Guest Telki Posted December 12, 2003 Report Share Posted December 12, 2003 I've got a set of KLH-1's that I've been trying to find additional information on, but know one seems to have any.These were built in 1981 and came with the Bass Analog Computer designed by Tony Gnomes.I've attached a picture to this message... are these speakers known under a different name or model now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Telki Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 I guess no one else has any info on these. How such an amazing speaker could become so obscure I haven't the faintest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
administrator Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 If you want to send me more pictures and any information you have, I'll post it in the KLH section of the website. Perhaps other owners will then find this discussion forum ..Email address is:webmaster@arsenal.netThanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soundminded Posted December 27, 2003 Report Share Posted December 27, 2003 KLH became obscure because they left the high value high end market and became a mass market manufacturer. This not only changed their image but changed their distribution channel as well. This was clearly a business survival strategy and judging from the fact that they are still around while Acoustic Research isn't, it seems to have worked well for its owners if not for audiophiles. Of course this didn't happen over night, it took decades and they probably started into decline as a serious speakermaker in the mid 1970s even before AR started to change their strategy (apparantly sales of the Hi Res series didn't keep them profitable enough.) Therefore if they came out with a high quality product, the market didn't take notice because it had given up a long time earlier on KLH and got tired of reviewing their me too mass products. So they probably didn't sell much.You know that a company has been around a long time when they start recycling model numbers for new equipment that has nothing to do with the original equipment that bore those numbers in the first place. Very confusing and very disappointing. In many ways the world is not a better place than it was 30 years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Telki Posted December 27, 2003 Report Share Posted December 27, 2003 KLH was bought out by Infinity (late 70s or real early 80s) who produced the speakers I've got. Quality, at this time, was NOT an issue with KLH. It was after Infinity sold the KLH name to a marketing company, who let it sit for several years before actually doing anything with it, that quality really dove and continues to remain poor.Everyone who's experienced these speakers has been amazed. The sound is incredible with brilliant highs, a perfect midrange, and an unbelievable low end.If you ever get a chance to listen to these speakers, do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest whboyd Posted January 2, 2004 Report Share Posted January 2, 2004 I can't help you too much but do remember that there is an excellent article in the first edition of the Audio Anthology, a collection of articles printed by the Audio Engineering Society, through the years and collected together by (I believe) Old Colony Press (the Audio Amateur/Speaker Builder folks). I recall reading it some years ago about the KLH 1 and 3 "computer controlled" speakers with some interest. I can't remember the engineer who wrote the articles but it was someone famous whom I hadn't associated with KLH (D. Von Recklinghausen from HHScott maybe?).Well worth digging up if you are really interested in the design. Never heard one but was very intriguing design. I may be able to find it for you if you want to email me.Bill Boyd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PlenumPete Posted January 14, 2004 Report Share Posted January 14, 2004 I too have a set of KLH-1 speakers, bought them in 1981 when I lived in the Netherlands. Excellent speaker system that is capable of handling loud bassy rock through to the most softest delicate classic works. They been an important part of my life for the past 20 odd years. I have the Operating Instructions booklet if anyone is interested. I have a problem at the moment though, the tweeters are getting a little shakey, does anyone know of a second source?Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rickcee Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Hi From Stereo review buying guide '82 KLH 3 -150 mm poly tweeter, crossover 3000 response 40 - 20,000. analog bass cmputer. 12.5 x 8.5 x 6 - $500. prKLH 1 " 3 way computer cont. vented floor system includes seperate analog bass computer for extended bass. ' 2 8" poly cone woofers, 41/ 2 " poly mid, 1" soft dome tweet. crossovers at 500 & 4000. freq. 30 - 20,000. 30" x 11" $1200. pr.review - consumer guide Dec. '80 ( not cons. reports) " It does not take long, listening to the KLH 1 pair, that this is a top performing system that easily ranks amoung the best . . ." ' the 30 hz response was legit, with strong fundamental energy." "Mid bass was exemplary; it was smooth and ungimmicked'." " all told, the KLH 1 is something of a sound commoisseur's product, certainly one of the best engineered and best sounding systems available."obviously top spks., keepers. enjoy Rick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Telki Posted January 15, 2004 Report Share Posted January 15, 2004 Sweet, thanks for the additional information. Good to see there's still a few more sets out there in use.whboyd, I was browsing through the AES website and it looks like they're still selling the Audio Anthology series, though these speakers apparently are now found in Volume 2 (based on the years each book covers). I'm gonna check my local library. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
administrator Posted January 17, 2004 Report Share Posted January 17, 2004 Hi Dave,If you can scan the manual and email it to me, that would be great. I'll make sure to get it online. You can email it to:webmaster@arsenal.netThanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Telki Posted February 11, 2004 Report Share Posted February 11, 2004 Oh, by the way the acoustically absorbent foam that surrounds the mid and tweeter (can't see it in that pic I placed up, but I'm not referring to foam surrounds on the drivers themselves, these speakers don't use foam surrounds) has rubberized over the years and I'd like to get it replaced.Do any of you know of anyplace that sells this kind of stuff? I've hit a few website that sell acoustically absorbent foam, but it's all for studio walls and the like... all sorts of funny shapes sticking up off the surface. I just need some plain ol' flat surfaced foam maybe 3/8" thick or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrdb Posted February 11, 2004 Report Share Posted February 11, 2004 Audio Magazine published an interview with Daniel von Recklinghausen in the February 1981 issue. A side column explained his new Analog Bass Computer, which was part of KLH's Computer Controlled Loudspeakers, introduced at the June, 1979 Consumer Electronics Show.The design was detailed in a paper(preprint 1617)presented at the 65th Audio Engineering Society Convention.(From the article): "The Analog Bass Computer concept is comprised of three basic elements: A variable gain equalizer with equalization slopes that are also dynamically variable, a threshold circuit to determine the levels at which gain and slopes are altered, and a transducer analog circuit that examines the power amplifier signal returning from the loudspeaker for evidence of thermal overload or mechanical fatigue. The analog bass computer is in essence, therefore, an equalizer that changes its equalization curve continuously over a wide range of levels to protect the loudspeaker from damage that might result if a simple bass-boost circuit were used."The three speakers in the series are vented designs based on the Thiele-Small parameters.The computer alters the amount of bass boost by as much as 30dB, depending on signal level, and removes it entirely during very high-level passages.Von Recklinghausen has had an illustrious career, having been Chief Research Engineer at H.H.Scott in the 1950s and 60s (and 70s?) before moving to KLH in the late 70s. He is currently Editor of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) Journal.Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Cynic Posted March 10, 2004 Report Share Posted March 10, 2004 It's amazing. Yes these speakers are incredible and it's been forever since I've been able to find information on these. My KLH-1 computer controlled loudspeakers have been the musical love of my life since they were given to me (YES GIVEN) and I'll not part with them for anything in the world. I have the manual downloaded, email me for a copy or maybe I'l just post the damn thing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest danrr Posted April 13, 2004 Report Share Posted April 13, 2004 I have a lengthy advertisement with all teh specs, deminions etc..I can make a copy for you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PlenumPete Posted May 21, 2004 Report Share Posted May 21, 2004 Telki,Have you had any success with sourcing the absorbant foam? The foam on my KLH-1s is near to solid, I guess it's lost it absorbing qualities and become reflective instead. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tysontom Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 >>You know that a company has been around a long time when they>start recycling model numbers for new equipment that has>nothing to do with the original equipment that bore those>numbers in the first place. Very confusing and very>disappointing. In many ways the world is not a better place>than it was 30 years ago.The *first* KLH Model One was a large and expensive dual-woofer system that had no midrange or tweeter, but had accomodation for the JansZen electrostatic tweeter or the subsequent Model Five tweeter system. This woofer-only speaker sold for and astonishing $390.00 each in 1958, the first year of manufacture for KLH. The Model One consisted of two 32-ohm 11-inch acoustic-suspension woofers (licensed under Acoustic Research) wired in parallel for a 16-ohm system impedance. Above the two woofers (within their individually sealed acoustic-suspension enclosures) was a shelf just the right size for a JansZen 130 electrostatic tweeter. Later, KLH made a Model Five (the first Model Five) tweeter array which was designed -- with crossover -- to complement the Model One or the Model Two woofer-only system. This tweeter system cost $100, so a system could cost $490 each or $980/pair since this was the dawn of stereophonic sound. Incidentally, discounts were virtually non-existant for KLH buyers in those days; KLH, unlike Acoustic Research, did not allow dealers to offer discounts until the Fair Trade Laws (Moss-Manguson Act) ended price fixing. $980 in 1958 dollars would be a sizeable amount in today's dollars. --Tom Tyson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
administrator Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Sorry for the long wait - the KLH-1 Series Brochure (KLH-1, KLH-2, KLH-3, Analog Bass Computer) is now online in the KLH section.Thanks for sending it over!Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest robee Posted August 10, 2005 Report Share Posted August 10, 2005 Hi: Are you still looking for foam for the cabinet damping pads for your KLH-1's? If so, I have found a working solution. also would like to discuss the 1's as i just acquired a pair. Bob bobeff@sbcglobal.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest robee Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Re. your question on tweeters for the KLH-1.......Morel makes a tweeter that is a perfect fit, acoustically and size-wise (3 11/16 plate dia) There was a pair on e-bay recently which I was thinking of buying but they got up to almost retail (60.00 ea) so I backed off. Anything else you want to know about the 1's write and I may be able to help you. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest robee Posted August 13, 2005 Report Share Posted August 13, 2005 Try a fabric shop for Headliner foam. Its about 1/4 " thick but I doubled it and it works beautifully. Its gray rather than black but that difference cannot be seen through the grill cloth. Robee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.