The reborn US brand KLH debuted its Model Seven loudspeaker ($5998/pair) at High End Munich, proclaiming it the first of its kind: an acoustic suspension speaker with a 13" woofer.
KLH and acoustic suspension designs go hand in hand. Co-founder Henry Kloss helped introduce the concept in the mid-50s and established KLH in 1957. The key principle is to use the spring effect of air in a sealed cabinet to control the woofer's movement.
Although the Model Seven was shown as a prototype at AXPONA 2023, what I heard in Munich is the finished, ready-to-ship iteration.
Weighing in at just over 78lb each, and measuring 18" wide and almost three feet tall without the stands, it’s a sizable speaker with an unmistakable vintage vibe. The tweeter is a 1" (25mm) aluminum dome, the midrange a 5" (127mm) pulp‑paper cone, and that 13" woofer—also a doped‑paper design—works in its own sealed 2.5 cubic foot enclosure, isolating the midrange driver from woofer back‑pressure. Each Seven is outfitted with a third‑order, 19‑element electro‑acoustic crossover, populated with air‑core and iron‑core inductors.
KLH claims bass extension below 30Hz, sensitivity of 88dB/2.83V/m anechoic (about 91dB in a typical room), and power handling of 250W RMS with 1kW peaks.
The Model Seven is sold in mirrored pairs. They look great without the grilles, but buyers who prefer a more toned-down look have a choice of four magnetically‑attached grille fabrics, each featuring the vintage KLH logo cast in zinc.
The Sevens are comfortable with placement near a wall, and don’t stick out much thanks to their shallow depth (12.25’’)—so this biggish speaker may fit well in small living spaces. A three‑position "Contour" switch on the rear finetunes output above 400 Hz in ±1.5 dB steps; the "High" setting is the neutral reference. KLH's owner, David Kelley, formerly of Klipsch, explains what's inside the cabinet in this video.
With a Bryston BR-20 preamp/streaming DAC and 4B3 amplifier driving the Sevens, Holly Cole’s cover of "I Can See Clearly Now" stood out for its holographic soundstage, pristine vocals, and tight percussion. That the sound was uncolored and unhindered, with a great sense of ease, demonstrated that KLH’s modern take on a classic concept is still relevant and highly capable.
KLH claims bass extension below 30Hz, sensitivity of 88dB/2.83V/m anechoic (about 91dB in a typical room), and power handling of 250W RMS with 1kW peaks.
The Model Seven is sold in mirrored pairs. They look great without the grilles, but buyers who prefer a more toned-down look have a choice of four magnetically‑attached grille fabrics, each featuring the vintage KLH logo cast in zinc.
The Sevens are comfortable with placement near a wall, and don’t stick out much thanks to their shallow depth (12.25’’)—so this biggish speaker may fit well in small living spaces. A three‑position "Contour" switch on the rear finetunes output above 400 Hz in ±1.5 dB steps; the "High" setting is the neutral reference. KLH's owner, David Kelley, formerly of Klipsch, explains what's inside the cabinet in this video.
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