speaking about the re-launch, Kelly said, “The excitement here is to take KLH back to its roots and founder Henry Kloss’s original mission: to build world-class loudspeakers and radios at affordable prices. This is because our belief is that high-performance audio should not be the province of the wealthy, but should be enjoyed and accessible to people from all walks of life.”

Features:

Earlier this year, KLH debuted the Model Seven loudspeaker, an acoustic suspension loudspeaker inspired by the iconic KLH Model Five, which was originally produced between 1968-1977 and was one of the most popular American loudspeakers ever. Featuring a 13″ woofer, the Model Seven is the largest in KLH’s line of floorstanding speakers, and is designed to deliver uncompromising accuracy, power, and style. With its large front baffle and advanced acoustic architecture, the Model Seven offers remarkable low-frequency extension and effortless dynamics while remaining more forgiving of room placement than many traditional loudspeakers.

• Acoustic Suspension Design – Delivers exceptionally accurate, linear bass response
• 13” High-Displacement Woofer – Clean, effortless low-frequency extension
• Dedicated 5” Midrange Driver – Preserves clarity in the most critical vocal and instrumental range
• 1” Aluminum Dome Tweeter – Smooth, extended treble with machined aluminum faceplate
• Three-Position Acoustic Balance Control – Tailor sound to your room acoustics
• Non-Resonant Cast Aluminum Driver Frames – Reduce distortion for pure sound reproduction
• Structurally Reinforced Cabinet – ¾” MDF enclosure with 1” front baffle for stability
• Iconic Mid-Century Modern Styling – Book-matched wood veneers, low-profile magnet grille, and included slant riser base

“The excitement here is to take KLH back to its roots and founder Henry Kloss’s original mission: to build world-class loudspeakers and radios at affordable prices.”

David P. Kelley (KLH CEO)

Specifications:

• Dimensions: 18″W x 41″H x 12-1/4″D (with riser base)
• Weight: 78 lbs. each
• Nominal Impedance: 4Ω
• Frequency Response: 38-20,000 Hz (±3dB)
• Amplification: Handles up to 250 watts
• Crossover Frequency: 300Hz, 3400Hz

Price:

The largest floorstanding speaker in KLH’s updated new line, the Model Seven will run you close to $6k for a pair. For those looking for smaller sized options, KLH also offers the Model Five ($3,298 per pair), and the Model Three Bookshelf speakers ($1,700 per pair). This price level puts them into comparisons with Klipsch’s Heritage line of speakers including the Forte IV ($5,500), Heresy ($3,600), and Cornwall ($7,300 per pair), which makes a lot of sense given Kelley’s past role as President of Klipsch.

Shop for Model Three, Five, and Seven directly through KLH.

Sound:

Listening to our recent Electric Satie – Gymnopédie ’99 reissue (which we’ve heard hundreds of times now over the course of the production process) through the KLH Model Sevens and a Rotel integrated amplifier, the vocals and electronic percussion stood out on opener “Universe” with incredibly present, clear, and beautiful sound. The lower bass frequencies, largely produced by MIDI electronic upright bass, had a subtle fullness that wasn’t overpowering. Comparing to the ’80s Klipsch Heresy speakers I have at home, there was a similarity in how well these speakers make organic instruments and voices come alive, though the Heresy certainly colored the sound much more (those familiar with Klipsch products are well aware of this characteristic of their speakers).

Upscale Audio Fidelity: “The wide front baffle with the narrow cabinet depth helps to reduce or eliminate diffraction. That gives the mid-bend a much nicer launch and a greater sense of clarity that you’re not going to get with some other narrow box speakers.”

Audio Advice: “Part of what you hear as effortlessness is the larger woofer working within the linear comfort zone that the sealed air spring provides. There is no sense of a tuning peak or a port contributing a note of its own. Low end lines simply start and stop when they should. The wide baffle helps as well, reducing energy that would otherwise wrap around the cabinet and reflect from nearby boundaries. That translates into cleaner first arrival sound and more stable imaging, especially in rooms where the speakers cannot be pulled far from the wall.”