[Vintage-Audio] KLH modular systems

[Robert Nickels]

I thought someone here might know about the KLH 'suitcase stereos' made 
from 1965 through about 1971.   I've admired them from afar for years, 
but knowing that if the superior audio quality of my model 21 FM radio 
is any indication, they would probably retain top value.  Well, I got to 
looking around and found that's not actually the case, as I got a model 
19 via eBay for less than the cost of shipping! 

While it works and sounds as nice as I'd imagined, it is missing the 
original KLH speakers, and I wonder if anyone might have the model 
numbers or specs, in case I might come across a pair of the proper 
ones.  I've read they were acoustic suspension types, not a surprise 
since KLH was founded by AR pioneer Henry Kloss and  I do have a pair of 
small Advents (the company he founded after he left KLH) that I'll try 
on it .  But I've also read that the original speakers were a ported 
design with 4" woofers, which sounds more likely to me, given that the 
amp is maybe capable of 10 watts per channel.

Otherwise, the model 19 consists of the very sensitive KLH FM tuner with 
it's trademark rotary tuning dial, and the amplifier mounted in the 
walnut turntable base.  The turntable is a customized Garrard AT-6 with 
a low-mass tone arm with a Pickering V-15/AT-2 cartridge.  The other 
models were pretty similar, I think.

Any information would be appreciated as there's not much information on 
the web about these units, even though I've read they sold 500,000 of 
them.   And of course the current KLH Audio is just a brand name.

Thanks and 73,
Bob W9RAN