KLH Model Five Floorstanding Speaker with Acoustic Suspension

Model

Five $2,999.98 / pair

Compare

A classic, reimagined.

Model Five first appeared in 1968 and went on to become one of the best-selling loudspeakers of its era. We brought it back in 2021. Today's Model Five keeps what was worth keeping: a sealed acoustic suspension cabinet, a dedicated midrange, real wood veneers, and that wide, unmistakable face. However, much of the engineering under the hood is new. A 10-inch woofer handles the bass, a dedicated 4-inch midrange takes care of voices and instruments and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter rounds out the top end.

The result is full-range sound with tight, controlled bass that has real weight behind it, in a cabinet built to look great in a living room for decades. If you have the space for a pair, and you've been waiting for a speaker that sounds as good as it looks, this is probably it.

Includes riser bases & grilles
10-year warranty
Free shipping

Buy as:

Looks right, sounds right.

Three finishes, each paired with its own linen grille: English Walnut with Stone Wash Linen, West African Mahogany with Old-World Linen and Nordic Noir with Medici Grey Linen. Want to mix and match? Every grille cloth is sold separately.

Because Model Five is a sealed acoustic suspension speaker, it's less fussy about sitting near a wall than ported speakers. At 13.75 inches wide and 11.5 inches deep, it has undeniable presence, but shouldn’t have you rearranging furniture.

Every room sounds a little different. That’s why we include a three-position Acoustic Balance Control on the back of every speaker, which gently tames the mids and highs. This allows you to adjust Model Five for bright rooms full of glass, tile and hardwood or dull rooms replete with soft, carpeted areas.

A black bookshelf speaker on a metal stand in a home theater setup next to a wooden cabinet with vinyl records.

A tall floor-standing bookshelf speaker with a textured gray front grille and black side panels, displayed on a black metal stand in a cozy, warmly lit room with a brick wall, potted plant, and wooden floor.

A mid-century modern sideboard cabinet in a light beige textured finish with dark wood legs, styled in a bright room with two black floor speakers on either side, two abstract framed mirrors, and a dark blue bowl on top.

A heritage speaker. Not a retro one.

Model Five looks the way it does because the original did, and the original looked that way for good reason. We didn't add nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. We kept the real wood veneers, the wide front baffle and proportions, then used modern materials and testing to bring the sound up to modern standards.

Real Wood Veneer - English Walnut, West African Mahogany, or Nordic Noir. Natural grain means no two pairs are quite alike. We consider that a feature.

Wide Baffle - Most speakers are narrow and deep. KLH speakers are wide and shallow. It's our signature look, and it has a practical purpose: the broad front baffle helps keep more of the music in front of you, where it belongs.

Die-Cast Aluminum Frames - Take the grilles off and you'll see them: die-cast aluminum frames around the woofer and midrange, and a machined aluminum faceplate around the tweeter. They're as rigid as they look, holding each driver precisely in place and resisting resonance.

Reinforced Cabinet - A structurally reinforced 3/4-inch MDF enclosure. Each speaker weighs 44 pounds. Knock on the side. That thud is exactly what a cabinet should sound like.

Magnetic Grilles - Magnetically attached, low-profile linen grilles provide a classic silhouette. Take them off to see the drivers in action. Each grille cloth is also sold separately, if you'd like your Walnut paired with Medici Grey instead.

Slanted Riser Base - An included 5-degree riser base in powder-coated 14-gauge steel tilts Model Five back toward your ears and completes the look.

"At 74, I had longed for a system that sounded like the one I had back in the early 1970's, searched long and hard and here it is." - Michael Lehman, Model Five owner

model five floorstanding speaker with headphones

model five floorstanding speaker living room speaker

model five floorstanding speaker for home

A bigger woofer, used conservatively.

Model Five is a three-way speaker, which means the work gets divided three ways. The 10-inch woofer handles bass. The dedicated 4-inch midrange handles voices, guitars and pianos. The 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter takes care of the high notes.

A lot of modern music has bass that drops below what many older speaker designs were designed to handle. A 10-inch woofer in a sealed cabinet is how Model Five provides bass output without it distorting or sounding sloppy.

The drivers are built with parts you'll never see, but will be glad to have: a 2-inch flat-wire voice coil, a flux-stabilizing ring and a magnet structure checked with laser measurement. None of this makes for thrilling reading. It's the kind of thing you should hear rather than read about.

10" Pulp-Paper Woofer - Deep, accurate and controlled bass from a sealed enclosure, reaches down to 32Hz (-10dB). Die-cast aluminum frame.

4" Pulp-Paper Midrange - A dedicated driver for the frequencies that matter most: voices, guitars, pianos, everything in the middle of the mix. Die-cast aluminum frame.

1" Aluminum Dome Tweeter - Smooth, extended treble with soft rubber surround, behind a machined aluminum faceplate.

Three-Position Acoustic Balance Control - A three-position switch on the back of Model Five, “Hi, Mid, and Lo” trims everything above 400Hz by 1.5dB–up to 3 dB–and leaves bass alone. Bright, hard-surfaced rooms tend to want more trim; while soft, carpeted ones want less.

Thirteen-Component Crossover - Iron-core inductors and Mylar capacitors, handing off at 380Hz and 2,850Hz. The crossover decides which driver plays which note. Not the place to economize.

42Hz-20kHz Frequency response (±3dB)

90.5dB In-room sensitivity - Easy to drive, pairs comfortably with amplifiers from 20 to 200 watts.

200W - Power handling

800W - Peak power handling

112.3dB - Maximum in-room SPL

Compare products in the current model collection
Feature	Five	Four	Three	Seven
Position	Classic floor-standing	Classic floor-standing	Compact bookshelf	Flagship
Woofer	10 in.	8 in.	8 in.	13 in.
Sensitivity	90.5dB	88dB	88dB	91dB in-room / 88dB free-field
Power Handling	32Hz @ -10dB	35Hz @ -10dB	35Hz @ -10dB	26Hz @ -10dB
Recommended Amplification	200W	150W	150W	250W RMS / 1,000W Peak
Product link	Current Product	Explore Four	Explore Three	Explore Seven

Reviews & Full Specs

Acoustic suspension and a high-displacement 10-inch woofer deliver deep, controlled bass with remarkable accuracy and ease.

Specifications

Iconic Mid-Century Modern Styling

Acoustic Suspension Design – The most accurate and linear enclosure design available today

Three-Position Acoustic Balance Control to tailor the loudspeaker’s output for the most difficult acoustic environments

Dedicated midrange driver to reproduce the critical mid-frequency band

Non-Resonant Die-Cast Aluminum Midrange & Woofer Frames

Die-Cast Aluminum Tweeter Faceplate

KLH cabinetry featuring a structurally reinforced ¾” MDF enclosure

Thirteen component network using high-quality iron-core inductors & Mylar capacitors

5° slant riser base made of powder coated 14-gauge steel (included with speaker purchase)

Low-profile magnet attached grille

Dimensions (with riser base): 34.25" H x 13.75" W x 13" D

Dimensions (w/out riser base): 26" H x 13.75" W x 11.5" D

Weight (with riser base): 52 lbs

Weight (w/our riser base): 44 lbs

What's Included

Riser Base

Grilles

Frequently Asked Questions

Who designed the KLH Model Five speaker?

The Model Five was engineered from the ground up by Kerry Geist, Chief Engineer at KLH Audio. With a background at Klipsch & Associates and over three decades of experience in acoustics and product development, Kerry brought his extensive expertise to the design of the Model Five.

What makes the Model Five unique in its sound design?

Two core principles define the Model Five’s sound quality: Acoustic Suspension Design – Unlike bass-reflex systems, this design ensures consistent, clean low-frequency performance by keeping the woofer under control at all cone excursions. Dedicated Midrange Driver – This component handles the most sensitive part of the audio spectrum—where the ear detects distortion most easily—resulting in detailed and natural midrange output.

Why is acoustic suspension preferred for modern music?

Modern music often includes frequencies below 40Hz, which older speaker designs weren't built to handle. Acoustic suspension systems offer greater detail and control in this range, providing clearer, more accurate bass compared to traditional bass-reflex systems.

What are the key components of the Model Five?

The Model Five uses five major acoustic components, each engineered for premium performance without unnecessary cost. The result is a high-fidelity loudspeaker that delivers exceptional sound quality at an accessible price point. Transient Speed – The speaker’s ability to start and stop quickly in response to audio signals, capturing the crispness and detail of the original recording. Tonal Accuracy – Faithful reproduction of sound across the frequency spectrum, ensuring that vocals and instruments sound natural and lifelike. Dynamic Range – The capacity to convey both the quietest and loudest parts of a recording without distortion, preserving the emotional impact of the performance. Harmonic Integrity – Maintaining the full, rich overtones that give instruments and voices their unique character, ensuring a musical and immersive listening experience. Spatial Resolution – The ability to recreate a three-dimensional soundstage, so listeners can perceive the precise location and depth of instruments and performers.

Is the Model Five based on a classic speaker design?

Yes. The original Model Five, introduced in the mid-1960s, was a landmark product during the rise of high-fidelity audio. Its success helped establish KLH as an industry leader. The current Model Five continues this legacy with modern updates and engineering.

How does the Model Five blend into a home environment?

The speaker features a genuine mahogany veneer and an “Old-World Linen” grille for a warm, mid-century modern aesthetic. Its minimalist design and slant riser base allow it to blend seamlessly into living spaces, not just dedicated listening rooms.

What is the purpose of the slant riser base?

The slant riser base raises the speaker to an ideal height and positions it at a 5-degree angle. This ensures optimal vertical sound coverage, whether the listener is sitting or standing.

What does the attenuator switch do?

Room acoustics can vary widely. The Model Five’s attenuator switch allows users to slightly reduce mid and high frequencies in rooms with hard, reflective surfaces. This helps balance high and low frequencies for a smoother listening experience, especially in untreated spaces.

What’s involved in the transducer design for the Model Five?

Acoustic suspension speakers require robust transducers with greater cone excursion. The Model Five uses modern laser-based measurement techniques for precision in components like the magnet structure, flat-wound voice coil, and flux stabilizing ring—delivering performance and reliability.

Does the speaker include any sustainable design elements?

Yes. The iconic KLH logo on the speaker is cast from zinc and based on the original 1968 design. The speaker also incorporates recyclable and sustainable materials as part of KLH’s commitment to responsible manufacturing.

Why does the grille cloth differ from traditional designs?

To move away from the typical “man cave” aesthetic, KLH chose grille fabrics in various colors and textures. This design decision makes the Model Five more versatile and appealing in modern living rooms.

Warranty

KLH backs the Model Five with a 10-year warranty beginning on the original purchase date. The warranty covers production and material defects and is non-transferable.

To validate warranty coverage, the product must be registered with KLH within 120 days of purchase, and the original purchase receipt should be retained as proof of purchase. Products must also be purchased through an authorized KLH dealer, distributor, or reseller to qualify for warranty coverage.

The warranty does not cover damage caused by accidents, misuse, improper maintenance, electrical overloads, incorrect use, altered serial numbers, transportation costs associated with service, or products purchased from unauthorized resellers.

Shipping & Delivery

KLH offers free shipping within the 48 contiguous United States. Orders ship from KLH's Brighton, Colorado facility Monday through Friday, typically within two business days.

The Model Five is sold individually, so customers purchasing a stereo pair should order a quantity of two. Each speaker includes its 5° slant riser base and magnetic grille.

Hear it from the people who do.

Loading reviews…

Model 5s Blossom

When the Model 5s first arrived, they sounded good, but not great. I was aware that new speakers, as well as amps, tubes and turntables need to break-in, but had not experienced it. I have to say that the system (Heaven 11 Billie MK3 amp, Rega Planar 3 turntable) began quite noticeably improving after about 25 hours of play, but blossomed to sound absolutely amazing after around 50 hours. It continues to dig into detail and warm up with the vintage sound I was going for. At 74, I had longed for a system that sounded like the one I had back in the early 1970's, searched long and hard and here it is. Even better now that I can stream or do vinyl. Love the Model 5s, they fit in with our mid-century style living room perfectly, and they are quite easy to place for full soundstage detail and clarity. Completely satisfied.

These speakers could be your last.

4 stars, because nothing is perfect, but these get pretty close for me. I will try my best to draw comparisons in this review between the model 5’s and the Wharfedale Lintons because that’s the speaker I have the most recent experience with and I feel like they are a reasonable competitor.

The model 5’s are a great blend of old school aesthetics with the quality and performance of modern materials and manufacturing processes. These speakers do a very important thing for me…they get out of the way and allow me to enjoy listening to music without constantly criticizing my gear.

They are not picky about placement, or, at least not in my room.

They are only fatiguing if you are playing Van Halen at concert levels in your living room, which they can do! Don’t let their size fool you, they can rock the house or allow a jazz ensemble to lull you to sleep.

They are not picky about upstream gear. I own a vintage class a/b Pioneer SA9100 and a modern class a/b Marantz 40n and the Model 5’s sound great on both. I only give the nod to the Marantz because of the modern conveniences it has on tap.

The Pioneer does not get embarrassed or blown out of the water by any means. Folks, there is nothing wrong with well maintained quality vintage amplification. It also looks cooler than 95% of the consumer level crap out there nowadays.

The speaker cabinets feel and look high quality with decent but not over-the-top bracing and damping. The veneer work looks okay for this price point but I recently sold a pair of Lintons(red mahogany) that I thought had prettier veneers with a higher degree of chatoyance. Maybe this has nothing to do with the actual quality of the veneer but the visual effect can be dazzling in the right lighting. However, the Model 5’s have little to zero chatoyance. Not really a problem, just an observation.

The treble attenuation switch is a cool feature and for my room and ears, it stays on high or “nominal”. The medium and low settings are actually where the attenuation happens.

Bass is deeper and stronger than I was expecting. This is my first acoustic suspension speaker and I’m really digging how they respond in my room. They are, in my opinion, a sonic upgrade in every single way over the Lintons. They are more detailed and revealing but not fatiguing. They are punchier and have more Oomph on kick drums, floor toms and bass drops.

Their lower profile and raked stance helps them blend into the room a little better. They look pretty damn cool with the grille clothes removed so when people come over, I take them off for visual effect. Props to KLH for putting magnetic grille clothes on these with a pull tab on the bottom for easy removal.

If you’re a non audiophile like me and just want a badass pair of speakers to elevate your listening experience…seriously consider giving these things a try. You’ll only be disappointed if you’re a super picky no-fun-having audiophile that doesn’t actually enjoy listening to music.

Well, that’s my review! Happy listening!

Great speaker

Big sound for a small footprint.

Wow, believe the hype, these are great speakers

Wow. These are terrific speakers. Walnut with linen grills are stunning looking. sound is rich and warm. Expansive soundstage Built to last. I have KEF LS50s and Wharfedale Evo floorstanders. These are better. I have them running with a modest setup: Integra DTM 7.4 amp, nakamichi elite 12awg cables, Sonos port, svs 3000 micro subwoofer. All lifestyle grade stuff you can buy on Amazon or such. But with the KLH 5s it's simply great. Believe the reviews, the hype. These are great speakers. Worth your hard earned money. Highly recommended.

Time Machine

I have been listening to my Model 5s for three and a half years now and I never get tired of them. Since then I have acquired three box sets of the remastered Mercury Living Presence series from the 1950s and 1960s. I first started listening to them almost 70 years ago on the original vinyl on monaural and then stereo systems. Mostly uncompressed, the best way to listen to these recordings is to set the volume for the quiet passages and retreat to a safe distance because things get LOUD with no distortion or clipping. Throw away any preconceived ideas about speakers and what other people tell you and give the Model 5 consideration. Aside from great sound reproduction the one thing I truly appreciate is that speaker placement does not require a team of acoustic engineers in your living space.