KLH Model Three Bookshelf Speaker With Acoustic Suspension Design

Model

Three $1,599.98 / pair

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It’s probably more speaker than you’re expecting.

Model Three was designed for smaller rooms, and people who hear it typically say the same thing: it sounds bigger than it looks. The bass is tight and full without turning boomy, and there’s enough detail that you actually hear the person playing, not just the part.

It’s a two-way speaker, which means it has one 8-inch woofer for the low notes, and one 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter for the high ones. It’s built on the same sealed-cabinet design and mid-century styling that made KLH the top-selling name in acoustic suspension speakers. Henry Kloss, one of our co-founders, helped bring that acoustic suspension design to market in the 1950s, we explain more further down.

At 19-inches tall and 29 pounds, Model Three is more speaker than the word “bookshelf” usually implies. We could tell you much of a difference its size makes, but we’d rather you hear it for yourself.

Includes matte black steel riser base & magnetic grille
10-year warranty
Free shipping

Buy as:

1/6

Doesn’t ask you to move the couch.

Plenty of speakers come with a list of demands: pull them as far from the wall as possible, keep them out of corners, and buy separate stands. Model Three is much more relaxed.

Because the cabinet is sealed, Model Three performs well at just 6 to 24-inches from the wall behind it. The stands are already in the box: each speaker sits on its own matte black steel riser base, which tilts it back eight degrees so the tweeter is pointed at your ears instead of your knees. Take them out of the box, set them on their stands, connect them to your amplifier, and that’s it.

Every room sounds a little different. Glass, tile and hardwood can make things sound brighter, while rugs, curtains, and soft furniture can mellow things out. A three-position Acoustic Balance switch on the back of each speaker (Hi, Mid, Lo) lets you turn the treble down a notch to match your room. Start at Hi. If things sound a little bright, try Mid; that’s where a couple of our professional reviewers settled. Set both speakers the same, and trust your ears from there.

“I’m still shaking my head over the sound of these unassuming little boxes.” - Randy, verified Model Three owner

A vintage-style wooden speaker with a beige fabric grille sits on a black metal stand in front of a red brick wall, with strong sunlight casting shadows.

A modern living room with a blue sofa, red pillows, wood flooring, large windows with fall trees outside, and a colorful abstract painting on the wall.

A wooden speaker cabinet with a black front grille sits on a wooden bench in a sunlit room with brick walls, potted plants, and a window view of grass.

Real wood veneer, real metal, no gimmicks.

Model Three looks the way a KLH speaker has always looked: real wood on the outside, a wide front baffle and a knit fabric grille. Underneath, it borrows quite a bit from the acclaimed Model Five. Including similar cabinet and driver construction, resulting in a speaker that’s probably closer to Model Five than its size would suggest.

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.

Matched Grilles - Each finish comes with its own knit grille: Nordic Noir with Medici Grey, English Walnut with Stonewash, and West African Mahogany with Old World. Every grille is also sold separately, if you’d like to mix it up.

Wide Baffle - Most speakers are narrow and deep. KLH speakers are wide and shallow. It’s our signature look, and the wide front helps aim more of the music toward you.

Die-Cast Aluminum Frame - Take the grille off and you’ll see it: a die-cast aluminum frame around the woofer and a machined aluminum faceplate around the tweeter. They hold each driver perfectly still, so the only thing moving is the part that’s supposed to.

Reinforced Cabinet - A structurally reinforced 3/4-inch MDF enclosure. Each speaker weighs 29 pounds, and most of that is cabinet. A heavy, stiff box keeps the speaker from adding sounds of its own.

Magnetic Grilles - The grilles attach with magnets. No pegs, no holes. Leave them on for a refined silhouette, or take them off and see the business end of Model Three.

Slant Riser Base - Included with every speaker. Matte black, powder-coated 14-gauge steel, tilted back 8 degrees toward your ears. One less thing for you to worry about.

Less Plastic - Model Three doesn’t use much plastic, in the speaker or the box it ships in. Where we could choose more responsible materials, we did.

It’s backed by a 10-year warranty, which is our way of saying we built it to last.

A pair of black speakers with gray fabric grilles sit on a dark metal rolling media console against a rustic wood-paneled wall. A record player, framed art, and storage baskets are arranged on and below the console.

A black studio monitor speaker on a stand, photographed outdoors at night with a city skyline in the background.

A black speaker with a beige woven grille stands on a rustic wooden table next to a turntable, vinyl record, and audio equipment against a brick wall background.

The part we said we’d explain.

Model Three sounds bigger than it looks. The bass is tight and full, without the boom, and the finer details come through: a player’s fingers sliding on the strings, a shallow breath before a lyric. It’s the kind of speaker that makes you want to rediscover your favorite music again and again.

The reason it sounds this way is thanks to the sealed cabinet design, otherwise known as acoustic suspension. One of our founders, Henry Kloss, helped bring it to market in 1954 to get big bass out of a small box. It’s a 70-year-old idea and for a speaker this size, we haven’t found a better way to do it.

“Hear stuff I have never heard in recordings I have listened to for over 30 years.” - Michael, verified Model Three owner

Model Three is a passive speaker, so it needs an amplifier or receiver to work. Anything from 30 to 150 watts per channel will work. If you want everything Model Three has to give, aim for 80 to 100 watts per channel. If you’re not sure what you have will work, ask us: 877-483-2497.

8" Pulp-Paper Woofer - For the low notes. Reverse-roll rubber suspension, 1.5-inch flat-wire voice coil and die-cast aluminum frame, in a sealed enclosure.
1" Aluminum Dome Tweeter - For the high notes. Soft rubber suspension behind a machined aluminum faceplate, for smooth treble that doesn’t get harsh.
Three-Position Acoustic Balance Control - Hi (0dB), Mid (-1.5dB) or Lo (-3dB). Trims everything above 400Hz and leaves the bass alone. Start at Hi, try Mid if things sound bright, and use Lo for very lively rooms, like one with a tile floor.
Thirteen-Component Crossover - Iron-core inductors and Mylar capacitors, the woofer hands off to the tweeter at around 1,600Hz.
46Hz-20kHz Frequency response (±3dB) - The range of notes Model Three plays at full strength. Human hearing tops out around 20kHz.
35Hz Low-frequency extension (-10dB) - How low it still reaches, just more quietly.
88dB In-room sensitivity - How loud it plays with a little power. Model Three is comfortable with modest amplifiers.
6 ohms - Nominal impedance. Works with most home amplifiers and receivers.
150W - Power handling
600W - Peak power handling
108dB - Maximum in-room SPL. Louder than your neighbors will want, invite them over.
140° - Horizontal dispersion. The sound holds steady up to 20 degrees off-center, so the whole couch gets a good seat.
19" H x 12.25" W x 10.5" D, 29 lbs - Per speaker, without riser. 28.25" H x 11.5" D and 36 lbs on the included riser.

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

Reviews & Full Specs

Acoustic suspension and a high-displacement 8-inch woofer deliver deep, controlled bass with remarkable accuracy and ease.

Specifications

Dimensions

Height: 28.25" (71.8cm) w/ Included Riser Base; 19.0" (48.2cm) w/o Riser Base

Width: 12.25" (31.1cm)

Depth: 11.5" (29.2cm) w/ Included Riser Base; 10.5" (26.7cm) w/o Riser Base

Weight

Weight: 29Ibs. (13.2kg) w/o Riser Base; 36Ibs. (16.4kg) w/ Included Riser Base

What's Included

Riser Base

Grilles

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between the Model Three and the Model Five?
Mostly size. Both are sealed acoustic suspension speakers with real wood veneers, the same wide-and-shallow cabinet and the same family sound. Model Five is a larger, three-way floorstanding speaker with a 10-inch woofer and a dedicated midrange. Model Three is a two-way with an 8-inch woofer, built for smaller rooms or rooms where floor space is already spoken for. Both are happy sitting closer to a wall than most speakers. The comparison table above has the rest of the details.

What makes the Model Three’s sound distinctive?
Mostly the sealed cabinet. Many speakers this size use a port, a vent that lets air move in and out to squeeze out a little extra bass. It works, but the bass can get muddy or boomy. Model Three is sealed, so the air inside acts like a natural spring behind the 8-inch woofer and helps it start and stop on time. This results in bass that sounds tight and clear, and voices that come through cleanly, whether that’s a singer or a line of movie dialogue.

Do I need an amplifier?
Yes. Model Three is a passive speaker, which means it doesn’t have an amplifier built in. Any home amplifier or receiver rated between 30 and 150 watts per channel is a good match. The five-way binding posts on the back accept bare speaker wire, banana plugs, pin connectors or spade connectors, so you can use whatever wire you have.

Do I need a subwoofer?
Probably not to start. Model Three plays down to 35Hz, which covers the bass in most music in most rooms. If your room is larger and more open, or you watch a lot of action movies, a subwoofer is worth considering later. We’d suggest living with them for a while first.

Warranty

KLH backs the Model Three 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.

Each speaker includes its slant riser base and magnetic grille.

Hear it from the people who do.

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Another Step Closer

I’m still shaking my head over the sound of these unassuming little boxes. I’ve been an avid audio nut since the silver-faced 70’s, and can truly say that these Model Threes are the best window into music I’ve ever experienced. It may be a combination of a lot of things: superior build, a highly-refined acoustic suspension design, great components, ease of placement, etc., but something has come together in a way it never has before. Specifically, the bass is articulate and tuneful. No more “thumps” where there should be a distinct note. There’s a sonorous weight to piano passages coupled with an impressive clarity that I didn’t think was even possible with an 8-inch two-way system. I could go on and on.
If you ever get a chance to audition these speakers do so, and bring some good source material with you. Fantastic…

So Good!

Found the Model 3’s from online reviews. Listened to at Decibel in Chicago and bought. I love the speakers. Hear stuff I have never heard in recordings I have listened to for over 30 years. While they are listed as bookshelf speakers, they pack quite a punch. They look unique and sharp on top of the stands included. Get em!

The right speaker for any room

You must get yourself a pair of the klh model 3. It's not too big and not too small, just right for any setup. Customer service is top notch. They respond right away, friendly, fast service. And they will work with you. They give me a discount when they went on sale after I bought them. That says a lot about a company. Henry kloss was a great pioneer who invented one of the greatest sounding speakers of all time, and still going strong today. These speakers look so beautiful in my living room, and I can't believe the sound coming out of that small box. And the three-position acoustic ballence control makes it easy and fun to control the highs and lows just the way i like it. I am using my 65 watt per channel integrated amplifier and it sounds awesome. And I tried it with my emotiva 100 watt per channel amplifier and believe me the model 3 had no problem with the power. Feed it what you want, you will be surprised. By the way these speakers are on sale at the time of this review. I Highly recommend them

Beautiful speakers

Great sounding speakers! Full beautiful, rich sound! And they are beautiful to look at!

Absolutely Fantastic speakers

I purchased a pair of model 3 almost two years ago for a review for my youtube channel elrief1. I was absolutely floored by these speakers, i never expected to hear quality detailed sound like this. The bass is amazing. These speakers will be part of my permanent collection, I have plans to purchase a pair of model 7 eventually.