Floorstanding loudspeakers — KLH Audio Model Seven

The Model Seven is a floorstanding loudspeaker from KLH Audio, the American brand founded in 1957 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Henry Kloss, Malcolm Low and Josef Anton Hofmann. It belongs to KLH's Model Collection and draws on the acoustic suspension principle with which the brand began. It was unveiled at High End Munich 2025, after KLH had been acquired by Victrola, and launched at USD 5,998 per pair.

Key specs that matter

The speaker uses a 13 in pulp paper cone woofer with a reverse-roll rubber surround, a 5 in pulp paper midrange in its own internal enclosure and a 1 in aluminium dome tweeter. The enclosure is sealed. Frequency response is 38 Hz to 20 kHz, sensitivity 91 dB at 2.83 V and nominal impedance 4 ohms. Horizontal dispersion is 140 degrees. The cabinet is reinforced MDF, 19 mm thick with a 25 mm front baffle, veneered in English walnut. Driver frames are die-cast aluminium. A three-position Acoustic Balance Control sets output above 400 Hz at 0, -1.5 or -3 dB. Each speaker weighs 30.9 kg without its 3 degree slanted steel riser base.

Engineering and use context

Acoustic suspension, pioneered by KLH's founders, seals the woofer in a closed box so that the trapped air acts as a spring controlling the cone. A sealed box rolls off more gently than a ported one and is less sensitive to placement, which is why KLH says the Model Seven can sit close to the wall. The large 13 in woofer compensates for the lack of port output in the bass. Housing the midrange in its own enclosure prevents the woofer's back pressure from modulating it. The wide baffle supports the bass and gives the speaker its mid-century proportions. The riser base tilts the cabinet back by 3 degrees so that the drivers' outputs arrive at the listening position with better time alignment. The Acoustic Balance Control reduces the upper range in steps. The high sensitivity suits modest amplifiers, but the low impedance calls for one that handles low loads. Five-way gold-plated binding posts and magnetic grilles are fitted. An early showing at AXPONA in 2023 gave a price of USD 3,999 per pair, and a later price was USD 4,999.

Pairing

The Model Seven suits rooms of 20 to 40 m2 and amplifiers of 20 to 250 W that are stable into low impedances. Placement near the rear wall is acceptable.

Alternatives

KLH's Model Five is the smaller acoustic suspension floorstander that inspired the Model Seven.