Everybody who has ever seen or used early KLH appreciates and wants it. No matter their size, you'll never forget the pleasure it was to own such an appliance with uncanny quality & performance. Even those who audiophiles who've owned almost every other antique / classic HiFi component -- or those who still have access to the large, the powerful and the rare; they also still own KLH mini components. Many by now are returning to simple roots for certain pleasures and needs -- it's allot of fun sometimes!
For audiophiles and classic audio DiY hobbyists, KLH has been the go-to brand for half a century now. Their fun, relaible "2nd" systems are great at work or in smaller second rooms. KLH from it's start in the late 1950s / early 60s -- producing at first -- and perhaps the first ... HiFi FM table radio ... the Model 8 (some would say the Marantz / McIntosh of table radios). It's still the King of this genre. After making such a splash with the highly refined, killer sounding tube Model 8 ... KLH embarked on a quest to conquer the rest of the early Mid-Fi / HiFi Industry. With excellent results -- they made amazing integrated phonographs, splended mini-bookshelfs, Integrated amps, and even tried breaking into the early Electrostatic speaker market ... pioneered by QUAD and Janszen.
The NorthEast of the USA held the braintrust of modern 1960's HiFi minaturaization movement -- argubly started by AR (Acoustic Research), and perfection of this market was pursured relentlessly by KLH... and later interesting 1970s loudness came from Bose. Of the three AR & KLH (these two companies knew each other well, occasionaly shared talent -- and shared the stellar determination and resolve you so rarely see in today's world. These companies designed AND manufactured on location -- and used high quality -- and at the tie high tech methods.
The early 1960's HiFi market proved very competitive , and KLH's expansion was restricted by undying -- fanatical in-house quality control, both manufacturing and R&D, (this made early KLH & AR allot like the Apple iPhone of 1960's USA HiFi). They excelled by not wandering far from their tiny-gear roots (likely thanks to Henry Kloss) -- and maintaind their leadership and impecable reputaion building the finest tiny, consumer FM tuners and bookshelf HiFi setups.
Early 1960s KLH desktop size products are known for scary-good performance in an impossibly tiny size, with a quality and feel you don't get until buying really much larger and more expensive audio! KLH served their invented niche with such a passion --- until the genre died out sometime in the 1970s -- drummed out by worse sounding cheap stuff.
Later the quality & sound got somewhat revived by Kloss's Tivoli (which shocked and surprised the audio market in the late 1990's). Turns out, people appreciate a killer sounding tabletop FM tuner! Tivoli radios were nice -- but they sounded stuffy and modern compared to the classics made at the KLH factory of the 1960s.
My favorites and the best core products by KLH are their small full range drivers (which they unique made and sound amazing!), and their small FM radios and tuners ... the Model 8, Model 21 (integrated speaker), and this cutie!! -- The Model 18.
Almost every serious collector & audiophile hobbyist -- it the know with a few years under their belt... has owned a KLH of one model or another.
Simple is generally better, and these Model 18's are very tough to beat. Small, fun, cute, and they sound better than many uglier and more complicated HiFi Monsters -- which cost way more that this nice FM Stereo Tuner.
For those of you who have it all in the Amp, and full range speaker dept, but lack the space and bank roll for a huge Fisher, Scott or Marantz -- you would be very wise to consider one of KLH's best and first products. Likewise, if you're setting up a new table top system, with say a new minature Class D amp -- and full range drivers -- give one of these Model 18's a try --it packs in amazing sophistication, both in controls and sound quality. Making a truly good FM tuner is a lost art in today's world of integrated & digital solutions... The early solid state circutry sounds smoother than newer electronics -- and the sensitivty and you get from these early, tiny tuners is phenominal.
From about mid-year 1965, the Model 18 was one of the early *all* solid state products -- advertised as a cool, reliable, tiny -- great sounding -- clean looking. For the then very new, FM stereo markets in mid-century metropolis markets... this tuner was a tiny high tech miracle.
Back in the the 1960's and now, today in 2014 -- these early KLH components provide amazing quality in a small package. THe Model 18 has (2) stereo component outputs .. one fixed line level, and the other variable with the volume control. Both can be usied at the same time.
Buyers note, the Model 18 is a Tuner only -- line level outputs only. This unit needs a repair before it's fully enjoyable. You will need a stereo amp of any type, and speakers of course.
I tested this original Model 18. It turned on and we got output at a low level. It seemed it picked up a few distant FM stations and held them well. The tuning meter was responsive and dial is smooth. This unit needs repair and refurbish before it can be enjoyed.
This unit presents amazingly well, will look even better with a bit of cleaning and polishing ... even minor cosmetic flaws, it looks handsome in almost any setting (check exhibits A-G) .
Cosmetics are fair to good, (study Exhibits, large below A - F), the original wood cabinet has a few nicks and discolorations (see Exhibit D). The face also has a few nicks and scratches.
