Gear
Why This Iconic Loudspeaker Is Still in Production After 78 Years
Hearing a Klipschorn for the first time is an almost “spiritual” experience.
Klipsch caters to every audiophile, from home theater enthusiasts to on-the-go listeners. Their product lineup includes powerful home theater systems, immersive soundbars, portable Bluetooth speakers, and wireless earbuds.
On the other hand, Klipsch is a classic audio brand, renowned for its iconic Heritage line of speakers. The company continues to manufacture these legendary speakers in the same Arkansas factory where they began production in the mid-1900s.
The oldest of these speakers is the iconic Klipschorn, first introduced in 1946. It holds the distinction of being the longest-continuously produced speaker in history. You can still purchase a pair today. It costs $7,499 — or $14,998 for a pair.
Known as the “corner-horn speaker,” the Klipschorn’s unique cabinet design meant it needed to be placed in a 90-degree corner to sound best.
INNOVATIVE AND HORN-LOADED
The Klipschorn is the company’s oldest and second-biggest loudspeaker in its Heritage line (the is now the largest).
Each Klipschorn stands nearly four-and-a-half feet tall and weighs roughly 160 pounds. More impressive than its size, however, is its innovative, fully-horned speaker design.
The first production model of the original Klipschorn dates back to 1946.
The original Klipschorn was a two-way loudspeaker consisting of a midrange driver and a woofer, each coupled with a horn. That made it incredibly efficient … and loud, which it managed with very low distortion.
The woofer’s cabinet also had an exposed, wedge-shaped design. From the side or the back, it looked unfinished but for good reason: it used walls to extend its low-frequency range.
Even today, the Klipschorn is commonly referred to as the “corner-horn” speaker.
BOOMING, SPIRITIUAL SOUND
The Klipschorn is a loudspeaker that delivers a big sound with a wide soundstage. According to Roy Delgado, Klipsch’s chief acoustic engineer, someone hearing a Klipschorn for the first time might describe it as an near “spiritual” experience.
“They remember where they were, what store it was, what they played,” Delgado says. “That’s what grabs you: the realism. You don’t just hear it, you feel it.”
The Klipschorn is a loudspeaker that delivers a big sound with a wide soundstage.
VINTAGE LOOK, MODERN GUTS
The Klipschorn’s classic design has stood the test of time. However, under the hood, it has undergone significant improvements. Modern technologies have refined its drivers, crossovers, cabinet design, and overall sound quality.
The Klipschorn AK6 (shown) is the current version of the iconic loudspeaker that Klipsch still makes today.
The Klipschhorn AK6, the latest version, has a new three-way horn-loaded design and an all-new tweeter. The spacer between the upper and lower cabinets on the original was removed in 2005 for “a cleaner aesthetic appearance,” Klipsch says.
The AK6 also has a fully enclosed woofer cabinet, as opposed to the open design of the original. This gives the listener the flexibility to place each loudspeaker anywhere in the room, not just in the corner.
A TOWERING LEGEND
One thing remains unchanged: the Klipschorn is still handcrafted in Hope, Arkansas, just as it has been for nearly eight decades.
Today, Klipsch offers the Klipschorn in three wooden veneer finishes: cherry, walnut or black ash. Each pair is made to order and takes at least eight weeks to build.
