Features:
- Weatherized for outdoor use
- 4-inch polypropylene-cone woofer
- 1.75-inch polycarbonate cone tweeter
- 5-way gold-plated binding posts
- Includes mounting materials
Description:
KLH's small, modestly priced 980B speakers have been weatherized for use both indoors and out. But simply calling them indoor/outdoor speakers doesn't quite do the 980Bs justice. These tiny satellites can be mounted nearly anyplace: boat or camper, garage or truck, patio or bathroom. You can even buy two pairs and use them as the front and surround channels in a small home-theater system. The 980Bs may be diminutive, but their all-black finish, relatively hefty weight, and high-quality driver complement make them pretty serious little speakers. Another strong point: the 980Bs come with gold-plated, five-way binding-post terminals, not the cheap clip terminals we find on most models at this price. Though the 980Bs do have high-quality parts and construction, they provide mixed results sonically. You'll want to place them up against the wall in order to reinforce the bass, which otherwise sounds too lean, robbing music of its foundation and vocals of their fullness. (We did try the 980Bs with a small subwoofer, which fleshed them out nicely.) A lean bass shifts the 980Bs' tonal balance toward the middle and high frequencies, where the speakers sound spacious and much larger than they appear. The top end is not terribly extended, but it is crisp, well defined, and free of the brightness that can induce listener fatigue. The KLH 980Bs make a fine choice for less-critical listening (such as under the eaves of your patio, on a boat, or in a camper). When using the speakers indoors, we recommend adding a subwoofer to help boost the thin bottom end. Either way, the 980Bs remain well-made and useful speakers. --Wayne Garcia Pros:
- Weatherproof
- Compact, easy to place
- Brackets, hardware, and wire included
Cons:
| 
