KLH Model 6 ID

[PIPELINE]

I came across these nice model 6's for $29, I tried tubes and was unimpressed, but my SX 780 made them really come alive, a great match. My question is, are these grills original, the others I have seen look much different?

 

[JohnVF]

They don't look like any KLH 6 grill I've ever seen (I've only seen 4 pair, though, and bought 3 of those...). Looks like somebody cleaned up the baffle, too, as they're usually a lot uglier than that without the grill. The grills look well done, though. They look like they've been well taken care of. Mine worked with tubes, but best with a Sansui 9090db.

 

[relaximus]

Hmm, those look like no KLH 6's I've ever seen. :headscrat Woofer mounted to the backside of the baffle? That tweeter? The cabinet also appears too deep. Similarities certainly, but more differences IMHO.

Dave

 

[JohnVF]

Early KLH 6s had the woofer mounted to the baffle, but I've never seen a pair like that in person. Also, the KLH tweeters, under the metal grill and stuffing look like this. At least mine did, not sure about all of them.

 

[BmWr75]

My question is, are these grills original, the others I have seen look much different?

No. And I'm not sure anything else besides the drivers may be either.

 

[JohnVF]

The cabinets look like my sixes, just with painted baffles.

Here's a pair of original Sixes from the Fisherdoctor site:

http://www.fisherdoctor.com/pictures/other/Speakers/KLH6.jpg

 

[fourwheels0]

here's what my 6's look like. i beleive these are the later original version(without the epoxied woofers).

 

[dew042]

That just looks like a custom DIY baffle job -- everything else looks on target.

dew.

 

[PIPELINE]

Thanks for your help on the KLH 6's. After looking further I have found that the boxes, drivers, and crossovers are model 6, but someone applied a wood veneer over the old cabinets and obviously re did the grills at the same time and added the old badges. Works for me.http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/images/smilies/music.gif

 

[JohnVF]

Sounds like a great deal. Maybe even a steal. Hope you like them. They're one of my favorite vintage speakers. I find them to be very balanced, with a tremedous midrange.

 

[Twenty20Man]

do they have a plywood back with the flush metal plate for the speaker connects, if so they are the early 6's and the baffle is simply painted

 

[PIPELINE]

yep, exactly as you stated.

 

[anden]

As stated - an early pair of Six's (1958-62). The first versions had both woofer and tweeter epoxied in (no mounting screws), then in the early 1960's the screw mounted tweeter was introduced....then in 1965 they began using screw mounted woofers as well.

Henry Kloss got a U.S. Patent on these sealed drivers, but few people had interest in copying them because servicing anything inside the cabinet means prying the baffle board out or cutting a hole in the cabinet !#?% luckily Military oil filled caps were used and they should last a very long time. My pair of Six's from 1958 still sound perfect.

Does your pair still have the metal plate on the back, if so what are the serial numbers ?

One of the best medium prices speakers ever made.....

 

[PIPELINE]

Anden, thanks for the information, the #'s are 22107 and 22009. Year???

 

[Isotonic]

Love my 6's!

 

[anden]

Pipeline, I'd say serial numbers in the 22,000 range date them to 1960. KLH used a consecutive serial number system, starting with 00001, then going up- 00002,00003, etc. My model six's are serial numbers 000711 & 000688 - making them one of the first pair made, about March 1958. They also have cabinets made of 12-ply plywood which KLH used for a very short time in 1958....and have a super retro blond korina finish. I found these at a flea market in mint condition for $20. The model Six stayed in production until 1972 and was really one of KLH's most influential loudspeakers in the acoustic suspension design era. Kloss himself said of the Six, "It's the most right sounding speaker we made".

I've spent a lot of time logging serial numbers on KLH products along with production changes and have written half a dozen articles on KLH products for various radio club newsletters. .....love KLH !