Klipsch Audio Technologies

Klipsch, LLC

Company type	Subsidiary of Voxx International
Industry	Audio
Founded	1946 (1946) (originally as Klipsch and Associates)
Founder	Paul W. Klipsch
Headquarters	Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Key people	Paul Jacobs (President)
Products	Loudspeakers, headphones
Parent	Voxx International
Website	www.klipsch.com

Klipsch Audio Technologies—also referred to as Klipsch Speakers or Klipsch Group, Inc.—is a U.S.-based manufacturer specializing in loudspeakers, with its headquarters situated in Indianapolis, Indiana. Established in 1946 by innovator Paul W Klipsch in Hope, Arkansas, the firm develops and produces premium loudspeaker drivers, enclosures, and integrated systems designed for high-end audio applications, public address setups, and personal computing devices.

In early 2011, Audiovox declared a binding agreement to acquire Klipsch Group Inc., finalizing the transaction by March 1 of that year. This acquisition broadened Audiovox’s presence within the audio technology sector.

Horn loading

From its inception, Klipsch has prioritized horn-loaded speaker designs to achieve several performance goals:

• Elevated efficiency ("sensitivity") facilitating compatibility with amplifiers of modest power
• Minimal modulation distortion—a critical design focus championed by founder Paul Klipsch
• Extensive dynamic range ensuring faithful reproduction of both subtle and intense audio passages
• Directed sound dispersion to concentrate acoustic energy effectively
• Even frequency response without artificial boosts across bass, midrange, or treble frequencies

The company highlights the benefits horns provide in these respects despite past issues related to sound coloration often described as "honkiness," which were linked to vibrations within horn materials and acoustic resonances. Early models employing metal throats experienced ringing effects; subsequent designs incorporated braced fiberglass to mitigate these resonances. In 1989, Klipsch unveiled a midrange horn featuring a tractrix flare profile aimed at enhancing clarity and reducing coloration. The materials used for driver diaphragms evolved from silk to phenolic resin, aluminum, and titanium to improve sound purity.

Klipsch’s loudspeaker concepts draw inspiration from Bell Labs research conducted in the 1930s, targeting a broad soundstage and frequency response spanning roughly 30 Hz to 15 kHz. The company remains dedicated to these fundamental design philosophies as a key factor distinguishing its products within the audiophile market.

The Klipschorn

The Klipschorn—also known as the K-Horn—and regarded as Klipsch Audio Technologies’ signature product, was patented by Paul W. Klipsch in 1946 and continues to be manufactured without interruption at the original Hope, Arkansas facility, marking it as the longest continuously produced speaker model globally. While maintaining its classic architecture, it has seen incremental refinements over time. A kit version (Model K) was once offered through SpeakerLab.

This sizable cabinet (51” high by 31” wide by 28” deep) employs a three-way configuration with distinct drivers assigned to bass (woofer), midrange (squawker), and treble (tweeter) frequencies. The midrange and treble are managed by two horn-loaded compression drivers with specialized lenses, while a 15-inch cone woofer resides within a folded bass enclosure that utilizes adjacent room surfaces—walls and floor—as extensions of the horn structure to extend bass response down to approximately 35 Hz.

This innovative "corner horn" concept delivers remarkable efficiency, achieving 105 dB output at just 1 watt RMS input—surpassing conventional speakers by 14–20 dB—and enabling high sound levels with minimal amplifier power. Such efficiency aligns well with audiophile preferences for low-powered single-ended tube amplifiers.

Since its debut, the Klipschorn has undergone few modifications: diode-based overload protection was introduced around 1970; midrange horns transitioned from wood construction to fiberglass; tweeters were repositioned to the front in the 1980s to minimize distortion. Updates made in 2005 enhanced both appearance and low-frequency performance through a revoiced crossover network incorporating equalization.

Special editions include the 60th Anniversary Klipschorn released in 2006 and a limited-run 70th Anniversary model launched in 2016 featuring a fully enclosed horn design and restricted to only 70 units. These commemorative versions highlight the enduring influence and prestige of this flagship product within the high-fidelity audio community.

Other legacy speakers

Within Klipsch's lineup of classic models, both the La Scala and Klipsch Belle feature fully horn-loaded designs with exceptionally high sensitivity comparable to the Klipschorn. However, their W-shaped folded bass horns are designed to function without the need for corner placement. The La Scala II, which utilizes the same drivers as the Klipschorn but incorporates a smaller bass enclosure resulting in reduced low-frequency extension, earned a spot in Stereophile magazine's "Recommended Components" list for speakers with limited bass response. Models such as the Cornwall and Heresy blend horn-loaded tweeters and midrange drivers with direct-radiating woofers, achieving elevated sensitivity levels, though not quite matching those of fully horn-loaded designs.

Each of these speakers utilizes separate horn-loaded drivers for tweeter and midrange frequencies. Since 2006, most Klipsch offerings have shifted to two-way configurations incorporating a tractrix horn for both upper midrange and treble reproduction.

Available wood finishes have included Macassar ebony, zebrawood, rosewood, teak, cherry, oak (both oil- and lacquer-finished), walnut (oil and lacquer), natural birch, birch with lacquer, and black lacquer. Customers were able to request custom veneer pairs matched for identical grain patterns. Around 1990, Klipsch discontinued exotic veneers such as ebony and rosewood due to environmental considerations.

Current speakers

Introduced in 2007, the Palladium series stands as Klipsch’s flagship speaker collection, offered exclusively through authorized dealers.

The Icon Series—comprising X, W, and V models—caters to varied preferences and budgets: the X line emphasizes contemporary styling paired with advanced technology; the W line combines modern tech with traditional design elements; and the V line focuses on delivering cost-effective performance. All Icon models incorporate the 90° by 90° XT Tractrix horn.

The Synergy series is available through major mass-market retail channels.

Specialty audio retailers and custom installers carry the Reference line, which features Klipsch’s signature Cerametallic woofers known for their rigid cones that maintain controlled excursion. The 2015 Reference Premier series upgrades this foundation with Hybrid Tractrix Horns, Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) Titanium Tweeters, Spun Copper Cerametallic Woofers, and a redesigned Tractrix Port engineered to provide robust low-frequency output.

The THX Ultra II lineup is dedicated to home theater applications, including specialized speakers and subwoofers.

The Heritage collection encompasses models such as the Klipschorn, La Scala II, Cornwall IV, Forte IV, and Heresy IV. These are sold through select authorized dealers or via direct special order.

In October 2024, Klipsch Audio Technologies announced a collaboration with entrepreneur Devon Turnbull to create the kO-R1 Limited Edition Horn Speaker.

Multi-media speakers

Klipsch produces multimedia audio devices including its ProMedia computer speaker series launched in 1999, along with iPod-compatible units like the angled iGroove speaker.

Klipsch in theaters

Klipsch sound systems are installed in venues such as Hard Rock Cafe locations and major cinema chains including AMC, Regal, and Krikorian Theatres, which utilize the Klipsch KMX digital audio system. Prominent theaters like Hollywood’s BM Theater and Singapore’s Golden Village employ customized Klipsch loudspeakers for their IMAX and GV Grand auditoriums respectively.

Headphones

In 2007, Klipsch launched in-ear headphones equipped with their patented Contour Ear Gels, engineered by company inventor Mark Blanchard to provide a snug fit within the ear canal, improving noise isolation and audio clarity. The brand later broadened its headphone portfolio by introducing on-ear models, including the Image ONE in 2010.

Klipsch and Formula One Racing

Beginning with the 2020 Formula One season, Klipsch entered a multi-year collaboration with McLaren Racing, becoming the exclusive supplier of headsets for the team, thereby strengthening its footprint in the realm of high-performance sports audio.

Subsidiaries and Acquisitions

Klipsch Group, Inc., the parent organization of Klipsch Audio Technologies, owns the Danish speaker company Jamo and acquired the Canadian brands Mirage, Athena, and Energy from Audio Products International (API) in 2006. In 2001, it took over Mondial Designs, which included the Aragon and Acurus brands; however, these product lines were eventually phased out. In 2009, former engineers from Klipsch established Indy Audio Labs and acquired the Aragon and Acurus designs; these brands are currently designed and produced in Indiana.

Energy

Energy is a Canadian loudspeaker manufacturer founded in 1973, recognized for its product lines such as Take, Connoisseur, and Veritas. The Energy Take Classic 5.1 home theater system won a CNET Editor's Choice award in 2011. In 2013, Klipsch filed a patent infringement suit against online retailer Monoprice concerning similarities to the Take Classic system; this dispute was resolved through an out-of-court settlement.

Jamo

Jamo () is a Danish loudspeaker company established in 1968 by Preben Jacobsen and Julius Mortensen. The brand name derives from combining the founders’ last names. By 1994, Jamo had grown to become Europe’s largest speaker manufacturer, employing more than 400 workers at its Glyngøre facility. By 1998, it had sold upwards of 11.5 million units. Attempts led by director Anders Høiris starting in 2002 to reverse declining sales proved unsuccessful, resulting in FSN Capital transferring ownership to Jyske Bank. Production operations moved to China in 2004. In 2005, Klipsch Audio Technologies acquired Jamo in a transaction arranged by Høiris prior to his exit.

External links

• Abstract of Paul Klipsch’s 1968 AES paper on frequency modulation distortion
• Official catalog from 1955 presenting the Klipsch Horn loudspeaker system