Reviewed: The KLH Albany bookshelf speaker
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- Founded in 1957 as KLH Research and Development Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Henry Kloss, Malcolm S. Low, and Josef Anton Hofmann, KLH developed some of the biggest innovations in audio, most notably the Model Eight high-selectivity radio; Model Nine full-range electrostatic loudspeaker; Model Forty tape recorder, and Model Eleven portable phonograph. klhaudio.com/
KLH Albany Specs:
• Two way acoustic suspension system with a 5.25” Woven Kevlar mid/bass driver, and a 1” Anodized Aluminum tweeter
• Butyl rubber surrounds and braided tinsel leads on all drivers.
• REAL WOOD VENEERS - Black Oak and American Walnut.
• ¾” MDF construction featuring custom designed internal low resonance driver chambers and bracing optimized through finite element analysis.
• Powder coated die-cast aluminum driver baskets, featuring oversized magnets for superior control and output.
• Brushed aluminum tweeter faceplate and driver fascia.
• DUAL 5-WAY BINDING POSTS
• Magnetic Grilles
• Frequency response: 35Hz-23KHz +/- 3dB.
• Sensitivity: 92dB.
• Power handling: 200 watts.
• Impedance: 8Ω.
• Crossover point: 2.4KHz
• Dimensions: 13” x 5.5” x 9.5” (H x W x D)
• Weight: 11 lbs.
KLH Price List:
Three-way Floor Standers- Kendall, $1299 pair
- Quincy $999 pair
- Cambridge (2-way), $799 pair
Two-way Bookshelf
- Albany 2-way, $479 pair
- Ames, $379 pair
Two-way Surround-Story center channel, $399 each
-Beacon surrounds. $499 pair-Broadway elevation, $499 pair
Powered subs-Windsor 10-inch, 150-watt powered sub $449
-Windsor 12-inch, 200-watt powered sub $549
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Informative Review on the KLH Albany. I have resurrected my old KLH Model 32’s from oblivion and have been enjoying listening to them quite a bit which for me is like an Audio Time Capsule unleashing a flood of great old memories of a time gone by when gasoline was 30¢ a gallon, college classes consumed my life, and the world less hectic, less complicated, and less controversial.
Also, another very cool Shirt to start the week off! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Fantastic shirt as usual Steve 👍
Love all the shirts!! wondering if Steve shops in Women's department like Robert Plant (like Robert did back in the day))
Perhaps, but not on Steve ✌🏽
@@Audiojunkabus Steve's wife makes his shirts.
The Cambridge trio AR, KLH and Advent all had thick, oiled walnut veneer that had depth and was beautiful. Especially after the yearly application of boiled linseed oil or Minwax Antique Oil, which I preferred.
Most speaker veneer today is like laminated flooring and cannot be sanded or otherwise repaired.
All 3 companies founded by Henry Klaus.
When I got married in 1976 along with my wife I inherited a pair of her fathers KLH one speakers thoroughly enjoyed them
Henry Kloss would be proud!
As FJB would say, "C'mon man," your words mean nothing without hearing. I have headphones and a great sound system w/sub. I've seen recording engineers with tin ears!
These remind me of some Energy speakers I used to have. I just couldn't like them as much as some of my other speakers. They also had nice real wood veneer, metal trim, woven fibre woofer, aluminium tweeter etc.
In the early 80's I inherited my roomate's KLH model 6, and they scaled nicely with equipment, and were stunning with Harvey's Moscode 150 and a conrad - johnson PV4. - Sandy the aging Boston audiophile.
i am always happy to see acoustic suspension designs, then i know the designer set sound quality first.
i wish reviewers also measured the woofers themselfs, because specs don't line up with i get. take my spendor SA1, 6"(150mm) woofer, when measures at home its 148mm to the very outside of the metal flange and 114mm(4.5") from outside surrounds. and the real useful measurement is effective cone area which is in this case 114mm minus rubber surround width 104mm, and not counting the loss of dust cap since it has a phase plug.
but back to the sealed cabinet design, it's a very good choice for any use, because to be a full range system you need a subwoofer anyways. but then sealed boxes responds very well to eq(ported do not) and i get flat response to 35hz on my 5" speaker. at the loss of max volume output.
That must’ve been cool to see Johansen at work in the studio, and those new KLH’s are stunning looking. I’ve got a pr. of KLH’s (Cant remember the model #), but now I’m gonna have to drag em out and give em a listen.
Depending on who you listen to, Zeppelin share billing with Sabbath and Deep Purple as the founding fathers of hard rock, but for mine Sabbath was the only one of the three to embrace metal from the get-go. Lyrically, Zep sounded like they were living in Middle Earth while Sabbath seemed to inhabit the darker reaches of whatever fantasy world lived in Geezer Butler's head. All three started in 68, a year after a Welsh band called Budgie started playing blues-based hard rock that morphed into metal by 73. I was never particularly keen on so-called 'acid-rock' but listening to doom and stoner metal today it's impossible to deny its influence on those early Sabbath albums (and thousands of others since). Kinda ironic that metal was born out of the 'peace and love' era, but it's a broad church today and I firmly believe that church will still be attracting converts long after you and I have shuffled off this mortal coil.
Thanks for the video.
KLH is being resurrected by a former Klipsch executive. They appear to have a lot of parts commonality with the affordable Energy speakers that were available a while back when they were owned by Klipsch, but they appear to have better quality tweeters and very good cabinetry, and they don't have the Ribbed Elliptical Surround design that is a Klipsch-owned patent. It is good to see the name on speakers that are more worthy of it - there was a time decades ago when KLH speakers were considered quite good. Being a sealed-box speaker is a good homage to Henry Kloss, who was a proponent of acoustic suspension speakers and produced them both at KLH and at Advent. Being both acoustic suspension and 8 ohms, they will benefit from an amp that can deliver some high voltage into them, to wake up the low end.
I have two David Johansen cds from Chesky, great stuff
The new KLH looks promising, which it is, do not underestimate the small 5” driver.
Thanks for your review, since there have been very few reviews of these speakers so far. I am partial to acoustic suspension speakers and was curious about them because there are so few acoustic suspension speakers out there. Because I like acoustic suspension, these speakers could potentially be a candidate for me. I currently have NHT speakers and am very happy with them. But these could be an option if I was in the market for speakers. I am not sure how much continuity there is between these and the old KLH sound, although the old KLH speakers were a little more forward than some other "New England" speakers. But I do not think anyone would call them "bright." These speakers may sound better with warmer electronics such as NAD or Marantz. Also, the bass specs on these speakers are a bit optimistic but as you pointed out, they look really nice. Despite a few minor flaws, they appear to be a great value at less than 500 dollars. I am glad they are starting to get more attention.
The comment about the non-port feeling good is how I feel as well. Strongly
That CD by David Johansen CD on Chesky is as you said Steve really good. It got me interested in the "Harry Smith" collections. Any suggestions on similar blues releases Steve? Good topic for a future video!
Deep River of Song: Mississippi Saints & Sinners: Alan Lomax Collection (This may have the most in common with what you're liking about the Smith Anthology. Prewar acoustic "country" blues)
Plug It In! Turn It Up! Electric Blues 1939-2005 - The Definitive Collection!: Bear Family. This is a massive collection split into three volumes. I recommend Volume 2 (1954-1967) for a great cross section of stuff from the commonly known artists that had a direct tie to rock and roll (Muddy Waters, Howling Wolf, Johnny Guitar Watson, Bo Diddley, et al.)
For what's shaking right now in the blues world, I suggest the Fat Possum Records website. They're a contemporary label (with a lot of great indie rock as of late), but their original emphasis was on contemporary regional northern Mississippi Blues: R. L. Boyce, Jessie Mae Hemphill, R. L. Burnside, and David Kimbrough are especially great artists whose work they've championed.
StephaneVorstellung John Lomax and his son Alan Lomax carried on the task of collecting the original ethnic Music of America. Their collective work is priceless. Without it the music we know so well today would be much different and be lacking in the rich cultural heritage of early American music and musicians.
David Jo! Nice review Steve.
Man, I know that Led Zeppelin has the big sound, but I think Blue Cheer beat them to the rock wall of sound. But, I grew up in the Bay Are and saw Blue Cheer long before Led Zeppelin made their debut.
Yep those two Leigh Stephens albums. Vincebus was released a whole year before the first Led Zeppelin album. I'm guessing Zeppelin held their appeal longer because had just the right ratio of brutality to listenability.
How about grand funk railroad. Man did they play loud.
@@frankieknuckles9610 A completely savage band.
Bass 3db down at 36Hz!! and sensitivity at 92db/w/m!! from a 5-1/4" woofer!! in a six-liter box!! The real KLH would not lie like that. Long live the KLH 6, a fabulous speaker. The Albany is a pretty speaker, though. I hope they stop playing fast and loose with the facts. A bad sign.
Ye can not change the laws of physics, Jim!
He did work for Klipsch remember? They're the kings of exaggerated specs. But they'll both claim they're "in room" specs. I would love to see that room. 🙄
And there it is.. The Kendall which is the biggest Floorstanding model. Case closed.
www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2148:nrc-measurements-klh-audio-kendall-loudspeakers&catid=77:loudspeaker-measurements&Itemid=153
Possibly at -6db but not at -3db.
@@epi2045 Not even at -10db, and no where near 92db@1 watt/1 meter, if they did. These are the most ridiculous claims I've seen in any spec sheet EVER! I couldn't consider this brand because of these lies. They have zero integrity in my eyes.
www.salksound.com/wp/?p=56
sites.psu.edu/speakerdesign/2013/01/24/hoffmans-iron-laws-of-speaker-building/
I can believe Zeppelin had som bad nights after a documentary I watched made a big point2 mention that after touring non-stop 4their 1st album they were so burnt out their whole dispositions changed! I think also that's why they recorded a lot of covers, so they could get done & hav time4 selves & family. I know I would miss my bed really bad after 1-2 yrs str8 touring! Still, I wished I could've seen them.
You did not miss much as they sucked when I saw them.
They had good nights too, despite 15+ minute versions of Dazed and Confused and Whole Lotta Love, and Bonhams's 20 minute drum solo. But their heavy partying on tour probably figured into their uneven performances.
Steve I noticed you get the most likes thumbs up from all the other reviewers just saying that might mean you are a fantastic reviewer😁👍💪💪👌🤜🤛👍👍👍
Led Zeppelin themselves delivered great Blues on occasion. I submit: Since I've Been Lovin' You
Early in the song Robert gets drawn in by Jimmy's subtle riffs, but then goes really really deep!
(Turn it up to 11, sit closer, and enjoy)
Wow, my Legacy Classic HD’s are black and ported. No wonder you won’t review them!
If you live in rural US, as I do, you don't have the luxury of listening to audio before you buy. So, you do get annoyed when specs are fudged.
I sampled the smaller floor stander, pretty bad lean boxy sound. Gear was audio research.
Can't wait for the Oberon. I currently own a pair of Zensor 3s. They have the same wood pulp drivers in them. I own the Zensors, but have always wanted the Oberons. Thanks, Steve!
Must be a typo in their specs. No way it does 35hz @ - 3db.
Wow 35hz....that's a little optimistic for a standmount speaker with a 5.25 inch driver. Some fibs being told I suspect.
mag 1981 listen to the Totem model 1, small but BIG large scale sound.
@@angelotig What does that have to do with this discussion? Did they lie about their specs also?
@@angelotig Sure, and I like small speakers, but 35hz I find hard to believe.
Probably does it loaded into a room a certain way and at inefficient sensitivity. Edit: Specs were from a bigger speaker.
So 35Hz would be only loaded a certain way and not at -3dB :)
What about the KLH Kendall ?
That was an awesome video thank you, I have an opportunity to buy some vintage speakers, KLH reference series 10 CSB speakers?
Love acoustic suspension. Albany Bookshelf Loudspeaker's crossover? First order?
2nd order LF, 3rd Order HF I believe, 6 element
@@Sean0Walter There goes the phase coherency...
@@genez429 Take your point, you might reasonably think so but imagery is fine. UK Mag HiFi Choice did a proper review which is pretty fair minded.
@@Sean0Walter Hi Fi Mag found it lacking. The discontinued Cambridge Audio S30's got a rave review. Those have a first order crossover. On a revealing system its evident and needed to achieve a sense of a real solid sound stage in front of you. Other wise, it may sound pretty, etc... but never real enough.
I just got off the phone with KOH, any plans on reviewing the Kindle, or the new series 5 speakers?
Bit of a shame the KLH Albany are a bit bright. 5 - 5.25 inch drivers can have some of the best midrange detail. I also like sealed box designs. Maybe they need time. How long did you play them in total?
How do you feel about this speaker versus the ELAC, capital you capital B 52 bookshelf speaker
That’s impressive if true
“Frequency response: 35Hz-23KHz +/- 3dB
Sensitivity: 92dB”
Would like to see some actual measurements.
You said you had them down to about 60Hz? @Steve Guttenburg
Frequency response: 43Hz - 23kHz
Sensitivity: 89dB
This is what I found on World Wide Stereo. Seems more accurate. Small box, low bass, AND high sensitivity? Violates the laws of physics.
Richard Larson yeah, I looked at KLH website and it has the same as Steve posted.
And there it is.. The Kendall which is the biggest Floorstanding model. Case closed.
www.soundstagenetwork.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2148:nrc-measurements-klh-audio-kendall-loudspeakers&catid=77:loudspeaker-measurements&Itemid=153
Steve what are your thoughts on speakers from Magico? As far as I know they are all sealed designs. I recently picked up a pair of s1mk2. I am very impressed with how big of an improvement they are over my previous dynaudio c1. The bass is so tight and the resolution is incredible. They image better and the sound stage is deep. I have them set up near field and the bass is deep enough for me in my small room. I will add subs later down the road. I want to upgrade later maybe to s5mk2 but, the s1mk2 dissapear so well. These are damn close to the resolution of my ab1266 tc.
creditingkarma , thank you for your review of the Magico S 1's. As I said in a comment on another one of Steve's videos they are one of my dream speakers. I only need to save about $16,900 more. Unless you're willing to let them go for $100. Probably not.
What about the Klh Albany ll bookshelf speakers? Saludos Steve , from Uruguay
I wonder about low level listening?
I saw a couple of reviews at online retailers that said the Kendall model, the larger floor standing version, are particularly good at low levels. I doubt it translates to this model though as those are ported and are a three-way design. Ok the other hand, they may well have intentionally tuned their whole lineup for low level listening. Anything's possible.
I have that Zep box set. The early Zep1 cuts are awesome! Young, enthusiastic before getting too drugged out. Zep1 has always been my favorite except when I liked Zep2 better for a period, haha. I still have Celestion 3’s in mint as part of my collection. They are about the same size, Ac suspension as well. Stereo Review’s Julian Hirsch basically gave them a rave review too. (Very cardboardy mids, great highs to me) These KLH are beautiful and probably perfect for a bedroom.
First Zeppelin album is the best for all time!
Can you review the nht superzero 2.1?
How do they get 35Hz out of such a small box and 92db sensitivity? Do you smell fish?
L🤫L 🦀🎏🐟🐠🐡🦈 Don't ya just love - Marketing! 🤦♂️
That's pretty cheap for this quality of a speaker
It is. The Kendalls are also a real bargain for a large floorstanders. 1300 bucks and sounds like double that. Nice build quality too. This family of speakers are bright but not so much it's tiresome.
Hmmmm... that didn't last long. So much for the acoustic suspension. According to the KLH site, the current Albany II is a bass reflex design.
Made in the US or China?
you said they go down to about 60 hz, but their specs say 35, which I doubted but with acoustic suspension you never know. can you comment? is that a +/- 10 db kinda rating? +/- 20 db ? lol.
35hz is way too optimistic for a 5" woofer.
@@humanbass typically, but especially when the efficiency is listed at 92db. nonetheless that's what's listed above.
@@Jeton6 Well I could list that I'm 6 foot 6, and 220 lbs. But that doesn't make it true.
@@Jeton6 BTW Don't forget the guy who started the company came from Klipsch. The kings of speaker spec exaggeration.
@@amb3cog lol fair enough. I'd still be curious to hear from Steve G on this tho.
Steve did you see Led Zep live?
Yes twice, neither was memorable.
I did too. Not a good concert. Lots of technical problems.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac Same here, they sucked and it was so loud it actually hurt my ears.
@@ujean56 Yep
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac UA-cam "Led Zeppelin Denmark 1969", good performance. They were loose and improvisational live. Suffered a bit from having only a single guitarist and no good back-up singer.
For some odd reason he doesn’t like to answer when people leave messages or replies
Questionable specs.
I like fat bottom speakers
I know this is considered virtual heresy in the hifi world when you haven't heard a product but I don't think I would enjoy the sound of this speaker. I definitely don't like a bright forward sound, I love the overall tonal balance of my Elac debut b5 (mk1) and these also have great bass for such a small cabinet. This is a shame because I love real wood finishes and I would like to find a speaker under £500 that gives me more of what the Elacs give me. I tried the Wharfedale Denton 80s which look beautiful but which didn't work with my system giving a crunchy sound in the upper mids and generally sounded incoherent.
I just bought a set of these two days ago. The one's in the store I heard had no ports and they were bragging about how they don't have ports. However the ones I got in the box HAD PORTS! So maybe they are adding ports now? Don't know.
@CLAGMAN1000 These came from a very reputable dealer. They are 100% legit. The dealer is calling about it. I'll let you know when I know more.
I like that bookshelf speakers can disappear but tower speakers have a much fuller sound
both need subwoofer, so its a much closer comparison that you would think.
@@sudd3660 not as much so with good towers or floor model speakers like my HPM-100s they already have 12s inch carbon fiber woofer I like to hear the music not the bass , And Towers have a larger ladderal soundstage but bookshelf speakers have came a long ways!
no woofer size will help you reach low and use a passive crossover. on top of that you place the speaker for best midrange and top end, for bass you need another placement, so a single full range speaker is almost impossible.
...and compared to the RP600M, it’s ...
it's what?
erich hofer exactly!
"He's white guy, obviously..." Christ, we're still there?
Henry Kloss must be turning in his grave.
Zeppelin had a bad night? My mind is blown...Rock idols have fallen.
I saw Zeppelin back in the late 70's and they sucked big time live. They were so damned loud that at times it caused actual PAIN in my eardrums. Never before or since have I experienced that. It hurt. And watching them swaggering around on stage swilling out of a Jack Daniels bottle did not help their image. Fun fact is that Page admitted years later that it was only tea in the Jack bottle. Posers and shitty performers.
@@lynnpoole7830 Zeppelin has fallen lower...still love the records.
@@Leicaphile27 Yep I still love their music too.
Saw Zeppelin four times in Los Angeles in the early 70's. Two of those shows were awesome! Masters in the studio, but live they were uneven for sure.
@@lynnpoole7830 Yeah. Saw them at the Forum in LA on their Houses of the Holy tour and my ears were ringing for three days afterward! But it was an awesome show.
Do you know who makes the drivers proprietary that's a laugh. But what's the point of a 10 year warranty completely pointless they're not going to cover you for burning out the coil I'll tell you that
I'll consider these speakers when they consider publishing the real specs for them. Starting off with painfully obvious lies is no way to begin a relationship. What were they thinking?
Be specific?
That sounds like a lot of speakers for cheap
Energy Reference/Veritas Ripoff's
So RP600M over these.
It's not Kevlar, all Kevlar is yellow, its a trademarked product
So... aramid fiber.
He talks too much about things unrelated to the review.
5.25" CAN'T woof, it can only mumble.
no point in bass, you got subwoofers for that.
I've said before - I won't buy ugly , not when I have to look at it every day. that includes the mentioned real wood finish, absolutely no vinyl fake wood. or all black electronics. ugh.
Another book self speaker..... zzzzzzzzzzzzz