KLH Model Three Bookshelf Speaker - Mahogany, Each

Recommended Component 2024 - Stereophile

"One of the Best Deals in Audio," Says Stereophile

Second in line in the KLH Model Collection, the Model Three stand-mounted bookshelf speaker continues the KLH acoustic suspension legacy of accurate audiophile-quality performance. This charming bookshelf speaker serves as the perfect solution for music enthusiasts with smaller listening spaces.

"Recommended Component" Honors

Stereophile honored the Model Three by awarding it the magazine's coveted Recommend Component status for 2024.

According to Stereophile, expected, and he also admired the KLH's transparency. 'Understated transparency; it didn't call attention to itself. Detail wasn't hyped,' he wrote, adding that the M3 'preserved the richness and warmth inherent in the music.'"

"Fun and Refined"

"I think the KLH Model Threes are one of the best deals and best-kept secrets in audio," reports Robert Schryer in his December 2022 review for Stereophile . "The M3 delivered both fun and refined audiophile sound, at a price I consider almost laughably low. It delivers music in a way that made this long-time audiophile shake his head and smile."

"The Model Three always sounds taut, rhythmic, and controlled, helping to connect with the music on an emotional level. I wanted to listen longer and rediscover all my old favorite pieces of music," notes Mark Gusew, StereoNET.

"A Unique Blend of Superb Sound"

"The audio world is full of fine speakers at under $1500/pair. Which is best?" asks Thomas J. Norton in his December 29, 2022 review forSound&Vision. "The KLH Model 3 can compete head to head with any of them and offers a unique blend of superb sound, an included stand that will allow it to perform at its best, adjustability, and a unique, vintage look with up-to-date audio performance."

"Now with respect to sound quality, I’m not going to beat around the bush. Like the Model Fives, the Three’s are amazing," raves Andrew Robinson, "The Recovering Audiophile," therobinsonbrand.com.

Designed to Please in Every Respect

Just like the KLH Model Five, listeners have the flexibility to place their Model Three’s closer to the wall than the average tower speaker. Or with even more convenience, you can fit your Model Three on a bookshelf. So, it's ideal when you don't have a lot of room for an audio system, but you still want good sound quality.

The high-frequency driver is a 1" aluminum dome tweeter with soft rubber suspension. The low frequency driver consists of an 8" pulp-paper cone with reverse roll rubber suspension and a 1.5" diameter flat-wire voice coil.

The KLH Model Three is manufactured using real wood veneers, cast aluminum baskets, and gorgeous, sustainable MDF cabinetry. Like the Model Five floorstanding speaker, the English Walnut Model Three bookshelf speaker comes with a beautiful Stone Wash Linen grille cloth that magnifies the rich finish of the real wood veneers. Meanwhile, the West African Mahogany finish is complemented by the gorgeous Old-World Linen grille cloth that never fails to make a striking statement.

Acoustic Suspension

First introduced in 1954, the acoustic suspension principle has long been regarded as onethe most accurate of all the loudspeaker designs available. Edgar Villchur and Henry Kloss worked together to bring the original AR-1, and several later models, including the well-known AR-3, to market. Several brands, including KLH, would adopt the acoustic suspension principle and use it in their loudspeakers designs for many years to come.

This design principle dominated the speaker market well into the 1970’s. In an acoustic suspension design, the volume of air inside the enclosure serves as a cushion of air, or air spring, to provide a restoring force for the woofer cone. The air inside the enclosure essentially becomes the dominant part of the woofer’s suspension.

Since the volume of air inside the enclosure is more linear than the mechanical parts of the woofer’s suspension, this enables the woofer’s diaphragm to move in a more linear fashion. This enables the driver to operate at higher excursions with less distortion than more traditional bass-reflex type systems.

Acoustic suspension systems are regarded all over the world for their greater accuracy, tighter bass transients and exceptional bass resolution and texture.

Model Three Upgraded Features

For easy integration in your listening room, a three-position acoustic balance control helps to tailor the loudspeaker’s output for the most difficult acoustic environments. Each speaker includes its own 8˚ slant riser base made of powder coated 14-gauge steel, and this riser base contributes to the superior sound quality of the Model Five.

The custom KLH cabinetry features a structurally reinforced 3/4” MDF enclosure and a low-profile magnetically attached grille. A thirteen-component crossover network uses high quality iron-core inductors and Mylar capacitors.