In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by KLH. KLH Model Three is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Model Five is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Model Three and KLH Model Five first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KLH Model Three Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 8" Pulp-Paper Cone Woofer
- 46-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-150watts
- Weight:13.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 482.0" x 12.25" x 10.5"( 482.0 x 311.0 x 267.0mm )
KLH Model Five Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 10" Pulp-Paper Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 42-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-200watts
- Weight:20.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 660.0" x 13-3/4" x 13"( 660.0 x 350.0 x 292.0mm )
What size room are the KLH Model Three and KLH Model Five speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
KLH Model Three |
KLH Model Five |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2, Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: > 400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Model Three and KLH Model Five compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Model Three is a 2-way design whereas the Model Five is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
KLH Model Three |
KLH Model Five |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 10-inch
|
Model Three features a 1" Aluminum Tweeter and 1 x 8" Pulp-Paper Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1600Hz. On the other hand, the 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.
Frequency Response
Model Three has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas Model Five has a frequency range of 42-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Model Five can go slightly deeper then the Model Three's min frequency of 46Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Model Three and Model Five have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Model Three sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Model Five's is at 90.5 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KLH Model Five a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Model Three, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Model Three can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Model Three has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Model Five.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Model Three features Binding post type posts and Model Five has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Model Three's Binding post terminals
KLH Model Five's Binding post terminals
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 Three's and KLH Model Five's external dimensions. KLH Model Three has external dimensions of 482.0 x 311.0 x 267.0mm ( 19.0 x 12.25 x 10.5inch) whereas KLH Model Five has external dimensions of 660.0 x 350.0 x 292.0mm ( 34-1/4 x 13-3/4 x 13inch) .
KLH Model Five is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 39mm wider, 178mm taller and 25mm deeper than KLH Model Three.
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 Three is approximately 830.4cm2 / 128.7inch2 and base area of the KLH Model Five is approximately 1022.0cm2 / 158.4inch2. The Model Three requires 19% less surface area than the Model Five which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of KLH Model Three?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Model Three:
Floorstanding loudspeakerRiser baseGrilleOwners Manual
What's in the Box of KLH Model Five?
Here are the items that come with the Model Five:
Floorstanding loudspeakerRiser baseGrilleOwners Manual
Minimum Impedance 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size