KLH 911B ($50) excel in Treble, but failed in midrange.

[Smokey]

After auditioning this speaker (5-1/4 woofer, 1" tweeter) for one week for late night listening purposes in my system (TV/Music), I returned them. It is surprisingly well made and solid for $50, and it is acoustic suspension design.

What stired toward this speaker was its higher frequency response. Its Treble sounded much better than other KLH offerings, and any other speaker in the Bestbuy that I auditioned that were under $100. The midrange sounded OK, but it had kind of boomy sound to it that masked detail in the midrange region.

I believe that is a common problem with most [low priced] bookshelf speakers. With only one woofer speaker to take care of midrange and/or midbass, the manufactures try to kill two birds with one stone by forcing woofers to do double duty producing midrange and bass notes, resulting in muddy sound.

[Jimmy C]

...referring to vintage KLH stuff... my dad bought a pair of KLH stand-mounts back in 1970. Not that they were great, but it might have brought back some memories...

Anyway, who the hell makes the KLH stuff now? The new products have NOTHING to do with the company's design philosophy of yesteryear - i.e., the "New England" sound. Another sell out, merger, whatever... the new speakers are probably made in the far East (not that everything made in the far East is bad, just that... ya know...)

As far as the sound is concerened, the cheap box (along with the inexpensive driver) will result in the muddiness (sp?) you heard. Think they're bad? You should have heard the Jensens I bought for $10 (!) each...

By the way... am I allowed to say "Hell" in here now?

[This Guy]

KLH's bookshelf speaker with the 8" woofer and it was a three way. They were only forty bucks for the pair and I had a $35 gift card, I was gonna buy them thinking I could just upgrade the midrange and or the tweeter. The speaker sounded so bad I could't even bother. The midrange was so nasal and kind of took over the speaker, I had to put my ears to the tweeter to see if it was on, and the bass was so so. This is coming from the Best Buy listening room, but I don't think any room could make it sound good. I figured the speaker was more trouble then it's worth and sold the gift card to my bro for cash. I haven't heard this model your talking about, but looks like a good speaker to tinker with.

-Joey

[Smokey]

I haven't heard this model your talking about, but looks like a good speaker to tinker with.

Yes, I was surprise by construction quality of this speaker, and how it is well made. It doesn't have that cheapness feeling to it. I listen to other KLH model in Bestbuy, and like you, I had to stick my ear to the treble to see if they are working or not. But KLH 911B's Treble was much better than other models, and it was very distinct. Too bad midrange sound slightly muddy, or other wise this speaker would have been a good one. But if you like to tinker with it, it might be very promising

As far as the sound is concerned, the cheap box (along with the inexpensive driver) will result in the muddiness (sp?) you heard. Think they're bad? You should have heard the Jensens I bought for $10 (!) each..

Believe me, I have heard my share of cheap speakers. As matter of fact I got two of them (one from RadioShack) sitting in my closet. But these speakers are not as bad I have heard from other speakers around the same price. The treble sounded excellent and very open. Too bad it failed in midrange response, or it would have been a bargain at that price