In this review, we will be comparing Model Three and TSi100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from KLH and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Model Three and Polk TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Model Three | Polk TSi100 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Pulp-Paper Cone | 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 46-20k Hz | 61-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.20kg / 29lbs | 4.53kg / 10lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.0" x 12.25" x 10.5"
482.0 x 311.0 x 267.0mm | 11.0" x 7.0" x 10.1"
279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the KLH Model Three and Polk TSi100 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 |
Polk TSi100 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Model Three and TSi100 are 2-way speakers.
KLH Model ThreePolk TSi100
TweeterWoofer
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 Three |
Polk TSi100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 5.25-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 TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Model Three has a frequency range of 46-20k Hz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 46Hz, the Model Three can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the TSi100's min frequency of 61Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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 Three is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the TSi100 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Model Three sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the TSi100's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk TSi100 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Model Three can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas TSi100 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Model Three.
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 Three features Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts and TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Model Three'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 Three's and Polk TSi100'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 Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm (11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch).
KLH Model Three is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 133.2mm wider, 202.6mm taller and 8mm deeper than Polk TSi100.
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 Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The Model Three requires 80% more surface area than the TSi100 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Three weighs 13.20kg / 29lbs and the Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs. This makes the Model Three 191% heavier than the TSi100.
Here is a comparison of how Model Three and TSi100's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of KLH Model Three?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Model Three:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Riser base
- Grille
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the TSi100:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Wall-Mount template
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
46 Hz
vs
61 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
24k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
279mm
vs
482mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
460cm2
vs
830cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
2000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Model Three |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
| Brand |
KLH |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.7 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
46-20k Hz |
61-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp-Paper Cone |
Organic Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1600Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
482.0mm (19") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Width |
311.0mm (12.2") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Depth |
267.0mm (10.5") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
13.20kg (29lbs) |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
English Walnut, West African Mahogany |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
16-30" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - KLH Model Three costs roughly 13.4x what Polk TSi100 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KLH Model Three digs deeper - 46Hz against 61Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk TSi100 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | KLH Model Three takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk TSi100 is easier to place; KLH Model Three is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Price | B | Polk TSi100 is cheaper - $149 against $2,000, about 93% less; arguably a different class. |
A KLH Model Three B Polk TSi100
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 Three is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 13.4x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Polk TSi100 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KLH Model Three appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 61Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Polk TSi100 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate KLH Model Three the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Polk TSi100 for near-field listening and a small room.
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.