Three for Three: KLH Model 3 Review

PRICE $1800/pair

AT A GLANCE 
Plus 
Tight, crisp bass
Detailed, dynamic sound
Price 
Minus 
Looks suffer with grilles removed
Needs a subwoofer for bass-heavy films
Vintage style might not appeal to all

THE VERDICT 
It might not be at its best in a large room without a subwoofer or two, but the dynamic, open, and detailed sound of the KLH Model 3s can otherwise equal or exceed the performance of many far more expensive loudspeakers.

In the early 1950s Edgar Villchur, Henry Kloss, Malcolm S. Low, and Josef Anton Hofmann founded the Acoustic Research and Development Corporation. Of the four founders, Henry Kloss may be the name best recognized by audiophiles with a bit of mileage on their wheels. Kloss later left AR (along with Low and Hoffman) and founded KLH. Kloss later founded two other loudspeaker companies, Advent and Cambridge Audio. 

In the 1970s, Kloss also designed and marketed the Kloss Videobeam video projection system, a product that was something of a revolution in an era where the 21-inch, direct-view TV dominated. It’s been said that Kloss started Advent to raise the money needed to develop the Videobeam. But the home video world wasn’t yet ready for such a relatively expensive and (compared to today) primitive video projection system. Kloss also worked on improving FM radio, introduced Dolby B noise reduction to the audio cassette, and even built a prototype Dolby B open reel tape deck that was never marketed.

Most loudspeakers in those early days of consumer hi-fi were either huge or lacked anything resembling deep bass. Those that managed to reach the depths were often horn-loaded (such as the immense Klipschorns) or port-tuned bass-reflex designs. In the ’50s, the mathematical techniques needed to mate a bass-reflex-bound woofer to its cabinet were far from perfect. The cut-and-try methods employed to tune such designs often produced sloppy, boomy bass. 

AR was launched to change all that by using the acoustic suspension system perfected by Villchur. This method relied on a woofer with a suspension too floppy to work in a standard design. Instead, the compression of the air inside a relatively small cabinet acted as an acoustic spring to keep the woofer under control. The result was surprisingly powerful bass from a cabinet far smaller than the best bass-reflex designs of the era. The result was a revelation. AR and later KLH were highly successful. But over the years and a succession of owners (many of them less passionate than the founders) both companies largely faded from the audio landscape. 

Kelley Global Brands bought the rights to the KLH name in 2017, determined to resurrect the long idle but classic name. At first the new owners released a lineup of KLH-branded loudspeakers with no obvious connection to the original acoustic suspension designs. But they ultimately saw an opportunity to launch new models more closely aligned with those from KLH’s glory days—refined, of course, with up to date drivers, crossovers, and cabinets. But the key component, acoustic suspension design, would remain. 

The first of the new classic designs, the KLH Model 5, was released in 2021 and reviewed here later that year. There actually was a KLH Model 5 among KLH’s original designs, so you can’t call a new speaker the KLH Model 5 and make it a ported design! But while ported loudspeaker designs are now more technically refined than they were in those early days, there are definite benefits to acoustic suspension. At frequencies below its cabinet design resonance, a woofer in a sealed box rolls off the bottom end at 12 dB per octave. Below its port tuning frequency, however, a ported design rolls off at 24 dB per octave. You can (within reason!) drive an acoustic suspension design below its tuned frequency (such as might occur when using room EQ) with less risk of overdrive. With a ported box, however, the woofer becomes unloaded below its port resonance; too much boost below that frequency can push the woofer into emitting rude noises–or worse. 

KLH, of course, claims that acoustic suspension is something of a holy grail among loudspeaker designs. But I won’t go quite that far. Ported cabinets have evolved dramatically over the decades, and today many of them are well-designed. As I stated in the review of the KLH Model 5, “You won’t find us either clinking our glasses or holding our noses over acoustic suspension. It’s simply a valid design choice, enhanced here by a bit of nostalgia.” 

The original KLHs were built in Cambridge, but like most of today’s affordable loudspeakers, the Model 3s are designed here but manufactured in China.

Features 
There was never a Model 3 in the classic KLH offerings. But the new Model 3 follows the design cues of the recent Model 5 in several ways. It’s a 2-way design (the Model 5 is 3-way) and smaller, though the latter is mostly due to its shorter height. It has the same classic look as the Model 5 and comes in two wood veneer (not vinyl!) options. There’s also a satin black that KLH calls Nordic Noir. 

Magnetically affixed and easily removable grilles are included: Medici Gray Linen grilles come on the Nordic Noir finish, Old World Linen on the West African Mahogany veneer, and Stone Wash Linen on the English Walnut. The Stone Wash Linen and Old World Linen are available separately if you want to mix and match. Another choice is a Basalt Black grille, which I’d opt for if the speakers will be visible when watching films, as I found the lighter, standard grilles on our review samples a little distracting. The optional grilles are available separately for $200/pair (you can’t do a free swap for a different grille color on the initial purchase). 

KLH Model 3 is fairly heavy for its size due to its 3/4 inch MDF construction with added reinforcement where needed. Its driver complement consists of a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter and an 8-inch pulp paper cone woofer. In the original KLH designs, Henry Kloss used tweeters with reduced high-frequency extension compared to the best tweeters available. He was concerned that more extended tweeters might reveal the harshness and edginess in many recordings of the time. Fifty years later, that’s no longer a design consideration. 

The crossover frequency is at 1.5 kHz, second-order (12 dB/octave). Like the new Model 5, there’s a single pair of 5-way binding posts around the back (there’s no bi-wiring option; this wasn’t a thing in the ’50s). There’s also a three-way switch to decrease the Model 3’s mid and high-frequency output above 400 Hz. The neutral position is Hi. Mid provides a reduction of 1.5 dB, and Low a 3.0 dB cut—the same configuration available in the new Model 5 and the classic Model 5 as well. In my room, the Mid position worked best. I also preferred the results with the grilles in place. (in the new Model 5 review, I had preferred taking the grilles off.) 

As with the new Model 5s, the Model 3 is a bit too big and heavy for a typical stand and too short to sit directly on the floor. But like the new Model 5, the Model 3s come with short stands that tilt the speakers slightly upwards to aim the drivers’ radiation pattern at a seated listener. The Model 3s can’t be secured to the stands, making it a bit tricky to walk around while adjusting their final setup or angling them to find the best listening position. There’s also no provision for spikes (which I don’t typically use). 

Setup 
I set up the KLH Model 3s about 9 feet apart, roughly 4 feet from the back wall, and angled inward at the primary listening seat. The tilt of the KLH’s stands aimed the tweeters roughly at my seated ear height. But I had to tilt the stands a bit further backward, as my listening seat is a couple of inches taller than the typical listening chair.

I requested three Model 3s for the left, right, and center channels (thus the title of this review!). Why? Because on its stand, the Model 3 can be positioned in the center without blocking my TV or retractable projection screen (when the latter is in use). Viola… matched front channels! Of course, they can never be perfectly matched, as room positioning somewhat alters the sound of any speaker. But it’s close, and this is the first time I’ve ever had the opportunity to have identical front-channel loudspeakers. Identical speakers across the front are easy with an acoustically transparent screen, but I prefer a solid surface screen for projector reviews. 

I used a Denon AVR-X6700H AV receiver to drive all the loudspeakers, apart from the subwoofers. The rest of the system (surrounds, Atmos speakers, and subwoofers) was an eclectic mix. As I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, my large room provides limited deep bass support for full-range loudspeakers without subwoofers. The room also contributes annoying modal peaks between 100 and 200Hz, measured at the listening position. The only method I’ve found to correct these issues without significantly rearranging the room—not possible in my situation where the speakers must work with projection screens that can’t be moved—is by using bass EQ. More on that is below.

Music 
Driven full range without subwoofers, the KLH Model 3’s deep bass wasn’t overly impressive in my large, open-concept room. The good news was that my room’s 100-200 Hz peaks, which I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, were down somewhat in level and less audible than usual. There wasn’t a trace of boom or muddiness, and hard bass transients were as tight as a… umm… drum. But the bass fundamentals were either low in level or missing. This was clearly a room or setup issue, and neither could be changed.

I attempted to dial in Audyssey below 300 Hz, as is my usual practice (more on this in the Model 3 plus subwoofer section, below). But so much boost was required that the KLHs distorted when fed music with strong bass transients. Then I turned off Audyssey and simply increased the Bass control on my Denon AVR. Too much, and the overload raised its head again, but I settled on +2. That doesn’t sound like much, and it isn’t, but it did a surprisingly effective job restoring missing warmth and improving the KLHs’ bottom end in my challenging room. It didn’t throw down the gauntlet to a good subwoofer or two, but on music, the KLH 3 bass was surprisingly satisfying. Your situation may vary, and in a more modestly-sized space, you might not need any such tweak at all. 

On a wide selection of music, the KLHs now performed impressively well. There was a small bump in the response around 2KHz, visible in my in-room measurements (see the Test Bench). On less-than-pristine recordings played back at high levels, this was clearly audible as an added sheen to the sound, but it was rarely intrusive. However, this is a highly resolving loudspeaker and may not be favored by listeners who prefer a warmer and less revealing sound.

On my favorite demo cuts, the Model 3s rarely put a foot wrong unless the recording was known to have issues. While organ recordings didn’t blow out the walls on the subwoofer-less KLHs, they didn’t sound unrealistically lean. Ditto on the consistently tight drums, whether the music was classical or jazz. 

I often fall back on two compilation CDs from Dali loudspeakers that were available a few years ago but not any longer. They were mastered from a range of exceptional recordings with artists both familiar and (in the U.S.) unfamiliar. These include Toto, Bo Stief Dream Machine, Loreena McKennitt, Elvis, Holly Cole, Sinne Eeg, and Deadmau5. Every cut I played from these discs—and others as well—delivered.

I knew I’d need to add subwoofers to the Model 3s for movie playback, but I first tried it on the KLHs with music. The result wasn’t disappointing. The KLH Model 3s blended seamlessly with my system’s two subwoofers (SVS PB3000s). I also used Audyssey when the subwoofers were involved, but only below 300 Hz. While the results without the subs were rewarding on most music and would certainly be more so in a more modestly-sized room, it won’t surprise any reader that even on music, adding a pair of large subwoofers raised things to another level. While on some music, it made little difference (as it should be with a proper setup), when you bring on the heavy artillery—drums, organs, electronica, on either music or movies—the overall improvements are impossible to miss.

Movies 
In the subwoofer setup briefly addressed above, and as in my review of the KLH Model 5, I used the Denon AVR’s Audyssey MultEQ XT32 room EQ together with Audyssey’s optional Editor App. But only below 300 Hz. The KLH’s native in-room response above that frequency was left alone, apart from an occasional +/-1 db setting on the Denon’s treble control as needed by the source material. As before, the KLH’s rear panel switch was set to Mid, and the grilles were installed. 

I briefly noted above how adding a subwoofer or two helped the Model 3 with bass-heavy music in my large room. But it was a necessity with action-heavy movies. I won’t apologize to those who may have tired of my using the film Oblivion in reviews. I know this soundtrack extremely well and have vivid expectations of what to expect from it. The subwoofer-ed Model 3s didn’t disappoint in the slightest. Jack’s opening narration was clean, clear and free of unnatural sibilance. Played back at room-filling levels, the crescendo accompanying the opening title was dynamic as you could want and then some. And while the crack of the lightning as Jack maneuvers his chopper through a storm was harshly bright, if you’ve ever had lightning strike within a mile or less of you, you’ll know that this is a jump out of your skin experience—as it was here. 

The crisp dynamics continued as Jack landed his chopper in a decaying stadium. There was a ton of deep bass here, and while the credit for this must go to the subwoofers, the Model 3s blended in flawlessly. Later, in Act 3, the music swells as Jack prepares to take Julia to the Tet. From there to the end, I had a hard time adjusting my critical reflexes, as this stretch of the film, to its end, is my favorite sequence. The electronic music score plays a big role, as it does elsewhere in the film, and nothing in the Model 3s performance let me down.

Blade Runner 2049 is a frightening experience for most subwoofers, and the Model 3s, again, blended with them perfectly. The soundtrack here ranges from big moments to subtleties, and it was in the latter moments, where the Model 3s needed no support from the subwoofers, that the KLHs excelled. 

The extended version of Kingdom of Heaven (not the crippled theatrical release) is a sonic masterpiece. The audio flows gorgeously, from the subtlest scenes to the battles. And while the dialogue and effects are seamless on the Model 3s, it’s in the music that the KLHs again demonstrated their superb performance. The film has been criticized, often with good reason, for its historical flaws. But if you’re as sensitive as I am to how a score can enhance a film, this mattered little as the film’s superb soundtrack, heard on the KLH Model 3s, blew away any such misgivings about the plot. 

Conclusion 
The audio world is full of fine speakers at under $1500/pair. Which is best? There’s no reasonable answer to that often-asked question; it depends on your tastes and needs. The KLH Model 3 can compete head to head with any of them and offers a unique blend of superb sound, an included stand that will allow it to perform at its best, adjustability, and a unique, vintage look with up-to-date audio performance. 

How does it compare with the KLH Model 5? While I reviewed that product, it’s been a year or so since I’ve heard it and audio memory is far shorter than that. With its larger woofer and box, The Five offers more bass extension, but I still needed a sub or two on challenging film soundtracks, at least in my large room. But if you add a subwoofer, the Model 3 offers similarly high performance, and the money saved vs. the Model 5s can go to your subwoofer fund!

Test Bench

The in-room results shown here were produced using the Parts Express Omnimic measuring software and microphone, taken at the main listening seat 10 feet from the speakers, with the latter on their included stands and angled in to directly face the microphone. 

All the results here were taken at the single, seated, ear-level position. (Experience in my room has shown that an average of several readings, taken across a span of about 2 feet, differs little from the single position measurement, apart from smoothing out small ripples.) All curves here are 1/6th octave smoothed, the Model 3s rear switches were set to Mid, and the AVR’s tone controls were off.—TJN

Fig.1 Red: Left channel, KLH Model 3 full range response, no subwoofers, no Audyssey room EQ. Blue: Left channel, KLH Model 3 with two SVS subs, 90Hz Xover, and Audyssey room EQ engaged only below 300Hz. 

Fig.2 Red: Left channel, Blue Right channel. With 2 SVS subs, 90Hz Xover, and Audyssey room EQ engaged only below 300 Hz on both channels.