What the KLH Model Four Is and Why It Matters
The KLH Model Four is a three-way acoustic suspension loudspeaker designed as a sub-2000 dollar speaker option that combines wide-baffle, shallow-depth cabinetry, KLH’s classic sealed-box engineering, and modern driver technology to deliver room-friendly, high-fidelity sound for a broad range of living spaces. Positioned as the newest member of the KLH Audio Model Collection, the Model Four arrives after a low-key listening preview at CES and a formal debut at High End Vienna, where KLH presents it as a two-channel music-first design rather than a cinema-focused speaker. This model targets listeners who want a high-end speaker cabinet that fits real rooms, from smaller apartments to larger listening areas, without demanding fussy placement. With international availability planned within months and pricing aimed at serious but cost-conscious enthusiasts, the Model Four becomes a key contender in the under-$2,000 acoustic suspension speakers segment.
Design: A High-End Speaker Cabinet Built for Real Rooms
The Model Four’s appeal starts with its cabinet. KLH uses a wide-baffle, shallow-depth enclosure, echoing the proportions of the larger Model Seven but in a more compact footprint. The speaker measures 13 inches across the front and 8.25 inches deep, and even when mounted on its 6-degree slanted riser, total depth stays under 11 inches, making it the shallowest design in the Model Collection. That geometry matters for buyers who cannot pull speakers far into the room. Acoustic suspension speakers use a sealed cabinet with no rear port, so the Model Four is more forgiving when placed near walls, in corners, or along bookcases. KLH positions it as a high-end speaker cabinet that can deliver controlled bass and stable imaging in a range of room sizes, reducing the usual trade-off between sound quality and furniture-friendly placement.
Engineering and Voicing: Classic KLH DNA Under the Grille
Internally, the KLH Model Four is a compact three-way acoustic suspension design built around an 8-inch pulp-paper woofer, a 4-inch midrange, and a 1-inch aluminum dome tweeter. It borrows its 8-inch woofer from the Model Three and shares midrange and tweeter architecture with the Model Five, aiming for a familiar KLH voicing focused on natural vocals, midrange clarity, and controlled treble rather than show-off brightness. According to eCoustics, the woofer is rated to reach down to 46Hz, giving the Model Four meaningful bass extension without resorting to a large floorstanding cabinet. A three-position Acoustic Balance Control switch, inspired by classic 1960s KLH designs, lets listeners trim midrange and treble to suit room furnishings and placement. Five-way gold-plated binding posts round out the hardware, underlining that this is intended as a serious stereo loudspeaker for music-first systems.
Positioning in the Model Collection and Sub-$2,000 Market
Within KLH’s portfolio, the Model Four fills the gap between the more compact Model Three and the larger Model Five and Model Seven, without replacing any of them. It uses an 8-inch woofer and midrange like the Model Three, combines the wide-baffle, shallow-depth stance of the Model Seven, and aligns its tweeter and crossover strategy with the Model Five. This mix gives KLH room to serve listeners whose spaces or budgets sit between those earlier designs. KLH Audio states that the Model Four will be sold at USD 999.99 (approx. RM4,600) each, or USD 1,999.98 (approx. RM9,200) per pair, placing it firmly among sub-2000 dollar speakers while still promising high-end build and engineering. That combination of price, acoustic suspension technology, and room-friendly dimensions positions it as a strong option for buyers comparing similarly priced towers and large standmounts.
From CES Preview to High End Vienna Debut and Retail Launch
KLH’s launch timeline for the Model Four is deliberate. Select press and dealers heard an early, under-the-radar preview at CES, where the speaker appeared alongside the rest of the Model Collection but without full technical disclosure. The brand saved the public reveal for High End Vienna, where the Model Four occupies its own space in the KLH Audio suite and is presented as a distinctive full-range acoustic suspension loudspeaker rather than a scaled-down version of existing models. KLH Audio CEO Scott Hagen says the Model Four “represents exactly where KLH is headed: honoring the acoustic principles that made this brand stand out while designing products for how people actually live and listen today.” The speaker is scheduled to reach retailers and direct sales channels in the coming months, with international availability expected to begin in September, giving the under-$2,000 acoustic suspension market a timely new competitor.
