Klipsch has been making speakers since 1946. Moreover, speakers with the original design are still available in the Heritage range. However, today, they also produce the Reference Premiere II speaker range.
Klipsch Reference Premiere II, speaker range, has been redesigned from the ground up. Klipsch has over seventy years of design experience. Furthermore, they use cutting-edge technology to provide a powerful yet refined sound. The Premiere II is designed for both Hi-Fi and home cinema systems. Klipsch pioneered the use of horns for high-performance speakers.
Klipsch history
Paul Wilbur Klipsch (PWK) was an American audio pioneer who developed the Klipschorn speaker. This speaker proved that is was possible to reproduce the sound of live music in the home. Today, the speakers are still made by hand.
Klipsch focus on horn technology in their modern speakers. They have certain characteristics such as high efficiency and low distortion. As a result less power is needed and the music is louder and cleaner. Furthermore, horns are more directional , this directs sound to the proper location. Horn’s also have a wide dynamic range. Consequently, the softest sounds are delivered with remarkable clarity. Finally, the frequency response is even. As a result, there are no unnatural highs, mids or lows. This gives a greater accuracy to the sound.
The Reference II range today
The modern range of speakers also uses horn technology. This provides an unparalleled level of performance.
The reference II range uses a horn to surround the 1″ tweeter. Horn-loading gives better directivity. This ensures that high frequencies are aimed at the listener. Consequently, there is more focus, dynamics, clarity and detail. Furthermore, horn technology is more efficient, using less power and giving lower distortion. Moreover, the dynamic range is high, giving vocals and dialogue more presence. Finally a feature of horns is their flat frequency response, with no peaks and troughs. The horn itself has a silicon facia to ensure the sound is smooth.
Titanium tweeter
The tweeter is a proprietary design that uses a titanium diaphragm. The diaphragm has a linear travel with a piston like motion that gives a low distortion clean sound.
Cerametalic woofers
The reference II range has woofers made of a ceramic/metallic composite material. This reduces warping and distortion. There are also Tractrix tuned ports for improved air movement.
Cabinet design
The cabinet design features a smooth black front baffle. Copper rings enhance the look of the drivers. Additionally, the side and rear of the cabinet are available in luxury wood or black finishes. Finally, the floor standers have adjustable cast-aluminium feet to prevent vibration from getting to the floor. All of the Reference II range have magnetic grill attachments.
The RP 8000F II
The RF8000F II is the top of the Reference II range. The range benefits from the latest developments from Klipsch. These include the aforementioned Silicone Tractrix Horn, and Cerametallic Woofers. This makes the range the most capable speakers ever made by Klipsch. As a result, they have powerful performance as well as the legendary styling .
Silicon hybrid tractrix horn, titanium tweeter
Horn tweeters maximise efficiency and enhance detail. They also focus high frequencies towards the listener. The phase plug and compressed moulded silicon face, even out the frequency response. These two features create the most natural sound available from a tweeter. The new second generation Reference speakers have a larger horn for a wider soundstage.
The tweeter itself has a Linear Travel Suspension (LTS). this minimises distortion and gives a detailed performance. LTS is a hallmark of the Reference range and is used by some of the best speakers in the world. The tweeter housing is vented reducing harmonics and gives enhanced detail and clarity.
New Cerametalic woofers.
The Reference series now uses cerametalic woofers. This material is very light and rigid making them easy to drive. Additionally the voice coil’s are 70% larger. This gives improved power handling and greater cone control. There are also new aluminium shorting rings to reduce distortion. Finally, a new motor structure makes for a better transient response with more control.
Tractrix ports for better air transfer
The Klipsch Reference Premiere II range uses Tractrix geometry ports. These have have custom designed inner flares that reduce air turbulence. As a result port noise is reduced for a cleaner more punchy bass. The speakers have bi-wiring connections. Bi-wiring allows low and high frequencies to use separate cables. Reducing intermodulation distortion for a cleaner midrange. It also allows the use of an external crossover.
Cabinet design, reduced resonance
The cabinets have additional bracing along with a divided structure. This minimises resonances and vibration. As a result clarity is enhanced. Two finishes are available, walnut and ebony. They have a scratch resistant finish. The cast aluminium feet are stronger and have less resonance that ABS plastic. They effectively decouple the speaker from the floor for tighter low frequencies and more detail. For that discreet look the grills are attached magnetically. There are also bookshelf speakers in the range.
Klipsch Heritage range
Klipsch still make reproductions of the original Klipsch horn speaker. Feel the sound with the heritage range. The Klipsch Jubilee speaker has a one-dimensional, folded-horn vented system that maximises the output and minimises distortion. It uses both the vents and horn loading system to create a very efficient speaker.
There is also an active crossover that sets the high and low frequency gain via separate controls. these heritage speakers come with real teak wood veneer and a lambswool cloth grill.
Klipsch Heritage Groove Wireless Bluetooth Speaker
Klipsch also make beautiful speakers if you are on the go. The Heritage Groove Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker has that classic fifties look, with a long 8 hour battery life. Moreover, It is easy to carry around and has a built in microphone for hands free calls. There are black and walnut options.
The Klipsch Heritage groove is small but packs a big punch. The Groove has a 10W output, for a full and rich sound. Klipsch have been making superior speakers for over 70 years and know how to produce natural and dynamic sound.
See the Klipsch range on the Audio affair website