Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Tower. It ranks #47 of 228 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $1,900; the KLH Model Five ranks #125, rated 4.0/5, and costs $2,998, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Arendal 1961 Tower is the better-sounding choice. Slim sealed towers with accurate sound and exceptionally clean output at high volume, a great home theater front pair with a subwoofer. The catch: Erin measured F3 at 62Hz and F10 at 43Hz, so the four woofers prioritize clean output over deep extension; a subwoofer remains necessary.
The KLH Model Five is the deeper-bass pick. A retro styled sealed tower with a wide, spacious soundstage, low distortion and useful treble adjustments for your room. Its bass reaches about 52Hz before falling 3dB, against 62Hz for the Arendal 1961 Tower. The tradeoff: On-axis response is visibly irregular because the wide vintage baffle creates diffraction, and the upper/lower midbass mismatch around 200Hz can sound lean away from the intended wall placement.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Tower. It is rated higher for sound quality than the KLH Model Five and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the KLH Model Five reaches 32.2 Hz (10 dB down) against 43 Hz for the Arendal 1961 Tower, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Arendal 1961 Tower scores 7.2 against 6.7 for the KLH Model Five on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Arendal 1961 Tower | KLH Model Five | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,900 per pair | $2,998.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #47 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #125 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 52Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 32.2Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | About 85dB @ 2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 87.5dB free-field manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal; dips below 4 ohms (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum at 140Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | Four 5.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided soft dome | 10” paper-cone woofer, 4” paper-cone midrange, 1” aluminum-dome tweeter |
| Enclosure | Sealed HDF | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.83 | 4.76 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.25 | 6.71 |
| Dimensions | 33”H x 6.4”W x 11.2”D (837.5 x 163 x 285 mm) (without feet) | 26”H x 13.8”W x 11.5”D (660 x 350 x 292 mm) without stand |
| Weight | 39.5 lbs (17.9 kg) each | 44.1 lbs (20 kg) each without stand; 52 lbs (23.6 kg) with stand |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | sealed acoustic suspension |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Arendal 1961 Tower: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner video.
- KLH Model Five: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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