TECH NEWS: KLH at Forefront of Loudspeaker Innovation

“David Kelley understands what consumers want, what dealers need, and has the resources and team to achieve it. I trust him and believe KLH is the next big line to hang your hat on,” says Bob Cole, President, CEO and Founder of famed retail establishment World Wide Stereo. 

ICONIC LOUDSPEAKER BRAND KLH REVIVED, INTRODUCES INDUSTRY’S FIRST STREAMING MUSIC VOICE-ENABLED AMPLIFIED KEYPAD ALONGSIDE KILLER LOUDSPEAKER LINE

Originally founded in 1957 as KLH Research and Development Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts by Henry Kloss, Malcolm S. Low, and Josef Anton Hofmann, the company developed some of the biggest innovations in audio, most notably the Model Eight high-selectivity radio; Model Nine full-range electrostatic loudspeaker; Model Forty tape recorder, and Model Eleven portable phonograph with stereo speakers.

In 2017, the brand was acquired by David P. Kelley, formerly President of Global Sales and board member for Klipsch. As president and CEO of KLH, Mr. Kelley has taken KLH back to its roots, to Henry Kloss’s original mission, to build world-class loudspeakers and radios at affordable prices beginning with a robust line of bookshelf, floor standing and home theater speakers, as well as updated versions of the iconic Model Nine and Model Eight.

Now, under the command of this industry visionary David P. Kelley, KLH is ready to make its mark on the CEDIA channel with the unveiling of its in-wall Voice-Enabled Amplified Keypad (a world-first) and new premium stereo, home theater and architectural loudspeakers.

The New KLH
After leaving Klipsch as Global Sales President and Board Member, Kelley was presented with the opportunity to purchase the KLH brand. Recognizing the huge potential to capitalize on the pedigree of both the brand and its legendary founder Henry Kloss, Kelley acquired KLH in 2017 and assembled a team of former Klipsch and industry executives. The team consists of Sales SVP Greg Topp; Product Development SVP Sal Cannatella; CTO Steve Howell; Finance / Operations VP Jon Kerns; Business Development VP Jeff Dano; Marketing VP George Harris and National Sales Manager Patrick Thompson.

“KLH is one of the most storied and revered audio brands in the world, founded by one of the most iconic engineers in the history of consumer electronics,” says KLH CEO and President David P. Kelley. “I am taking the brand back to its roots, to Henry’s original mission, to build world-class loudspeakers and radios at affordable prices. I am proud to be the new owner of KLH and will honor Henry and his many contributions to the audio industry through the introduction of our extraordinary new KLH products.”

While KLH is bringing back some of its famous designs of the past — like the Model Eight radio and Model Nine electrostatic loudspeaker “including some hybrids” hints Kelley — the company’s larger focus is in delivering what Kelley says, “Will prove to be the most compelling loudspeaker line to ever reach the market, including disruptive solutions that will turn things upside down.”

Video By AVS Forum

KLH has created the VX-1 Voice-Enabled Amplified Keypad, a simple and cost-efficient solution to transform a single-source home audio system to a wireless multi-source streaming music system. Outfitted with WiFi, Bluetooth with aptX, HiRES audio circuitry, and amplification, the VX-1 replaces the existing in-wall passive volume control while utilizing the existing speaker wires, making it easy for both the Home Technology Professional or DIY customer to install. According to Kelley, millions of people can immediately benefit from this, as company research indicates that 8.5 million passive in-wall volume controls currently exist in US homes today.

The VX-1 becomes Alexa voice control-enabled when used with the free MUZO iOS / Android control app. In addition to this local zone, the addition of any Amazon Alexa device allows voice-enabled control of other sources / components throughout the home. The VX-1 is a world-first and patented. The VX-1 has an MSRP of $199 with shipping slated for October 2018.

In-Room Loudspeakers

The KLH in-room loudspeaker line-up consists of 12 models. As a nod to the brand’s history, each is named after a street in Cambridge, Massachusetts, the birthplace of KLH. Models are Ames and Albany 2-way bookshelf; Kendall, Quincy and Cambridge floor standing; Story center channel; Beacon and Broadway surrounds; and Stratton and Windsor powered subwoofers.

All boast luxurious real wood veneer finishes, the finest MDF cabinetry, internal components and dampening, and powerful, performance-rich Kevlar drivers with anodized aluminum dome tweeters. To maximize floor models’ bass performance, incorporated are low resonance driver chambers with hand-tunable baffle ports.

“Our executive team together brings nearly 200-years of combined experience. Add to this our deep global manufacturing and distribution relationships, vertical integration and world-class engineering, and we’ve got a line so serious that we confidently pit each model against competitors’ similar designs including those considerably more expensive,” says Kelley. “In addition, our warranty is unprecedented: 10-years on passive products with 5-years on powered subwoofers.”

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