“I was introduced to sublime sound by Henry Kloss (Acoustic Research, KLH, Advent) in the early 70's when I first heard a pair of KLH speakers and I am thankful that I never got over it. I was equally enamored with the large (2-way) Advent speakers which he also designed and produced. These were all fairly simple speakers by design but they always sounded far superior to anything else I was able to get my ears on. I was always in search of whatever might sound better and amused that other speakers that looked great on paper (better graphs & specs) simply never sounded as good.
Needless to say I was curious but skeptical when I read that the KLH Model Five & Model Three speakers were being produced and I wasn't willing to purchase purely for nostalgic reasons. KLH produced speakers for many years after Henry Kloss had exited the picture and none of them compared to the early offerings. The same could be said of many (if not all) of the latter Advent models in my opinion.
So I waited to see what others had to say before I purchased a pair of the Model Fives and I would encourage everyone to believe what you read. Many of the reviews are from trustworthy sources that have auditioned speakers from all over the world, some costing fortunes more than these and still not matching the results. Also many reviews from folks like myself who simply love music and have a deep appreciation for sonic excellence.
These are wonderful speakers which have exceeded my already high hopes and expectations. I can listen for hours with no fatigue whatsoever. I now have two sets of full-range tower speakers which are collecting dust in a back room. I do not miss them in the least (brand names withheld intentionally).
Buy with confidence. Most highly and gratefully recommended!”
“I had been looking for a vintage styled speaker for a while and have been thrilled at the offerings as of late from Wharfdale, JBL, KLH, etc. This led to me stalling and unable to make a decision. After demoing the Non-KLH models in person, I was itching to hear the Model 5 in person, but no dealers in my area. I took a leap of faith and ordered a pair from Audio Advisor and I could not be happier.
First off, these speakers are plain gorgeous! (Walnut) They fit my mid century modern designed home perfectly!! And lets be honest, when your lady walks through the door and says, "Wow! Those are beautiful!" it drives it home how great looking they are.
Now for the sound! The details remain crisp and clear with no distortion as the volume goes up. Vocals sound amazing across a range of genres. I had to tweak positioning to get the mids just right, but once I found the sweet spot, boy do they sound great! Lows are punchy and thick, but do not expect a thump that you can feel in your chest. For some songs I long for a sub, but for 90 percent of my listening they sound perfect!
I am pushing them with a 100 wpc MA6300 which really makes them sing when I open her up. There are times when they sound so good I have to stop what I am doing and just pay attention to the music. Overall, I think these are cleaner then the Wharfdale Lintons and not as in your face as the JBL L100s. If you want crisp detailed sound in an visually appealing speaker, grab a set of Model 5s.”
“I bought these due to all of the consistent praise they've received online. And after several months I can say, the hype is real. I'm coming from Klipsch Heresy 3 experience, so I didn't want to lose the magic vocals, depth of stage, and dynamics…but I did want to lose the bad frequency response measurements, ie, too much frequency bloom on certain piano registers, for example. The KLH really has solved that for me - it is utterly balanced - doesn't matter what genre or recording. I'm a much more relaxed listener now because I'm not worried about any annoying peaks. It walks the line perfectly between satisfying resolution and a non-fatiguing listen. They were also easy to set up. Add to that the stunning, sparkly vocals and what more could you want! I will never sell these - they are benchmark speakers.”
“I came across these speakers somewhat by accident. I wasn't looking to replace my Klipsch Heresy IVs, but the positive feedback on the Model 5s compelled me to audition a pair. Um....wow. The Heresy IVs are no slouches, but it's like the Model 5 refines and clarifies everything. They sound amazing in my large (20 x 30) room, even without a subwoofer! Along with Klipsch Heritage, I've owned speakers for 2-channel listening from Vienna Acoustics (Mozart), Magnepan (3.6, 3.7 panels), and Dali (Helicon 800). The top-to-bottom performance of the Model 5s bests them all. Most speakers have a couple of strong points and them some deficiencies...it's always a bit of trading off, then you have to account for which electronics and cables they's paired with. For me, the Model 5s paired with my Marantz Ruby integrated amp is just perfect. Tuneful, precise but not analytical, cohesive, a huge holographic soundstage that's especially apparent on well-recorded vinyl, and amazing bass response that's highly musical without being boomy or bloated (if you want chest-pounding bass, these aren't your speakers, but if you want palpable, musical bass that doesn't overpower the midrange and tweeter, wow!). Bottom line: I am 100% satisfied and quite honestly these speakers are worth 2-3 times their asking price. You will find yourself listening to music non-stop because once broken in (give 'em a good 50 hours or so) you just can't stop smiling. They make music the joyful experience it should be. Bravo, KLH!”
