Bob Fonseca at United States of Analog spent a month with the new Model Fours before publishing his review. In his video, he sets the terms: "No keep-y, no payment, no PR department control." Having a nervous disposition, our PR guy was sweating.
But truthfully, it’s better this way. It’s important to us that reviewers spend serious time with our products and have the time to develop thoughtful opinions without being swayed by our team. What we want to know is, once the novelty of a new product wears off, do they keep coming back to it day after day?
Based on his review, we believe Bob does indeed.
On sound
We knew he would come in skeptical of the aluminum-dome tweeter given his penchant for Klipsch, but his conclusion after four albums: "No harshness, no sibilance." Nice.
He also said Model Four sounded "Smooth, lush, detailed;” and mentioned they had, "That tight bass, that beautiful lower mid-range that really gets your feet tapping."
On the music
Bob picked four albums that cover a lot of ground: Tracy Chapman—Tracy Chapman;
Bill Withers—Live at Carnegie Hall; ZZ Top—Eliminator; and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers—Moanin’
- On the Blakey: "They are playing in your living room on the Fours."
- On the Withers: "It put me dead center in the middle of the room."
- On the ZZ Top, played without a subwoofer and pushed hard: "I quit before the Fours did."
On what it made him feel
Bob’s thoughts on Model Four took us in a direction we weren’t expecting:
“The fours don’t really make me nostalgic for vintage gear, but they do make me nostalgic for the way we used to listen to music.”
Apt, given the recent surge in interest in physical formats, group listening and unplugging from the digital world to detox with tunes. People are exhausted with the pace of the world and glowing screens. Listening to music with friends helps slow everything back down to a more manageable speed (33 rpms, to be exact).
- "These speakers have the power to reach the masses."
- "Speakers like this really belong in a communal setting."
The verdict
- "KLH have a real winner here in regards to price, size, and sound."
- "These speakers are always thrilling, but never annoying."
We will take that.
Watch the full review from United States of Analog
Shop the Model Four
The Model Four is now available now in English Walnut, Black Ash and White Oak, $1,999 per pair, with our 10-year warranty.