KLH Audio Model Seven Awarded Men’s Journal 2026 Tech Award

KLH Audio Model Seven Awarded Men’s Journal 2026 Tech Award

It’s been a busy Winter and Spring here and thus we’ve neglected to properly celebrate an award the Model Seven won this February… In case you missed it, Model Seven was awarded the “Best Standing Speaker” for the Men’s Journal 2026 Tech Awards (!). 

While we’re no stranger to winning awards (see below graphic as proof), it’s always nice to have your work recognized, especially when it’s done so by a publication (and journalist) that commands so much authority and has an excellent legacy. Speaking of history and legacy, Men’s Journal was founded April 13, 1992, almost exactly 34 years ago from the date this blog was published. Not old by some standards, but in the magazine world, 34 years is a very healthy run. 

But we’re not here to talk about Men’s Journal, we’re here to talk about our favorite subject, US. Per John Brandon, the author and tester in charge of this portion of the Men’s Journal 2026 Tech Awards:

“No one had to twist my arm to test the KLH Model 7 floorstanding speakers, which measure 41-inches tall on the included risers. Inside the mahogany cabinets there’s an air spring that precisely controls bass response, as opposed to letting Kendrick Lamar blast you with a roomful of mush. On the song “Aurora, IL” by Cassandra Jenkins, a guitar solo erupted like a geyser but somehow never sounded distorted—a testament to what $6,000 buys you.

Kerry Geist, the lead engineer at KLH Audio, told me the Model Seven speakers emphasize bass quality over bass quantity. That about sums it up. On the song Lose You Again by Manchester Orchestra, the low-range bass and warm acoustic guitar make it seem like the band is in the room with you, ready to share a beer between sets. Fleet Foxes sounds so smooth you can hear the ticks on the drumset and slight finger slides on the guitar. I used an Onkyo TX-RZ50 receiver, which supports the critical 4 ohms spec for low impedance.”

One thing that stands out to us is how important bass quality is for people who do a lot of listening. We actually just wrote an article all about bass, which we named “Bass, Baby, Bass” because apparently the folks in charge of writing these articles don't mess with metaphors. But the point that John makes in his summary was, “…there’s an air spring that precisely controls bass response, as opposed to letting Kendrick Lamar blast you with a roomful of mush.”

This is such an important point and exactly why Model Seven impresses so many people. In many cases, when people really turn up their speakers, they notice a decline in bass quality. The word John used in his review was “a roomful of mush” and that can definitely happen when you don’t have the right speaker in the right space. 

The big issue with bass is just how much it interacts with the room. As we discuss in our Bass, Baby, Bass blog, most speakers today are “ported”, which means there’s a hole in the speaker that air travels out of. That expelled air and energy bounces off walls and leads to that “mushy” feel that John alludes to in his article. 

However, the Model Seven (and indeed, the entire Model Series lineup) all employ a sealed cabinet design, which is called Acoustic Suspension. If you read our marketing, you’ll be intimately familiar with Acoustic Suspension because we talk about it so much. Our obsession with Acoustic Suspension technology isn’t unfounded though! We love it because we know that it produces better bass, and when people–like John Brandon at Men’s Journal–hear the difference, it wins awards. 

Another thing we’re immensely proud of regarding this particular award is who else won. Here’s the full list: 

What do you notice? See any trends? 

If you said, “Every speaker BUT KLH Audio on this list is a powered speaker,” ding, ding, ding, you’re a winner. No, car speakers don’t count. In a world that seems to be racing ever-more-quickly towards convenience at all costs, KLH Model Seven is positively old-school. Yes, you need a separate amplifier to make them work. No, they don’t have bluetooth. And yet, they still win awards! Tech awards! In 2026! The acoustic suspension technology we employ that gives these speakers their personality and signature punch is more than seven decades old. 

We see a lot of people use “timeless” in their product messaging. It’s a word that feels like it means a lot. After all, our most valuable asset in this life is time. But, how many things are truly timeless? We’d argue technology that’s still winning awards three-quarters of a century later is pretty darn close to being on its way to timeless. 

And we didn’t even talk about just how darn beautiful these speakers are. Real wood veneers, thoughtful mid-century modern design and a commanding presence all lend themselves to something that feels just at home in the most modern spaces as it does in a classic James Bond (the Sean Connery ones, of course). We like to think that it played a role in the Model Seven winning the Best Standing Speaker category, though John doesn’t specifically mention it… we won’t hold it against him. 

In an industry seemingly obsessed with the next software update or the latest Bluetooth specs, we’re happy to see something classically “old-school” win awards, especially if it means the music stays front and center. The Model Seven isn't just a piece of tech; it’s a commitment to the idea that some things, like the physics of great sound, don’t need to be reinvented. Thank you again to John Brandon and the team at Men’s Journal for recognizing that sometimes, the most advanced thing a brand can do is stay true to its craft. We’ll see you in the listening room.

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