In this review, we will be comparing Model Five and Model Seven, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Model Five and KLH Model Seven first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Model Five | KLH Model Seven |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | KLH
United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 4" | 5" |
|---|
| Woofer | 10" Pulp-Paper | 13" Pulp-Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-20k Hz | 38-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90.5 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-200 watts | 20-250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 20.00kg / 44lbs | 35.82kg / 78.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 34-1/4" x 13-3/4" x 13"
870.0 x 350.0 x 330.0mm | 41" x 18" x 12-1/4"
1042.0 x 458.0 x 312.0mm |
|---|
Model Five and Model Seven are members of KLH's Model series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Model Five and Model Seven are 3-way speakers.
KLH Model FiveKLH Model Seven
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KLH Model Five |
KLH Model Seven |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4-inch |
1 x 5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10-inch
|
1 x 13-inch
|
Model Five features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 4" Midrange and 1 x 10" Pulp-Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz and 2850Hz. On the other hand, the Model Seven features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 13" Pulp-Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
Model Five has a frequency range of 42-20k Hz whereas Model Seven has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Model Seven can go slightly deeper then the Model Five's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Model Five is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Model Seven which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Model Seven can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Model Five sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the Model Seven's is rated at 91 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Model Seven can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Model Five has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Model Seven.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Model Five features Binding post type posts and Model Seven has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Model Five's Binding post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare KLH Model Five's and KLH Model Seven's external dimensions. KLH Model Five has external dimensions of 870.0 x 350.0 x 330.0mm (34-1/4 x 13-3/4 x 13inch) whereas KLH Model Seven has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 458.0 x 312.0mm (41inch x 18inch x 12-1/4inch).
KLH Model Five is 108mm narrower and 172mm shorter than KLH Model Seven but it is also 18mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Model Five and KLH Model Seven in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Model Five and KLH Model Seven Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the KLH Model Five is approximately 1155.0cm2 / 179.0inch2 and base area of the KLH Model Seven is approximately 1429.0cm2 / 221.5inch2. The Model Five requires 19% less surface area than the Model Seven which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The KLH Model Five weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the KLH Model Seven weighs 35.82kg / 78.8lbs. This makes the Model Seven 79% heavier than the Model Five.
Here is a comparison of how Model Five and Model Seven's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Model Five?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Model Five:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Riser base
- Grille
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of KLH Model Seven?
Here are the items that come with the Model Seven:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Riser bases
- 2 Grilles
- Owner's Manual
 Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
870mm
vs
1042mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1155cm2
vs
1429cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2500USD
vs
4998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
13 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
KLH Model Five |
KLH Model Seven |
| Brand |
KLH |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90.5 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.5 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
42-20k Hz |
38-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
13" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp-Paper |
Pulp-Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
4" |
5" |
| Crossover Frequency |
380Hz and 2850Hz |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
870.0mm (34.3") |
1042.0mm (41") |
| Width |
350.0mm (13.8") |
458.0mm (18") |
| Depth |
330.0mm (13") |
312.0mm (12.3") |
| Weight |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
35.82kg (78.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
|
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
| Available Colors |
English Walnut, West African Mahogany |
Mahogany |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
10 Years |
Siblings in KLH's Model series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | KLH Model Seven digs deeper - 38Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (91dB vs 91dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | A | KLH Model Five is the easier load at 6 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Model Seven takes more power (250W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Model Five is easier to place; KLH Model Seven is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | A | KLH Model Five is cheaper - $2,500 against $4,998, about 50% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Model Five B KLH Model Seven
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
KLH Model Seven is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 100% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - KLH Model Five looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KLH Model Seven appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, KLH Model Seven has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Model Five is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, KLH Model Five is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.