The KLH Model Four is a slim, sealed-box floorstanding speaker that brings the classic KLH acoustic-suspension sound into a full-range tower footprint. This guide walks you through what it is, how it is built, what its specifications mean in real listening, and where it sits in the KLH lineup so you can decide if it belongs in your room.
What Is the KLH Model Four and Where Does It Fit?
What exactly is the KLH Model Four?
The Model Four is a 3-way acoustic-suspension (sealed) slim floorstander that reproduces music from 46 Hz to 20 kHz. It combines an 8 inch pulp-paper woofer, a 4 inch pulp-paper midrange, and a 1 inch aluminum dome tweeter in a sealed cabinet that stands 32.2 inches tall with its included riser base. In practical terms, it is a compact tower designed to deliver clean, deep, low-distortion bass and a natural, uncolored voice without demanding a large room.
Who is the Model Four for?
The Model Four suits a listener who wants genuine floorstanding performance in a space-conscious cabinet. Because the enclosure is slim (just 13 inches wide) and stands a moderate height, it works well in medium-sized rooms and living spaces where a wide, bulky tower would dominate. It fits both dedicated stereo listening and music-first home theater, and it rewards anyone who values accuracy and tight bass over exaggerated boom.
How Is the Model Four Designed and Built?
What is acoustic-suspension design and why does it matter here?
Acoustic suspension means the cabinet is completely sealed, so the trapped air acts like a spring that controls the woofer's motion. This is the heart of the Model Four's character. The sealed box produces very tight, accurate, low-distortion bass that stays clean at high volume, and it delivers deeper extension from a smaller cabinet than a ported design would. The trade-off is slightly lower sensitivity, which is why the Model Four rewards a capable amplifier. KLH helped popularize this approach in the late 1950s, and it defines the brand's sound to this day.
What are the drivers made of and how do they sound?
The Model Four uses treated pulp-paper cones for the woofer and midrange and an aluminum dome for the tweeter, a combination chosen for a natural, detailed balance. Pulp-paper is a light, well-damped material that KLH voices for an uncolored tone, so voices and instruments sound true rather than tinted. The 1 inch anodized aluminum dome tweeter is light and rigid, which gives extended, detailed treble. Both the woofer and midrange use a reverse-roll rubber surround that controls cone motion precisely and lowers distortion.
What is the Acoustic Balance Control and why is it useful?
The Acoustic Balance Control is a 3-position switch on the speaker that raises or lowers the high-frequency level in small steps, letting you tune the treble to your room and taste. This is a KLH signature carried over from the original Model Five. If your room is bright and reflective, you can ease the highs down. If your space is heavily furnished and absorptive, you can lift them. It is a simple, practical way to get the balance right without external equipment.
What does the slant-riser base do?
The included angled plinth tilts the speaker back slightly to time-align the drivers at ear height and adds stability. Without the riser the cabinet stands 26 inches tall, and with it the speaker reaches 32.2 inches and sits at a slightly reclined angle. That tilt helps the sound from the woofer, midrange, and tweeter arrive at your ears in better step, which improves clarity and imaging.
What Do the Key Specifications Mean in Context?
How deep does the Model Four's bass go?
The Model Four reaches down to 46 Hz (+/-3 dB), which covers the great majority of musical bass with authority. Thanks to the sealed design, that bass is tight and controlled rather than loose, so kick drums, bass guitar, and low synth lines stay defined even when you turn things up. This is the kind of low end that adds weight and realism without muddying the midrange.
How much amplifier power does it need?
The Model Four has a sensitivity of 88 dB (2.83 V at 1 m) and a nominal impedance of 6 ohms (3.5 ohm minimum), so it pairs best with a robust, current-capable amplifier. Sensitivity tells you how loud the speaker plays for a given amount of power, and acoustic-suspension designs tend to run a touch lower, which is why a strong amplifier lets them shine. The speaker handles 150 watts continuous and 600 watts peak, and it can reach a maximum SPL of 108 dB, so it has plenty of headroom for dynamic music.
What do the crossover points tell us?
The crossover splits the music at 380 Hz and 2,500 Hz, handing the lowest frequencies to the woofer, the critical midrange to the 4 inch driver, and the highs to the tweeter. Placing a dedicated midrange driver across the vocal and instrument range is a genuine 3-way advantage, because each driver works within its comfort zone. That division of labor is a big reason the Model Four sounds clear and composed across the whole spectrum.
What connections and finishing details does it offer?
The Model Four uses 5-way gold-plated binding posts and a magnetic knit grille that attaches cleanly without visible hardware. The 5-way posts accept a wide range of cable terminations, so it fits into most systems easily. The magnetic grille lets you listen with the drivers exposed or covered, whichever you prefer, with no pegs or holes to interrupt the cabinet's lines.
Where Does the Model Four Sit in the KLH Range?
How does the Model Four compare to the Model Three, Model Five, and Model Seven?
The Model Four sits as a slim, full-range floorstander in the middle of KLH's acoustic-suspension lineup, above the standmount and below the largest towers. The Model Three is a bookshelf-style acoustic-suspension speaker for those who want the KLH voice on stands or a shelf. The Model Five is a larger floorstander and the model that introduced the Acoustic Balance Control that the Model Four carries. The Model Seven is the most ambitious of the group, using a large woofer in its own sealed sub-enclosure that isolates it from the midrange for cleaner sound, and it presents a 4 ohm load that asks more current from the amplifier than the Model Four's 6 ohm load. If you want a floorstander that balances real bass extension with a modest footprint, the Model Four is the natural middle choice.
What finish options are available?
The Model Four comes in three finish combinations to suit different rooms. They are English Walnut with a Stonewash grille, Black Ash with a Grey grille, and White Oak with a Black grille. The English Walnut leans warm and traditional, the Black Ash is understated and modern, and the White Oak is lighter and contemporary, so there is an option for most decors.
Is the KLH Model Four Right for You?
Who should buy the Model Four?
The Model Four is the right choice for a listener who wants accurate, tight, sealed-box bass and a natural midrange in a slim tower that fits real rooms. It suits music lovers who value clarity and low distortion, who have or plan to pair it with a capable amplifier, and who appreciate the ability to fine-tune the treble with the Acoustic Balance Control. Backed by KLH's heritage of acoustic-suspension engineering and a 10 year warranty, it is a speaker built to sound right and last. If you want the KLH sound in a floorstander that respects your space, the Model Four is well worth a serious listen.