Hi-Fi Hall of Fame
2023 Inductee
Klipschorn Loudspeaker
Introduction
Our next nominee is a unique and iconic loudspeaker: the Klipschorn. The Klipschorn, often referred to as the K-Horn, is a legendary line of high quality, high end loudspeakers produced by Klipsch, an American audio company founded by Paul W. Klipsch.
The Klipschorn, first introduced in 1946, is a unique and distinctive design known as a “corner horn” or “folded horn” loudspeaker. Its design includes a folded horn enclosure that allows it to deliver exceptional low-frequency performance and efficiency. It’s known for its ability to produce deep, powerful bass and clear, dynamic sound, making it highly regarded among audiophiles and enthusiasts.
One of the notable features of the Klipschorn is its placement in the corners of a room, which takes advantage of the room’s acoustics to enhance the sound quality. This design principle helps to provide a more immersive listening experience and enhances the performance of the speaker.
Klipschorn speakers are often seen as a piece of audio history and are appreciated for their vintage aesthetic and timeless sound quality. They are a favorite among collectors and enthusiasts of high-end audio equipment. Klipsch continues to produce and sell various models in the Heritage Series, including the Klipschorn, to this day.
Key Facts
| Manufacturer | Klipsch |
| Model | Klipschorn |
| Category | Loudspeaker |
| Years in Production | 1946 – present |
| Key Technologies | Folded Corner Horn Enclosure Horn Drivers |
| Hi-Fi Hall of Fame Induction | November 2023 |
| Link to Klipsch website | www.Klipsch.com |
Development of the Klipschorn
The story of the Klipschorn begins with Paul Klipsch. He was an American electrical engineer who had a passion for Hi-Fi and a passion for music, which led to his founding the iconic loudspeaker company Klipsch.
Klipsch studied engineering at Stanford University, where he became interested in speaker design. He read technical analyses of various speaker designs, including the “Symposium on Auditory Perspective” which was produced by Bell Telephone Labs in the 1930s. This collection of papers described some of the key requirements and findings for high fidelity amplifiers and speakers.
If you’d like to take a look at the Symposium papers, here is a link: https://www.aes.org/aeshc/docs/bell.labs/auditoryperspective.pdf
Klipsch went on to work for a number of organizations and worked on projects that involved audio and acoustics. These early careers included positions with General Electric, a Texas oil company, and the United States Army. In the military, he was a Lieutenant Colonel where he used his engineering skills to calculate sonic waves for weapons.
During his military career, he was stationed at the Southwest Proving Grounds in Hope, Arkansas, and it was there that he began to develop his ideas for loudspeaker systems, including the corner horn design that would become the Klipschorn. He built prototypes in his quarters and invited people to listen to them. Klipsch decided to start his own speaker manufacturing business.
He received a patent on his “X-3” loudspeaker design in 1945, and it was this design that would eventually become the Klipschorn. He registered the corporation’s name “Klipsch & Associates” in 1946. Klipsch built the first Klipschorn prototype himself, and when he was satisfied with the design, he hired the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company to build the next twelve units.
Klipsch continued to refine the design and he had seven more units built by a local Hope, Arkansas cabinet shop. He was confident that the Klipschorn could be commercially successful, and he decided to build a factory so that he could manufacture them to a consistent standard. He purchased the former telephone exchange buildings at the Southwest Proving Grounds where he had been stationed with the military.
The buildings were converted to become a factory, and on June 1, 1948, the first Klipschorn – serial number 121 – was completed in the new Klipsch factory. In that first year, the factory produced a total of 26 Klipschorns.
Klipschorn Key Technologies
The basic Klipschorn design includes a 15-inch woofer for the bass, a horn compression driver squawker for the midrange, and a horn tweeter for the treble. What makes the Klipschorn unique is the “corner horn” enclosure for the woofer. Klipsch took advantage of the fact that listening rooms are square, with perpendicular corners; by placing the cabinets in the corners of the room, the floor and walls of the listening room could be used to extend the size of the horn to really boost the efficiency and extension of the low frequencies. This high efficiency was especially valuable in the early days of Hi-Fi, when amplifiers employed vacuum tubes and were not able to produce much output power.
This basic design has not changed much in the seven decades. That first Klispchorn from 1948 looks very similar to the latest versions produced today. Of course, the company has made many improvements over the years. Klipsch has used drivers from many different manufacturers over the years, including Western Electric, JBL, Jensen, Stephens, Electrovoice, Atlas and Eminence. The crossovers have evolved, and the company has offered many different cabinet finishes. But the basic Klipschorn is still iconic and unique.
Klipschorn Performance
Renowned for its expansive soundstage, the Klipschorn boasts a lifelike and effortless ability to reproduce audio at high volume levels, thanks to its exceptionally high efficiency. It can produce a remarkable 105 Decibels of sound (that’s loud!) with just 1 watt of input power. This design heralded a sonic experience that was unrivalled for in home use when it first debuted. Its remarkable responsiveness and nominal 8 Ohm impedance also meant that even low powered tube amplifiers could easily propel the Klipschorn to concert like sound pressure levels.
Despite its substantial dimensions—standing at 53 inches in height, 31 inches in width, and 28 inches in depth—the Klipschorn’s unique design allowed it to fit snugly into corners, which made it relatively inconspicuous compared to the bulky freestanding furniture style radios of its time. Over the years, the Klipschorn became synonymous with delivering a colossal sound field, in-room realism, and a strong presence, all while maintaining effortless dynamics, exceptional resolution, and authentic reproduction of tone and timbre. Although other speaker manufacturers tried to emulate these qualities to varying degrees of success, none managed to captivate listeners in the same profound manner, resulting in the Klipschorn’s devoted following.
Klipschorn is Timeless
Seven decades represents a lifetime in human terms and an eternity in the world of technology. There are very few electronic innovations from 70 years ago that remain as relevant today as they were then. This timeless design, first conceived in the 1940s, still commands respect today. What truly stands out is that it has been consistently rolling off production lines with minimal changes ever since Paul Klipsch’s original prototype: the large woofer in a folded corner horn enclosure coupled to horn midrange and tweeter.
If you’d like to see the latest version of the Klipschorn, it is still available as part of the Klipsch “Heritage” line. Check out the Klispch website:
If you’d like to experience a bit of Hi-Fi history, there is a small museum dedicated to Paul Klipsch and the Klipschorn. It is located in Hope, Arkansas, in the United States. Just click on the museum’s logo to view their website:
Klipsch Advertisements
There is one more aspect to the Klipschorn story that is “Hall of Fame” worthy, and that is the classic Klipsch print advertisements from the 1950s and 1960s.
These advertisements captivated the imagination of audiophiles and music enthusiasts alike. The ads featured stunning imagery that showcased the Klipsch speakers as not just audio equipment but as works of art in their own right. The sleek, elegant designs of the speakers were showcased in various settings, from the cozy living rooms of suburban homes to the grandeur of upscale listening rooms. The attention to detail in these advertisements was nothing short of exquisite, as they highlighted the craftsmanship and timeless beauty of Klipsch speakers.
But what truly set these advertisements apart was their ability to convey the essence of music. In a world that was rapidly changing, Klipsch managed to preserve the timeless magic of music in their ads. They didn’t just sell speakers; they sold an experience, a gateway to a world of musical wonder. The clever use of color, typography, and composition created a visual harmony that resonated with the harmony of the sound produced by Klipsch speakers.
Here are a few classic Klipsch advertisements from that era.
Klipschorn: Induction to the Hi-Fi Hall of Fame
The Klipschorn belongs in the Hi-Fi Hall of Fame for several reasons. First, it represents a pinnacle of audio engineering and design that has stood the test of time. Since its introduction in the 1940s, the Klipschorn has consistently delivered exceptional sound quality, marked by its expansive soundstage, lifelike reproduction, and impressive efficiency, making it a benchmark for high-fidelity audio.
Second is its remarkable longevity. Unlike many other iconic audio components from its era, the Klipschorn has remained in continuous production with relatively few modifications. This is a testament to its enduring appeal and its ability to remain relevant in the ever-evolving world of audio technology.
Third, the Klipschorn employs a unique and innovative design, featuring a corner placement to enhance its sound dispersion, and the distinctive horn-loaded speaker system, which contributes to its distinctive and remarkable sound. It is a prime example of how thoughtful engineering can elevate audio quality to exceptional levels.
Finally, the Klipschorn played a pivotal role in shaping the world of high-fidelity audio, earning it a devoted following and a reputation that extends beyond the realm of audio enthusiasts. Its contributions to the world of audio, its timeless design, and its unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional sound quality make the Klipschorn a truly iconic and influential piece of audio history, thus deserving its place in the Hi-Fi Hall of Fame.
