The KLH Model Five: A Legend Reborn
Few names in American audio carry the weight of KLH. Founded in 1957 by Henry Kloss, the company built its reputation on musical, honest loudspeakers that people could live with for decades. The KLH Model Five is a modern realization of that heritage, a three way floorstanding design that pairs mid century craftsmanship with the acoustic suspension principle Kloss helped popularize. If you are looking for a speaker that treats music with warmth and control rather than flash, this is a compelling place to start.
What Acoustic Suspension Actually Means
The heart of the Model Five is its sealed, acoustic suspension cabinet. Rather than using a port to reinforce low frequencies, the design relies on a sealed enclosure where the trapped air acts as a spring behind the woofer. The practical result is bass that is tight, controlled, and free of the overhang or boominess that can creep into ported designs. The 10 inch acoustic suspension woofer delivers real weight down to 42 Hz, but it does so with a sense of discipline that lets bass lines stay articulate and rhythmic.
Above the woofer sits a dedicated 4 inch midrange driver and a 1 inch aluminum dome tweeter. This true three way arrangement means the midrange, where voices and most instruments live, gets its own driver optimized for that critical band rather than being asked to do double duty. The frequency response reaches up to 20 kHz, giving the Model Five extension and air at the top without harshness.
The Acoustic Balance Control
One especially thoughtful feature is the three position high frequency level switch, KLH's Acoustic Balance Control. This lets you tailor the treble to your room and taste. A lively room with lots of glass and hard surfaces might benefit from a more relaxed setting, while a heavily furnished space can be brought back to life with a touch more energy up top. It is a small control that pays real dividends in getting the balance right where you actually listen.
Design and Craftsmanship
The Model Five looks the part of a classic. Real wood veneer cabinets are offered in English Walnut, Nordic Noir, and Mahogany, each finished with the mid century modern sensibility that defines the KLH aesthetic. The knit grilles complete the look, evoking the era in which the original made its name. At 36.4 inches tall and 54.4 pounds each, these are substantial, serious loudspeakers that will anchor a room both visually and sonically.
Sound Character and Ideal Use
The Model Five is voiced to be natural and full bodied. The sealed bass gives it a foundation that never overwhelms, the dedicated midrange lends vocals presence and texture, and the aluminum dome tweeter adds detail without becoming fatiguing. This is a speaker for people who listen to whole albums, who value tone and coherence, and who want a system they can enjoy for hours. It suits a dedicated two channel listening room beautifully, and it will feel at home with everything from acoustic jazz and classical to rock and vintage recordings.
A Speaker That Rewards Real Amplification
Here is the essential point. A loudspeaker makes no sound on its own, and the Model Five in particular asks for a capable partner. With a sensitivity of 85 dB, a nominal 6 ohm impedance, and a recommended amplifier power range of 50 to 200 watts per channel, this is a speaker that comes alive when fed an amplifier with genuine current. Underpowered, it can sound polite; given real muscle, it opens up with dynamics and grip that reveal what the acoustic suspension design can do.
Amplifier Pairings
For a warm, characterful presentation that plays to the Model Five's musical nature, the LEAK Stereo 230 Integrated Amplifier is a natural match with its rich tone and classic sensibility. If you prefer a more modern, feature rich integrated with plenty of headroom, the Audiolab 7000A Integrated Amplifier brings clean power and versatile connectivity. The TEAC Audio AX-505 Stereo Integrated Amplifier is another strong choice, delivering controlled, refined power well suited to the sealed bass. For a streaming first, all in one approach, the Onkyo Muse Y 50 80th Anniversary Special Edition combines network streaming with integrated amplification in a single elegant unit.
If you want to separate amplification from your source, the Eversolo AMP-F8 Power Amplifier provides the current to drive the Model Five with authority when paired with a preamp or streaming preamp. And for those building a home theater around these speakers, the Yamaha RX-A4A offers a capable multichannel foundation.
Source Components
To feed your system, the Cambridge Audio EXN100 Network Player is an excellent modern digital source with high resolution streaming built in. If your library lives on disc, the Magnetar UDP800 MKII SACD and Media Disc Player handles CD, SACD, and more with real quality. Either paired with one of the amplifiers above completes a system worthy of the Model Five.
Where the Model Five Sits in the KLH Range
Within KLH's floorstanding lineup, the Model Five represents the classic three way acoustic suspension expression of the brand's heritage. If you are considering the range as a whole, the KLH Model Seven offers a step up point to explore within the same design philosophy. Both share the KLH commitment to sealed, controlled bass and real wood craftsmanship, so the choice comes down to your room, your listening goals, and how much of that KLH signature you want to bring home.
How It Compares to Other Floorstanders
Every floorstander is designed around a particular goal. The Model Five is about the acoustic suspension ideal, sealed bass and a natural, coherent three way voicing in a vintage inspired cabinet. If your priorities lean toward a compact British two way with a refined, room friendly presentation, the Spendor A2.2 Two Way Floorstanding Loudspeaker takes a different path to musical enjoyment. If you are drawn to high sensitivity horn loaded dynamics and a large scale, energetic sound, the Klipsch RF-7 III Floorstanding Speaker is designed around that goal instead. None of these is universally right; the best choice is the one whose design philosophy matches how you listen.
Come Have a Listen
All Elite Audio is an authorized KLH dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so we encourage you to reach out and let us arrange a listen to the KLH Model Five and help you assemble the right amplification and source to bring it to life. Contact us and we will be glad to help you plan your visit.