KLH Model 8 (1962–?)

The KLH Model 8 - usually written "Model Eight" - sits in the gray zone between table radio and serious audio component. KLH introduced it in 1962. It was an all-transistor FM table radio with a built-in speaker, a slide-rule dial and a built-in line cord antenna. It ran on AC, with an optional battery supply for portable use, and had a stereo headphone jack. Original price was about $100. That's roughly the sum of what's solidly documented.

Collectors care about the Model 8 because of its reputation. Radio Museum describes it as one of the best-sounding table radios ever made, with a warm, detailed character that surprises people. The same source claims it shares its tuner front end with the KLH Model 18. At least one owner contradicts that, saying the 8 is a table radio, the 18 a tuner, and the two aren't the same. Take the relationship with a grain of salt. Both sides agree the 8 is a good-sounding little FM set, not a high-fidelity tuner in disguise.

Owners report the small built-in speaker can't produce deep bass, which is no surprise in a cabinet measuring roughly 10.5 × 4.6 × 7.9 inches. The tuner itself is said to be sensitive and selective. Radio Museum notes that restoration is straightforward for someone who knows vintage transistor gear. The usual suspects are leaking electrolytic capacitors, bad solder joints, and a worn tuning cord. Parts are scarce, so check the capacitors and the cord first.

Expect asking prices between $150 and $400 today, depending on condition. The record is thin beyond that. There are no power output figures, no frequency response numbers, and no confirmed production run length. A 1983 advertisement in High Fidelity (May 1983, p.4) touted KLH's quarter-century tradition of quality sound.