Need Advice Setting Up Model 20

[retroluv]

What do you recommend I use to connect my new KLH model 20 speakers to their model 20 turntable? Know this is a dummies question, but have never had speakers with just one banana plug hole. I picked up this system supposedly working, and want to hear it before deciding on refurbishing. Have read many posts with detailed explanations for restoration, but couldn't find the basic how to connect speakers to turntable.  Have read that it's better to use 12 or 14 AWG  on these 4 ohm speakers. Appreciate any help.

[mckay3d]

Looking at the manual for the Model 20 it looks like the speaker jacks on the turntable/amp are RCA phono jacks. The plugs should be available at Radio Shack or on eBay.  The manual, if you don't have one, is available here: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/klh/twenty.shtml. You have to join to download but it's free and easy.

[retroluv]

Thanks for your help & I got the manual.  What's so different about KLH Model 20 is there is no separation of positive and negative inputs & outputs. The manual assumes you have the supplied cord so doesn't explain.   So now understand the RCA phono jacks should work &  3.5mm size is okay?

 

 

[JKent]

5 hours ago, retroluv said:

3.5mm size is okay?

No

You want 2 single RCA to RCA cables (3.5mm is a TRS plug). Something like this:

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=&cp_id=&cs_id=&p_id=654&sep=1&format=2

The center pin is positive and the outer ring is negative. ANY RCA cable will do. You may have some spares on hand. Many are double, with one red and one white but often the cable is basically zip cord and you can peel the 2 apart to make 2 individual cables.

[retroluv]

Thanks for explaining & the link. No, we don't have spares so will buy new ones. I remember listening to these old KLH's, but it predates my first components by a decade. Parents had a 60s KLH FM radio. Think it's still going & sounding nice.

[JKent]

Your Model Twenty will probably need some work. Those old Garrard changers can be a challenge and I would definitely replace the speaker capacitors: One 8uF and two 2uF per speaker. They are the old black/red Callins type and they leak and fail.

I love the '60s KLH radios. Have restored about 100 Model Eight tube radios. The Model Twenty-One is a great solid state radio (actually there were 5 different Twenty-Ones).

Kent

[retroluv]

Agree they were & are great radios. Bought the Model 20 at estate sale, supposed to be working.  Likely will need work on speakers & turntable. Great that you're saving the old radios. Parents' was a Twenty-One but don't know which one & had a really nice sound.

[JKent]

Since you asked.... (I know you didn't but I'll grab any opportunity ? )

1. The original Twenty-One replaced the tube Model Eight around 1965. It was all transistor with a walnut veneer cabinet, beige knobs and a beige/white plastic grille.
2. The Twenty-One/II came out around 1969 after Singer bought KLH. It was essentially identical to the original but had a black cloth grille, black/silver knobs and the “Waller” tuner.
3. The Twenty-One FM came out in the early ‘70s. It was larger, had a vinyl clad cabinet and a foam grille (that always disintegrated).
4. The Twenty-One AM/FM. Same thing, with AM.
5. The Twenty-One CL. Clock radio. The largest of the three later Twenty-Ones, had a flip-type clock that had about a 99% failure rate.

The photo shows all, in order, top to bottom, except the Twenty-One AM/FM. It looks just like the FM but with a dial like the CL.

The round "Acoustic Suspension Speaker" is missing from the FM in the photo. Because the foam grilles deteriorated the round stick-on badges got lost.

The original is the highest-price collectible. The II is my favorite--it's from the Singer era with slightly newer (i. e. better) electronics than the original. The cloth grille doesn't shrink like the vinyl on the original and the cabinet is still real walnut veneer (although the substrate is slightly inferior to the original).

The slightly larger FM, AM/FM and the much larger CL have that damnable "wood grain vinyl" cabinets. Other cosmetic horrors include the foam grilles that deteriorate and the aluminum strips that tended to become unglued and lost. But they sounded great. All used the "Twelve point five" speaker that was also used as the mid in the KLH Twelve and Five, and as a full range in the Eleven, Fourteen, Nineteen and others. 

I have an AM/FM that I re-veneered with real walnut and replaced the foam grille with black stretchy grille cloth over a frame. Not an authentic restoration but it looks SO much better.

The only loser among them was the CL. My friend Tim at Bristol Electronics says he used to buy replacement clock mechanisms by the case! I have 2 CLs. One actually has a working clock!

 

[Martin]

Great photo.  I've never seen them all together in one picture before.