I have more sets of speakers than Best Buy everything from Advents and Bozaks to McIntosh and Klipsch and I have to say the speaker that got me into this whole audiophile mumbo jumbo was a DCM. Timepieces to be exact. I have to say I got these at an auction because well they were $5 and DCMs. Initially they sat unused in the corner dwarfed by some monstrous Polk's with a similar design that I absolutely despised btw. On a whim I grabbed them 4 days ago and hooked them up to my MC-2505 and they are still there. They sound really good. Treble is not chopping your head off and the bass is tight and punchy, no mud here. I just might hook them up to my Fisher 400c and see how well they respond to tube power. They are no JBL L100t but they are a great entry into audiophilia for one of my budding young customers and with the price they are a steal. Highest recommendation for this guy.

Luke is a jerk. Because he has never heard the speakers before, never probably used too many of KLH brand speakers and just knows that one or two pairs have sucked before (no company is perfect, sometimes you will get bad speakers, this is why they have warranties) that he has to diss all of them. Man, why don't you try something new and listening to these. I heard them at Rex audio and bought a pair because they are not too expensive and sound really good. If you got a problem with klh, i amsorry, but if you find it necessary to screw up other peoples reviews because you don't like KLH, but have never heard these speakers, then maybe you should grow up and go to a different website where people will think that is cool. THis is a serious place were people will won't to know what these sound like and how they perform and some little two year old jerk that just doens't like the brand name doesn't count to a lot of there people. SO go take that lame stuff someplace else someplace else please!

Luke is a jerk. Because he has never heard the speakers before, never probably used too many of KLH brand speakers and just knows that one or two pairs have sucked before (no company is perfect, sometimes you will get bad speakers, this is why they have warranties) that he has to diss all of them. Man, why don't you try something new and listening to these. I heard them at Rex audio and bought a pair because they are not too expensive and sound really good. If you got a problem with klh, i amsorry, but if you find it necessary to screw up other peoples reviews because you don't like KLH, but have never heard these speakers, then maybe you should grow up and go to a different website where people will think that is cool. THis is a serious place were people will won't to know what these sound like and how they perform and some little two year old jerk that just doens't like the brand name doesn't count to a lot of there people. SO go take that lame stuff someplace else someplace else please!

Luke is a jerk. Because he has never heard the speakers before, never probably used too many of KLH brand speakers and just knows that one or two pairs have sucked before (no company is perfect, sometimes you will get bad speakers, this is why they have warranties) that he has to diss all of them. Man, why don't you try something new and listening to these. I heard them at Rex audio and bought a pair because they are not too expensive and sound really good. If you got a problem with klh, i amsorry, but if you find it necessary to screw up other peoples reviews because you don't like KLH, but have never heard these speakers, then maybe you should grow up and go to a different website where people will think that is cool. THis is a serious place were people will won't to know what these sound like and how they perform and some little two year old jerk that just doens't like the brand name doesn't count to a lot of there people. SO go take that lame stuff someplace else someplace else please!

Good clear sound, Strong bass, goes loud.

Kind of ugly, but thats ok.

Awesome sound from small spaces! IT has powerful sound coming from a skinny tower that is just amazing! It has a five year warranty that just doesn't quit, blow one out, take it back and get a new one, that simple. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Similar Products Used:

None other then a sony tower

Bang for your buck

Stuck-up audiophiles will look down on the name KLH

This is a follow-up review. I don't feel bad about that, because these speakers have not had a review in several months.
I have since upgraded my system with JBL Studio Series S-38 mains and S-center, which are probably the best budget speakers on the market. By budget I mean under $1000/pair. They compete with about anything under $2000/pair. Stereophile magazine rated the S-38 very well in the June 2001 issue. Compared to Paradigm, Mission, and Acarian Systems Alon Petite; the JBL compared well each time. In one area, they reminded the author more of his $5500/pair and $12,000/pair speakers than of any other budget speakers he has ever heard.
Stereophile Guide to Home Theater also reviewed the JBL Studio Series in the February 2001 issue. The author compared them to a $93,000 ATC system, and they still earned his respect. In fact, he said that he would give movie enthusiats "an almost unqualified recommendation." He said that the quality of sound that JBL gives at the price is "astonishing."
Now, back to the KLH. KLH is not considered a top brand. But with all the buzz about the JBL Studio Series (see reviews on this website for the S-38 and S-center), and I love mine dearly; my KLH towers are hooked up to the same amp as the "B" mains. I use them quite often, and while they are not as good as my JBLs, I find that they still allow a lot of musical pleasure.
They are very efficient, so weak amps can perform their best. In other words, a little power can push these to unbearable volume. Bass output is good. Their dual 8" woofers reproduce percussion as naturally as my JBLs, but they don't go as deep. The tweeter can reach very high, and is not too bright.
They are built very well for cheap speakers, but they do have foam surrounds. That should be expected with a $200/pair set of speakers. They are heavy enough to damp vibrations, they are 3 feet tall, and feel solid enough.
When placed correctly, they make a nice soundstage, and reproduce voices for movies in 2-channel sound very naturally. Magnetic shielding allows placement very close to the television.
I know that with all of their advertisements, Bose (Better Off with Something Else) is the first name the casual listener recognises in speakers. While not as good as my JBLs, these do compete with them in some areas; and would blow Bose speakers away. I urge anyone who is thinking of buying Bose speakers to listen to these first. At $200/pair, I would put them against any speaker made by Bose.
But please ask for the 283. I've heard the big brother - the 915 - and I wasn't particularly impressed by it.
I am going to give a higher rating this time. As these speakers have broken in, and I have tinkered with placement and different sound sources, I believe they deserve a higher rating. I rate my JBLs as giant killers for anything under or around $2000/pair. These towers are not as good as my JBLs, but they come close in some areas like voice reproduction/midrange reproduction, natural percussion, and openness. Since they still earn some of my attention after being spoiled by the Studio Series, I have to rate these as giant killers too. At $200/pair, they should compete with many speakers costing several hundred dollars.
I recommend them to people with tight budget, low-powered amp, large listening room, an interest in buying Bose or Sony speakers, any or all of the above. The quality you get for $200 is amazing. I haven't seen the black ones in person, but my woodgrain ones are nice-looking too. They passed the asthetic requirements of my fiance' well.
On a side note, I have Celestion Little 1 surround speakers. Celestion is a top brand, and even though comparing to a tower is not really fair, these KLH towers blow them away in terms of sound quality. I wish I could mount a pair of them on the wall somehow. :)
They have been very reliable for the better part of a year. I have never been disappointed, especially for that low price.
5 stars for value. High bang for your buck factor. Also 5 stars this time for overall rating, because, if they can compete with my JBLs in some areas, then they bury many others under several hundred per pair. Give them a listen at your local Rex store.

Similar Products Used:

JBL Studio Series, other KLH products, have heard Fisher, JVC, Sony, Kenwood, and Jensen towers too. I also have Celestion satelites.

great sound, great price

The best speakers for the price..they sound as well as speakers $hundreds more..i got them for $160 for the pair..and thats after the $40 for shipping. I got them from Ubid i think

They're 3 feet tall..look real good..have two 8inch woofers..that produce nice clean bass

Hehehe... I'd have to agree with Joe Ross, on both counts. I picked these up from onsale.com for $132.72 (incl. shipping) and I must say it's the best money I've spent in some time. I listen to primarily jungle/drum n' bass and these KLH's really bring out the best in every track.

If you can get them anywhere around $200 or less don't hesistate. And despite what that Luke character says they're actually well made and sound damn good.

Good price, good sound, they look good (I like plain black boxes)

None, really

These speakers are great, especially for the price. I paid only $140 for the pair. They are better than my Cerwin-Vegas in most areas, and the CVs cost twice as much. I haven't had any problems with them at all, and I have had them for 2.5 years. They get very loud without any noticable distortion.

Similar Products Used:

Cerwin-Vega VS-80, Yamaha NS-A650

nice bass (50 cm or more away from back wall),mid,high,music high level,easy drive,very reliable speaker.

not so 'modern look'-'box look',very thin interconnects,average to good midbass.

I have these speakers 3,5 years and i am very satisfied for it's reliability(no problem at all),high levels(efficiency),strong bass,nice mid and highs (amp source direct on)and totaly very good sound that you don't find in other speakers costs twice!
I drive them with Marantz PM-68 integrated amplifier (95 Watt at 8 Ohm) and I have heard excessive sound levels for my listening room (7 x 5 m)with clear and almost audiofile sound.
I think that interconnects (between internal speakers)should be better quality(very thin)but just this for weakness.
I'm very satisfied using these speakers after 3,5 years of use(for it's price).I think you will find better sound if you spend almost twice money.I compared with other speakers costs almost twice and i didn't find any remarkable sound difference.I would strongly recommend them!