Speaker Conspiracy! Or the Truth? KLH Model 5 Review

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Күн бұрын

KLH Model 5 howl.me/chT7uv5DpxY
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Пікірлер: 484

@scottieray Жыл бұрын

I think I'm a man of a certain age that remembers my parent's friends who could afford high end audio in the early 80s when speakers of this type were the norm. Those systems had a very clean sound that is hard to replicate. They just sounded 'smoother' than some of the modern gear.

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

Buttery to my ear, took me back to the 70's...

@thetonybrannan Жыл бұрын

Exactly. The modern Polk tower speakers are too bright sounding. IMO. That's why I'm leaning toward the KLH Model 5. I remember friends' HI-FI systems from the ’70s. They had a balanced sound.

@frederickbassett6990 7 ай бұрын

I, too, remember this time! And I am looking for it again. Most of the modern gear that I have listened to has left me wanting.. I listen to it and think that sounds OK but not like the big full range speakers we listened to as kids.

@seand7508 Жыл бұрын

Really enjoyed review! I’ve had my Model 5’s for about 4 months now and still love listening to them everyday. I’m not an audiophile by any means, but these just sound great to me. Instead of a cup of coffee though, I make an Old Fashioned when I listen to these bad boys ☕️🥃

@Staybrown11 Жыл бұрын

What amplifier are you using? Also what whiskey 🥃? 😂😂

@seand7508 Жыл бұрын

@@Staybrown11 Audiolab 6000a Play (got it for the 6000a price 🤷🏻‍♂️). Go to bottle is Wild Turkey 101. Great flavor, proof, and price. Feeling fancier, going with Knob Creek 12 or New Riff Single Barrel bourbon 🥃

@seand7508 Жыл бұрын

@@steve69chevy I’m actually in Southern California Old Fashioned: whiskey, bitters, & sugar 👌🏻 Wisconsin Old Fashioned: muddled orange slices and maraschino cherries w/ Brandy, bitters, & sugar 👌🏻👌🏻

@iancooper3460 Жыл бұрын

I love my model 5’s! Have owned for a year now and the magic has not worn off. I’ll still be surprised by certain recordings and what these speakers can do with them. I have done in home demos with a Yamaha AS-1100, Marantz 40n, and Leak Stereo 130. VASTLY different sound with each of those amps, so i think you really nailed it on that point. Shockingly, what sounds best to my ear is my trusty (and budget friendly) Yamaha AS-501. Smooth & balanced without sacrificing too much on excitement when the music calls for it.

@rensopinto2139 6 ай бұрын

Very nice. I bought a used a-s801 on Facebook marketplace. I think it’s perfect. The tone controls are great.

@greatpix Жыл бұрын

It's good to see the comeback of the bigger box 3-way speaker with several manufacturers returning them to their line-up. They were the 'normal speaker' around the '70s when I got into audio. I had a pair of Electro Research 310s that I later sold to a friend and he recently told me he still uses them and they still sound great.

@carlsitler9071 Жыл бұрын

Indeed. I have a couple pair, both with 15" woofers. One sealed and one front ported.

@colossusrageblack Жыл бұрын

So true, by the time these came around, I had already built my own.

@Audfile Жыл бұрын

Just goes to show, we have all these fancy enclosures designed to wave out the highs and minimize diffraction of the mids and turns out all you needed was..

@fishbone08070 Жыл бұрын

agreed. I also prefer sealed vs ported..

@yambo59 Жыл бұрын

Jeez I remember in the late 70's and 80's when you could buy a quality pair like these from any of the big names for around $155 to $300 each or thereabouts, hell I paid $385.00 on sale for a new pair of Pioneer HPM 100's on sale which I still have and sound good as day one, and those bastards are HEAVY and welll made-!! - I also have two pair of 300 watt Cerwin Vega LS-12, 12" three way speakers that are absolute BEASTS and need no subwoofer - however they do need a strong amp able to handle their 6 ohm woofers to get the most out of them but wow have they ever been great sounding and power handling speakers.

@plan9fromthenw Жыл бұрын

As someone who owns a pair, I would say use that knob on the back and burn those suckers in. When I first hooked them up I was worried that the high end would not work for me.When you are ready for more, toe them in and / or use the treble knob. "Break-In Period: The KLH Model Five loudspeaker will sound great right out-of-the-box. But since a new speaker include many moving parts, these parts need time to adjust to one another and therefore some amount of "break-in" is required. In order for the loudspeaker to sound its best, KLH recommends the speaker to be played at a moderate volume for at least 8 hours prior to any critical listening. - KLH" As far as the low end "The KLH Model Five loudspeaker is tuned for 6" to 24" off the back wall and at least 24" from the corner of the listening room. For an otherwise neutral listening room, this should be considered the best starting position when first setting up the loudspeakers. - KLH" Hope this helps someone. Oh and I used the L.O.T.S. method from New Record day. Thats what really took it to the next level.

@jgonzo1995 Жыл бұрын

Really like the evolutions to your video production and the B-roll shots in the transitions.

@Nonsensei-OG Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this review. It really filled in for a number of other reviews of this speaker, adding a good deal about how to evaluate this speaker regardless of the dollar amount of a system. You downplay yourself at times, but you also keeping adding more and more value to what you comment upon. Well done.

@carbon_wavelight Жыл бұрын

Solid review Randy. You pulling your son in to listen brought warmth to my heart. Reminds me of my dad saying "come here and listen to this". It was always Genesis or Alan Parsons. Those moments are some of my most treasured memories, even if I couldn't stand listening to genesis back then! I wonder if the KLH model 3's (the little brother of these) fit the bill for a more affordable alternative. Side note, would you consider reviewing the SoundArtist SC8B's? Best, Kelly

@odwatchguy Жыл бұрын

Thanks Randy, good to see you review this speaker. This sounds like a speaker that could be a good endgame speaker for someone in the 2k-4k market. Since I am not in that market, I will appreciate them from afar and wish those that are good listening.

@onebylandtwoifbysearunifby5475 Жыл бұрын

Sooner or later, they end up on the used market for a good price. Until then, speaker designing is an option with today's computer programs and even plans available online. You can get a lot of return on investment there, especially if you build the cabinets of large speakers and don't have to pay for shipping. Make them double wall and fill it with sand, or use constrained layer dampening from nuclear submarine technology. You can probably get pretty close for $500-$700, I'd imagine.

@lcarr1560 Жыл бұрын

I've noticed the same about sealed box speakers. Diff amps make a huge difference in how they sound. One of my favorite combos is HK 430 (25wpc) with some Boston Acoustics A150s. Will bring a tear to eye ....it sounds so good.

@riccitone Жыл бұрын

Straightforward and comprehensive…and you always get us chuckling! What you pointed out differently than others..that they very much take on the characteristics of the equipment ahead of them. That was helpful, and makes me want to consider these down the road 🙏🏼👍🏼

@ianorigbo7617 Жыл бұрын

Had these for 8months now. Just like described in the video, the 5's can do magical things. Love them with any type of music. Sounds like real music. 👌✌

@daviddrake6875 Ай бұрын

Wow! That is what I wanted to hear. What amp do you use.

@ianorigbo7617 Ай бұрын

@@daviddrake6875 Audia flight FL three S amp

@swinde Жыл бұрын

I would think this would be considered an acoustic suspension design. The original KLH brand was acoustic suspension. The founder of KLH had been employed at Acoustic Research in Boston. The original speaker of this type was the AR-1W and the AR-3. This design was a break through allowing for bass down to 30 Hz in a very small (at the time) box. 1.7 cubic foot. The down side is they require more amplifier power, but with the power available now it is no issue.

@l.b.stringfellow2413 Жыл бұрын

Really good to see more traditional speakers even in young millennials home ( I have 4). They all have Klipsch heritage hand me downs but I have heard these KLH and was very impressed with their attributes. Another great great review that puts me right there with you , has really become your signature!! Also noticed all the shout outs from other reviewers.. congratulations on the new review and your continued success!! You are now my favorite when u post a new review!!

@lwdp74 5 ай бұрын

Hey Randy, I really like your reviews from this era. My system was built with yours and a few other’s reviews and I’m really pleased with the result. Keep up the good work!

@jeronronnunkoffunk4691 Жыл бұрын

Glad to see the revival of the the brand and some large 3 ways with 10” or larger woofer! Have heard very positive reviews as well, appreciate how you emphasize the transparency of the speakers and the impact of the sources in front of them, it’s great guide to potential buyers on what to expect depending on their electronics! Enjoyed the review sir! 💯💯👍🏾🔥

@bencarignan2711 Жыл бұрын

Great review amigo! I hope this means we'll be seeing more reviews of these retro 3 way floorstanders. Maybe the Magnat Transpulse 1500 next?

@donaldroeder1063 Жыл бұрын

Great review as always. Love to hear your take on things always refreshing and real to life than other reviewers. What would yu pair these with to create a sorround system?

@billd9667 Жыл бұрын

I think that Henry Kloss would like them. R.I.P., Henry - and thanks for everything! On the power thing, my old KLH Model 35 system came with the KLH 6s. It had 20w RMS. It was more than adequate. It was played LOUD when asked. While I’m sure that the new 5s are a bit less sensitive, I would bet that 20w would suffice.

@Flarptube Жыл бұрын

I am sure Mr. Kloss would approve as well. I have heard or owned much of what he had a hand in and had the good fortune of having a chat with him half a century ago.

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

My Model 5's are keepers, they are not going anywhere. And Randy is spot on with his transparency remark and equipment choice. I played around with some different gear, and found they sounded different with each equipment change. I find Clas A/B preamp and amps play the best to my ear. I am using the Ares II, along with the Denafrips Hades and Thallo amps with the Node 2021. Not experiencing anything hot or spicy in regards to mids or highs. Randy was spot on with his review.

@mattyj3051 Жыл бұрын

Great review Randy !! I compared these with The Lintons at a dealer. For my taste Model 5’s were the clear winner. Look forward to hearing your thoughts if you compare the two.

@keithwalker8090 Жыл бұрын

I've always preferred sealed speakers. The bass always sounds right, and the setup is no fuss. A three-way done right (whatever that means) will usually sound better than a two-way. I haven't heard the KLH, paper mid, and woofer, check that. The Aluminum dome tweeter is a cringe moment for me. According to the reviews, KLH nailed it. When Cheapaudioman says a $2600.00 speaker sounds great, that puts the crown on it.

@onebylandtwoifbysearunifby5475 Жыл бұрын

Sealed are better. The question comes in at small driver size, where many people prefer a bass boost. But for large drivers, the coherent bass output of a speaker NOT changing over the frequency range (as ported do) sounds more like actual music every time. If you have room for an 8" woofer, sealed is a strong recommendation. 6" is more subjective, but 6" with passive radiator (a sealed variant) is finding its way into more and more high-end (like the $30,000 PSAudio F-30's). Sealed just sounds better, provided the bass frequencies are sufficiently represented.

@pkats9093 Жыл бұрын

Just listened to these the other day at dB audio in Chicago. I really enjoyed them and would love to demo them at home. What got me was the sound stage and imaging. Really really nice! The sealed box sound was a nice change from what I have at home also

@pkats9093 Жыл бұрын

And the real walnut veneer looks great too!

@DoctorPoo Жыл бұрын

Was really bouncing between these and the Lintons based on reviews and got the Lintons. I initially preferred the angled stands of the model 5 but these rosewood Lintons look and sound amazing.

@justoutlaw6423 Жыл бұрын

Erin explains it nicely in his video. The 5's sholud be placed near the wall, and Lintons pulled into space to achiv best performance. After that, it's only personal preference as both speakers are great value for money.

@PascalNuman Жыл бұрын

I’m busy ordering custom angled stands for my Lintons.

@DougMen1 Жыл бұрын

These really are magic. Few other speakers can achieve the clarity and detail they do, while still having such a natural, musical, and dynamic presentation. You might try the Model 3 for a cheaper speaker that can come close what they can do. As for the Lintons, I don't think they can compare. They lack the clarity and dynamics that these have.

@cheapaudioman Жыл бұрын

I’m pretty sure the Model 3’s can’t have a midrange driver

@DougMen1 Жыл бұрын

@@cheapaudioman No, they're a 2 way, but Andrew and Kristi compared them very favorably to these, and some of the guys at Just Audio actually like the 3 better

@JOEMINK10 6 ай бұрын

I bought the 3’s and have no regrets. Even though this guy is talking about the 5’s he basically just described my 3’s. My space is about 11 x 17 I’m driving them with a bryston 4b

@themastroiannis Жыл бұрын

great review! you did listen (some time ago, though) to the Klipsch Heresy IV. how does the KLH compares to the Heresy? at the end of your review you mention you still haven't found a speaker that could do 80% of the KLH. wonder if the Heresy's being more expensive...are they any better??

@MrJanfensten Жыл бұрын

Nice review. I have had tons of speakers and have settled with pair of massive Tannoys Ardens (you should try them) and a more civil three way. JBL 110. 10 inch bass driver, 5 inch midrange and a one inch high frequency driver. I haven’t heard anything better until I went 200 liter cabinets. 10 or 12 inch three way speaker from JBL, KLH or Klipsch can be special :)

@jonuiuc Жыл бұрын

I auditioned this and the Linton both in my living room. Went with these, just worked better in my space. I got the black grills as the sorta greenish linen ones, just weren't doin it for me lol. They are heavy as hell, and slippery.

@TY-ob7fz Жыл бұрын

My 5’s are paired with the Pioneer SA9100 in 1972 when KLH was made in Cambridge Mass which speaks a lot for the original being replicated again. Always loved its sound and also what Pioneer did with the SA9100 and with the paired tuner TX9100. Had the Pioneer set restored by a wizard Tony B whose YT channel is Xraytonyb and all the tlc he provides in his work as well as his channel. Sorry I’m old school and took a while to get into DAC with Oppo. Cheers 😬

@DearSX Жыл бұрын

Glad you are reviewing some not so cheap speakers. These were on my list but now at $2500, I don't know. So the Linton didn't match the magic of these in your space?

@michaelmcintyre9179 Жыл бұрын

thanks for your review ; speakers with a port have rigid woofer cones , sealed speakers , we prefer the term "acoustic suspension" developed by AR founder , and then KLH , well they are not rigid ,but more pliable , the secret is the air trapped inside the speaker enclosure , acts as a air spring, restoring the rigidity to the woofer, benefit being low frequency roll off extended , now with a ported speaker the bass tends to fall off a cliff and on the acoustic suspension speaker the bass gradually rolls off , giving it a wee bit deeper bass response. When the designer of the first AR speaker Edgar Villcar ,( type o there) was able to achieve a huge amount of bass from such a small cabinet ,as oppose to the same performance from a cabinet 4 times the size ,the only down side is they need a lot of power

@jeffreypicciolo7706 Жыл бұрын

I have 'em...just breathtaking. Driving them with 50/watts a side NAD. They just are so musical.

@redstarwraith Жыл бұрын

I said on some other reviewer's review that for me, the Wharfedales curb-stomp the KLHs in the Looks Dept. but . . . those black KLHs look really nice. Especially with their grills on.

@bencarignan2711 Жыл бұрын

Did you connect these to your Akatika amp? Really curious about that pairing.

@hammalammadingdong6244 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for another great review, amigo. I should have jumped on these when they were $2K a pair, but alas I didn't. These are uptown troubles.

@BJyelhsA Жыл бұрын

I'd love a Linton comparison. Never heard the klh but the vocals on a Linton were like nothing I've heard before, simply superb

@xsamitt Жыл бұрын

I agree...I have the lintons and they are fantastic!!!

@cenzo92 7 ай бұрын

I ended up going Lintons over these. Fantastic speakers.

@gregoriokakilala5734 Жыл бұрын

i love the sound of my KLH model 5. Paired it w/ McIntosh MA 252 hybrid integ amp. sources- Project RP 5.1se w/ smith otello MC ( project tube box S2 phono pre amp), CD player-MC 7008 & Music streamer-Cambridge CX v2.

@themarklar8759 Жыл бұрын

Did not even know the McIntosh MA 252 even existed, spent the last two hours reading about it after your comment. It looks amazing! And I bet it sounds amazing as well. I've been looking at Vincent since they offer hybrid designs but something tells me I need to add this unit to the list! I bet the warmth of this amp paired with the clarity and revealing nature of the KLH is fantastic. Btw I also own the Model 5 and that's why I've been on a journey over the last year for an amp that will do it more justice.

@peterbaugh51 Жыл бұрын

We have a winner here no doubt!

@Flarptube Жыл бұрын

I’m driving my KLH Model 5s with a Cambridge Audio AXR100 and your ears will bleed before this kit will go into distortion. I borrowed the subwoofer from my A/V system and it added very little with the exception of the lowest notes of an organ. These will stand on their own in a two channel system. It’s fun to play these speakers for friends and count how long it takes for them to start breathing again. The only downside to these speakers is that they will reveal crap recordings for what they are. Throw away any preconceived ideas of speaker design and sound stage until you audition these and compare to comparable speakers before making any final decisions.

@user-iq6gb6oe1p 6 ай бұрын

100%

@johnlindley3622 Жыл бұрын

Hi Randy just wondering when you say nothing at half the price gets to 80% are you including kits? I have a chance of buying a pair of upper spec’d CSS Critons made up for £1,000 what do you think sonically amp murex Brooklyn

@davidorrick63 Жыл бұрын

Another great review Randy thanks I hope you will do a comparison with the lentens have a great day

@BericBuilds Жыл бұрын

Audiophile flashlights! 👏Brilliant, 1,000,000,000 lumens with a pinky to the sky. Great review, 10" woofer sounds like a great low end.

@TheHammerofDissidence Жыл бұрын

You're the first reviewer to emphasize how these change on amp pairing. It's true, they are picky. Yes, they'll play with 40 watts but you really want a high powered amp or something very linear. I have the pma 1700ne hooked up to mine and it's an excellent combo. The bass is sumptuous. The IOTAVX stack is also a great budget pairing.

@robertgruber982 Жыл бұрын

I've been looking for a nice integrated to pair with my Model 5's and was wondering about the PMA 1700ne. Currently I have a little chinese tube pre in front of a 300 watt per channel XTZ Edge A-300 power amp that sounds really good but wanted to consolidate the frankenstein setup into a nice integrated and was considering the PMA 1700ne as well as the Marantz Model 30 and possibly one of the Rotel offerings.

@TheHammerofDissidence Жыл бұрын

@@robertgruber982 I can easily recommend the combo. The sound is very punchy with a lot of drive and somewhat energetic. It also scales the soundstage up a bit. Everything sounds a tad bigger with the Denon.

@Drackleyrva Жыл бұрын

Great review---awesome looking speakers. Do you think class D would sound good with the model 5?

@1229tedwilson Жыл бұрын

I bought a pair of the Model 5s a few months ago, and I could not agree more with everything in this review! I run the vintage looking speakers using some vintage gear, a Hafler DH-200 amp (I built from the kit back in the day...) and the Halfer DH-101 preamp. The Model 5s are just a joy to listen to, and I can listen to them for extended periods of time without any "listening fatigue." When I bought these, I went into the store to listen to some KEF LS50 metas, thinking that was what I was going to buy based on reviews. But when I heard the KLHs, for my preferences, there wasn't any contest. They aren't cheap, true. But I see these as a long-term investment that I hope to be enjoying for a decade or more.

@Bob.martens Жыл бұрын

I sold my LS50meta's for the 'poor' man's model 5's: Lintons. No contest here either.

@tkusterb Жыл бұрын

I love my Model 5's also. Great sound on music and movies and everything I throw at it. I was lucky to get mine on sale for $950 each (1900 total) before the price increase. They remind me of my JBL L100s from back in the 80s (LOVED those!) and always put a smile on my face.

@NeverStark Ай бұрын

Still loving them? What are you driving them with?

@tkusterb Ай бұрын

@@NeverStark Oh yes I still love them. I'm using an Emotive BasX A3 amp.

@NeverStark Ай бұрын

@@tkusterb Great to hear. You're giving them a nice amount of power. I'm enjoying mine with a really clean 50 wpc A/B integrated amp, but I'm about to swap that with something more robust and see how the Model 5's respond. Should be interesting.

@tkusterb Ай бұрын

@@NeverStark I put a single Model 3 in the center, so that Emotiva (a 3-channel amp) gives each up to 140 wpm and a nice full sound.

@kylegiangrande9611 Жыл бұрын

thank you for the great videos! would you please do a review of the monoprice pure tube amp? I own one and I like it fine but I would love to hear some professional reviews of it and they're no where to be found on youtube!

@l.b.stringfellow2413 Жыл бұрын

Oh the difference in sound with various electronics is spot on

@jimshaw899 Жыл бұрын

Terminology: A bass reflex is not an acoustic suspension speaker. Port= bass reflex / no port= acoustic suspension. :)

@cheapaudioman Жыл бұрын

yes... I messed that up. I'm sorry.

@andrewsmith3121 Жыл бұрын

'Tango in the Night' is another awesome song to listen to with these speakers. I have them powered by a Doge 10 MK3 tube amp, and they are certainly very capable and thoroughly enjoyable to listen to.

@oleplanthafer7034 Жыл бұрын

That recurring mid-sixties north-west pacific frat-rock snippet is an excellent choice for showcasing the Model 5!

@BasementShopGuy 8 ай бұрын

I really enjoyed your review. Your song choices as well - like minded musical taste. Honest review and you've helped me make my choice. Thanks!

@sabrowenie Жыл бұрын

As we start downsizing our house (3500 sq/ ft) for retirement next year I’ve auditioned a few pairs of new speakers all with bass ports. Subjectively found all lacking in clarity and soundstage compared to my current lineup of restored AR3 and CS-99A. Both air suspension. Yeah bass seems to be more apparent in the new ones but I don’t listen to bass heavy music. I’ll find room for the the current ones when we move.

@MattCoykendall1 Жыл бұрын

These are great with the Audiolab 6000a.

@rosewoodsteel6656 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review. I have a 70's Harmon Kardon 930, 45 watts per channel, bi-amp. Any thoughts on what the model 5's would sound like powered with the HK?

@134nismo Жыл бұрын

One of the better reviews of this speaker. With explanation in different music styles. Excellent use of switching up amps. I love to check speakers out with Faith no More albums The Real Thing . Track - woodpecker from mars and war pig. Nowadays with Bluetooth you can really freak out a stereo section at best buy.

@dfwoverland 10 ай бұрын

I am looking at these speakers. Large room. High ceiling. What amp would you recommend. Awesome review.

@helmuttemmen3047 Жыл бұрын

Hallo Randy, eine sehr gute Vorstellung der neuen KLH Boxen.Klassiches Arrangement der Chassis Anordnung, 20-25cm Bass ,10cm Mitteltöner ,und 2,5cm Hochtöner regelbar, geschlossenes Gehäuse.Damit macht man nichts verkehrt und es klappt Klanglich immer weil jedes Chassis seine eigenes Frequenzband optimal ausspielen kann.Diese Bauweise hat sich schon vor 50-60 Jahren bewehrt. liebe Grüße aus Duisburg/Germany Helmut

@dougnichols3358 Жыл бұрын

Randy - if they sounded a little too hot, did you turn down the treble control on the back?

@guillermocamacho497 Жыл бұрын

Hi. How do you think if paired with Emotiva PT1 and BasX A2? Or maybe with the PT2 and the BasX Monobloks

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

I ran them with a first generation XPA2 amp, and they sounded fantastic.

@mechart87 Жыл бұрын

Powerman 5000, what the nostalgia!? Just found your channel and subscribed!

@spoudaois4535 Жыл бұрын

Please help. Just got these for my living room. I don't find them as present as my kef q150s (they are in my bedroom). I play a lot of dance music. Should i add a subwoofer or just return them for KEF P950s?

@jeffjohnson3504 Жыл бұрын

Just got my Rega Planar 2 turntable hooked up nice sound!

@MusicLover-01 Жыл бұрын

Especially appreciate that you try to find the 80/20 in cheaper comparable alternatives 👍

@deeptill6735 Жыл бұрын

I would really love it if you could tell us how these work with the Emotiva PT1 and A2 combination.

@ramondelgado6778 Жыл бұрын

Hi Randy! Loved the review! Compared to the Wharfedale Lintons? I smell a speaker shootout!!!!! Thank you brother!

@jlemons01 Жыл бұрын

I've got these hooked up to a Vidar and they're fantastic.

@clarkdb17 Жыл бұрын

Same for me. Was using a small BasX emotive amp I had laying around first and I wasn’t really that impressed. I got the Vidar and everything really opened up. Sounded like a different speaker.

@jordankashuba3467 Жыл бұрын

I had a pair ported 10" or KLH speakers I got at cosco for 300 bucks in 2001. They sounded good but I had them hooked up to my Dynaco power 400 with pat5 preamplifier and matching 22 band eq. I ended up trading them to somebody for a set of Infinity 10" towers which I still have to this day.

@prayimiss Жыл бұрын

I would be curious to get your take on older speakers, given you are the cheapaudioman afterall. I've picked up a mint pair of Fischer STV-884s for cheap, I think they are from the mid 80's. Now I know when it comes to audio equipment from the 80's it's all regarded as mostly junk. I think they play really nice and are way cheaper than a brand new set of similar 3-way towers. Paired with a Kenwood KM-105 and a Kenwood KD-64f linear turntable.

@normanham6142 Жыл бұрын

Good review Randy. I still would choose the Wharfedale Lintons. I like the slightly bigger midrange and the lower price. The 8” bass driver is good enough for me as I run subs in my stereo rig. It’s so subjective. I simply love the sound of the Lintons. Love to hear your thoughts on the two compared directly. I feel others would too. I’ve seen some reviews comparing the KLH 5’s head to head w/the Lintons, and it seems people are split after hearing both. I’d be surprised if there was a clear winner. I imagine there would be some things one liked better on the 5’s and some things one preferred on the Lintons. I like the stands for the 5’s.

@Carl-bd1rf Жыл бұрын

@Fisher Man I picked up a very nice pair of original Fortes from CL had the crossovers recapped just because of their age and I’m cranking them as we speak!!

@michaelmcintyre9179 Жыл бұрын

the KLH midrange , yes it is smaller 4 inches , but unlike the original Model5 1969 which had 2 midrange speakers , The motor assembly is huge , a huge magnet , smaller size promotes better dispersion, Linton is really laid back sound

@ManuelMedellin. Жыл бұрын

I agree, at this price range they are pretty spectacular Monitor type floorstanding Sealed speakers. In terms of Width of Soundstage they should beat most Towerspeakers, especially all at that 2000 $ price range. In terms of clarity and Imaging and Depth of Soundstage, maybe the Triangle Borea Br09 do come close, they totally surprised me with how forward the Vocals came, pretty detail centered Speaker and very holographic just like the Model 5. They're just 1200 $ so half the price of the 5.

@puddleduckist Жыл бұрын

These sure sound nice! I have an old set of klh speakers I got from costco many yrs ago. I never new klh made speakers that were this nice!!!

@superdougie10 Жыл бұрын

The frequency attenuator on the back is to help the speaker not be so hot on the top end many people have compared the lintons and the KLH Model 5 and they've liked the linton's better but the lintons are actually less money without the stands I bought a pair of Lintons for $1200 without the stands which I thought were just ugly and Im not buying anything I dont like. Now I bought my Lintons in the Open Box section at Crutchfield and they were without the stands and I really saved a bunch and they came as flawlwss. They're phenomenal for that price I mean I'm just blown away never heard the KLH, I almost bought them but then I didn't so can't wait to hear your comparison of the two. Andrew and his wife have reviewed both and wished Linton had sent them much earlier because they felt the Linton's actually were slightly better then the KLH Model fives. Just Saying! Thanks for the review.........

@victorbotello1718 Жыл бұрын

I’ve paired my model 5s with the Rega Brio. Good pairing imo. Thx for the video review!

@themiswood7918 Жыл бұрын

I’ve tried that pairing but switched out to a vintage Sansui Au 555, it gave a much bigger soundstage and things sounded more 3 Dimensional. The Rega Brio is definitely no slouch and I love that amplifier but I preferred it on my B&W CM5s than on the KLH5s.

@benryals7475 Ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the review. I’m just curious how they compare to Polk R

@Skarphedin Жыл бұрын

Great job, i have a question, can they be placed up against the wall being sealed? Or is that misunderstod 😄 also i kind of got the idea that better amp gives better sound on the Klh, anyway Thanks for your opinion 😎

@cheapaudioman Жыл бұрын

Yes you can!

@shitsandwich1983 Жыл бұрын

hey randy, do you think these would be as magical if they had a non-metallic tweeter?

@sopasadena1499 Жыл бұрын

Wonder how these compare to me refurbished AR2ax speakers with the HiVi tweeter / indictor mod

@rjzlwop3153 Жыл бұрын

Good day to you magical man, I loved the review by chance are you familiar with the awesome warranty that KLH puts behind their products? if my memory serves me right they’re the only speaker company that gives this long of a warranty.

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

I did call them when I thought the Cambridge CXN V2 fried one of the mid range drivers in my new model 5's... Electronic volume went ballistic, thought I blew the speakers. Got rid of that POS real quick. I called KLH for parts, was willing to purchase a new driver, turns out the driver was fine, but they still sent me one, no charge. And you get a real person on the other end of the line, I believe it was David I spoke with. He is in management, and it sounds like they run a real lean operation, he was there in Indiana. Real down to earth guy, we talked for a bit, very impressed.

@tommorrison9724 Жыл бұрын

I never had a chance to demo these, but your review is consistent with the raves that these received almost anywhere. The only thing I heard in a similar price/style category are the Lintons, which I liked quite a bit for the price. Would love to see you do a comparison review of the two.

@Desanusor Жыл бұрын

go check erin audio corner channel the lintons seems way better !

@sdrtcacgnrjrc Жыл бұрын

Is that the Wharfdale Linton Heritage?

@ianorigbo7617 Жыл бұрын

Don't believe everything you read, I would say the 5's are better if you lack space, much better bass control but if you got the space go for the lintons. I demo'd both at home and preferred the more focused sound of the 5's. But that's just preference you may prefer the Lintons.

@Koba123 Жыл бұрын

@@Desanusor I’ve demoed both the Linton’s and the Model 5’s and I personally preferred the Model 5’s sound, but they’re admittedly much more expensive. The Model 5’s are more clear sounding. To be sure though, the Linton’s are less fatiguing and might be better for all day listening.

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

@@Koba123 The fatigue issue may be the electronics, in my case the DAC. Going to the Ares II cured my "fatigue", the Model 5's were the icing on the cake. Listening to them now. And that is one thing Randy stated, that I have not heard any reviewer state that matches my experience, these speakers are extremely transparent in regards to the electronics you throw at them. I have solid state preamps and class D amps here along with Class A/B. The A/B sounds the best, at least to my ear, zero fatigue. I'm using all Denafrips, Ares II, Iris DDC and their Hades and Thallo amps.

@HolyPT Жыл бұрын

The standard for impedance is to have it go up or down by 20% but a 6ohm speaker going down by 40% (3.7ohm), seems quite messed up, specially for this kinda price of speakers.

@ryurc3033 Жыл бұрын

Years ago, a friend brought me 2 KLH cabinets, 4 feet tall, 2, 12" woofers in each. Have no idea what they cost new, but his ex had kicked both woofers, so I re-coned em, and have used them for the last 10 years with my pioneer receiver. Honestly not an audiophile, just want it loud without distortion.

@jeffjohnson3504 Жыл бұрын

Big 3 ways of yesterday are unbeatable! When I turn mine on for guests they are blown away!!!! 15 inch woofers with tweeter and midrange 5.25 cubic feet of Box does the trick! If Randy can’t find anything close to these speakers $1250 a side seems like a bargain. Sometimes you just have to get use to large rectangular boxes in your room for awesome sound.

@anthonyrondolino8148 Жыл бұрын

Interesting to compare Buchart amp/400/stands(2k+2k+450) to Buchart amp & KLH w/stands (2k+2k)

@howard5992 Жыл бұрын

the price is the same for each set - 5k 2500 + 2000 + 450 2500 + 2500 With the Buchardt you need to pay for the stands but you can get a discount on the amp In truth the speakers have a generally different sound profile. Some like one more than the other.

@harryburnett7086 Жыл бұрын

Randy I love these type speakers , Model 7 next 🤔 12 in woofer type , ok I'm awake now lol

@michaelhastie7324 Жыл бұрын

Dang! That KLH reminds me of my old accoustic suspension/ Yamaha NS-690's., with the exception of the grill, the woofer 12", the midrange dome , .75" tweeter and wonderful cabinet finish over heavy particle board.... Oh yea and the price... ($775.00 per pr.) OK, so there is very little to compare the two...... so what?

@jtavegia5845 Жыл бұрын

They look like my old AR-58's that have a 12" woofer rather than a 10". I have never felt the need to buy something else in the last 30+ years since I bought them new for $800 a pair. I have had to refoam the woofers twice, and the midrange once, but that was easy to do. I am sure those that own these "5's" will love them.

@bencausey Жыл бұрын

You should hear them with Denafrips Pontus, Ayre K-5xeMP pre, and Pass Labs X150.5 amp. Truly, truly end game.

@gregorypeetros1083 Жыл бұрын

Dude....Cool channel, good to see you! Hope all is well?

@yambo59 Жыл бұрын

Its about time we started seeing some with THREE WAY SPEAKERS. The price on these is insanely high, I have two well made Cerwin Vega 300 watt 12" three way LS-12's that will kick the crap out of these and they cost WAY less. I bought mine when speaker prices were still normal, I paid $179 each for my Cerwin Vegas years ago and they are still playing like brand new. I never have liked two way speakers, always a hole in the middle no matter what they claim to do to them and youre right this style in three way are WAY better than two ways which by the way also cost WAY too much for what they are. KLH used to be affordable now they have went way up in price, hopefully in quality as well.

@vincentvirga2106 Жыл бұрын

"Air Suspension" = sealed box. Bass Reflex is ported OR has a passive radiator. In either case there is a second vibrating member that is tuned to the free air resonance of the woofer.

@spoudaois4535 Жыл бұрын

How much does the break end period affect the sound? Sound a bit muffled new.

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

What are you using to power these, and which DAC? I own these, and they were fantastic right out of the gate. The gear will play a lot into the sound, trust me on that.

@andrewgillis8572 Жыл бұрын

WAAAIT the whole issue of box versus open baffle is room loading - and hey once you load the room IE run enough volume, lwith Cornwalls or Bozaks or JBLs, now your woofer being boxed IE baffled might be a help. High end you need, time alignment IE placement (and as always choice of driver, crossover type & parts) and I imagine you do want baffle below a tweeter to avoid floor reflections. Other question would be coaxial driver versus d'Appolito/mtm.

@rapier5 Жыл бұрын

That a very traditional design could render such great results really calls into question the reason for the hundreds of clever new design ideas that keep coming out. I'm thinking in terms especially of the big front baffle and widely separated drivers. What is a mystery to me are the stands with the upslope. That up slope sort of throws a curve into the dispersion equation, apparently in a good way. so why not other similar size and design speakers. And how about bookshelf speakers on stands. How about them near the floor with an upslope. Well it would look dumb, but.....

@franknelissen8041 Жыл бұрын

Randy, regarding the bells in For whom the bell tolls, did you listen to the original recordings? On CD? Or do you have any of the reissue vinyls from Metallica?

@stensarapuu5208 Жыл бұрын

Was about to buy those, but then a local hifi-store had Revel f206s for 2200 euros on sale, so went with those. So that would be my tip for anyone - check if local hifistores have some demomodels that they are trying to get rid off - can get a great deal.

@danielbrown2715 Жыл бұрын

Another great review, as you seem to be expanding into more expensive gear from time to time please i would love you to review the new Mission 770, a very similar type of speaker which is getting outstanding reviews at moment Steve Gutenberg, Andrew Robinson etc all loving it would really appreciate your opinion on it as well if possible?

@DougMen1 Жыл бұрын

Now you're talking about almost twice the price of these, as the 770 is $4400

@danielbrown2715 Жыл бұрын

@@DougMen1 yeah fair point, it's £3000 over here in England

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

@@DougMen1 I about fell over when I saw the price of the Missions. I'll keep the 5's

@toneswinger Жыл бұрын

I wonder if he can do a review on the new PSB passif similar to the model 5s closer to the model 3s but with a passive radiator

@michaeld1378 Жыл бұрын

Would really like the KLH 5 compare to Linton vid.

@plan9fromthenw Жыл бұрын

There is one available on KZfaq

@kevirose Жыл бұрын

Got a pair a month ago and loving them. I am struggling to find a quality amp to match. I tried the Marantz 40n but the base seemed too boosted. I tried the Yamaha AS1200 and the base was insipid. I am going to test the Marantz Model 30 this weekend and am hoping it will be just right. Any recommendations?

@JaccoSW Жыл бұрын

How about the Technics su-g700? You get some automated tone control with its LAPC. plus it has VU-meters.

@michaelwright1602 Жыл бұрын

I found, to my ear, Class A/B sounds the best with these speakers along with an R2R ladder DAC. Currently using the Denafrips Ares II, Denafrips Hades and Thallo amps. I have tried other pre's and amp's, the XTZ Edge A2-400 does not do these speakers justice or the Schiit Freya pre's. Nor does a delta sigma DAC, Schiit Gungnir, again, to my ear. I have played around with this gear, Denon, Cambridge, Schiit, XTZ, Emotiva, and the Denafrips gear wins hands down. It offers the best sound to MY ear, especially for Jazz, Rock and R&B, just sounds incredible. I believe it is the Class A/B amplification, along with the R2R Ladder DAC architecture, not so much the brand that really brings out the best in the 5's.

@AmericanAudioCompanyUK Жыл бұрын

Try the Schiit Ragnarock Amps. We did a show here in the UK with the 5's paired with the Schiit and it was SO good, even bettering the Parasound that was twice the price.

@creville9331 Жыл бұрын

how did you find the midrange with the Yamaha as1200? How was the Model 30?

@TheHammerofDissidence Жыл бұрын

Denon 1700ne. Fantastic combo.

@carlsitler9071 Жыл бұрын

I've been listening to Tool for 10 years but just listened to Chocolate Chip Trip for the first time today. Holy Schiit Audio! I only remember a couple groups with drums so center stage. Santana Abraxas and Adam Ant.

@galessi1226 Жыл бұрын

I am new to Tool...( am an old King Crimson fan).......and I am entranced with their song" Pnuema.".....