KLH Model 3 (1958–mid-1970s)

Name: KLH 3
Brand: KLH

The KLH Model Three is one of the company's original acoustic-suspension loudspeakers. It was introduced in 1958 and stayed in production into the mid-1970s. It sat between the smaller Model Two and the larger Model Four in the early KLH lineup. It is a two-way, acoustic-suspension design with a 10-inch cloth-surround woofer and a 2-inch cone tweeter. The tweeter has a whizzer cone to extend high-frequency response. The original crossover is a simple two-element network - one 10µF capacitor, one 11mH inductor - with gentle 6 dB/octave slopes at 1.5kHz. The speaker is rated at 8 ohms with 88dB sensitivity, a 50Hz - 20kHz frequency response, and 60-watt power handling. A single speaker weighed 40 lbs. The cabinet was walnut veneer with a cloth grille.

TONE audio reviewed the Model Three, both the original and the modern reissue. It describes the sound as smooth and musical, with a natural midrange and an easy-to-listen-to top end. Low-frequency output isn't as deep or defined as larger floor-standers, but for its size the sound is surprisingly full-bodied. The reissue was manufactured under license from KLH. It measured slightly better on paper (89dB sensitivity, 44Hz - 20kHz) and sounded nearly identical to the original in a direct A/B comparison, with just a bit more presence in the upper frequencies. The reissue was priced at $900 per pair.

The original capacitor values and cloth surrounds are known to drift or degrade with age. The standard restoration is to replace the crossover components with modern equivalents. Audio Classics sells refurbished originals described as "restored/refurbished with modern crossover components," and calls the same speaker floor-standing. TONE's label is "bookshelf-style." The compact cabinet works in either placement, so the two descriptions overlap. No exact dimensions or original price are documented in available sources.

- **Type:** Two-way, acoustic-suspension bookshelf/floor-standing speaker

- **Drivers:** 10″ woofer (cloth surround), 2″ cone tweeter with whizzer cone

- **Crossover:** 1.5kHz, 6 dB/octave (10µF cap, 11mH inductor)

- **Impedance:** 8 ohms

- **Sensitivity:** 88dB

- **Frequency response:** 50Hz–20kHz

- **Power handling:** 60W

- **Weight:** 40 lbs each