Klipsch is a distinctively American company. Founded by Paul Klipsch in 1946, the company has stuck to its core principles, aiming to bring the live sound of music into the home. Today, Klipsch Audio Technologies is one of the largest audio companies in the world, with several lines of audio products covering all parts of the spectrum.
Perhaps the truest form of the Klipsch audio mantra exists in the Klipsch Heritage series loudspeaker line. This is the high end of the company’s product line, incorporating all their experience in audio over the past 74 years. There’s nothing revolutionary about them – they are a continuing refinement of the core Klipsch principles, evolved to a very high state.
Here in Austin, we live in the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World.” If you love live music, you’ll fall in love with the sound of the Heritage series Klipsch speakers. And A&B TV is Austin’s exclusive Klipsch Heritage dealer. Keep reading to learn more about three of the most popular speakers in the Heritage series.
SEE ALSO: Your Austin Area Speaker Store Offers the Best from Klipsch
The Heritage Line
The Heritage line is built to the highest build quality standards. The speakers are hand-assembled by skilled craftsmen in Hope, Arkansas, the place where Klipsch was founded. Heritage speakers are built to order, and now carry a ten-year warranty from the company. These speakers are built to last, and it's not unusual for one generation to pass on a vintage set to the next.
You can choose from a range of elegant book-matched veneers that will match your décor. The opposite of mass-produced, the Heritage speakers will match perfectly with furniture-grade wood veneers sourced from the same timber cut. All Klipsch Heritage speakers use horn-loading technology, the guiding principle behind the Klipsch signature live sound.
Klipsch Heresy IV
The Heresy is the smallest speaker in the Heritage line and the most affordable entry point. Like all Heritage speakers, it claims a long history. Originally developed in 1957, it was designed to be the center speaker in a three-speaker stereo array. You might say that Klipsch was well ahead of the times when it came to immersive sound.
The new Heresy IV sports revamped internals, including a new crossover network, a new compression driver, and a refined Tractrix horn that provides new smoothness along with the wide dispersion that the horn design is famous for delivering. The 12-inch woofer in this mid-sized speaker provides surprisingly ample bass, and a new Tractrix port adds as much as 10hz of low-end punch to this version. Inside, the network is wired with high-quality AudioQuest cable for a clean signal path throughout.
Reviews for the new Heresy IV have been glowing. Steve Guttenberg, the Audiophiliac, calls them refined, but also “born to be wild.” In other words, fun yet sophisticated! YouTube reviewer Andrew Robinson (who happens to be based in Austin) called them dynamic and "mind-blowing."
Klipsch Forte III
The original Forte was introduced in 1985 and became the most popular Klipsch speaker. It was brought back in 2017 with more modern engineering, still faithful to the horn-loaded design principles. For bass, it uses a 12-inch woofer but also packs a huge 15-inch rear-mounted passive radiator for full-range sound. If you want more oomph, the Forte is also bi-ampable and can handle up to 400 watts of peak power. And like all hyper-efficient Klipsch horn designs, it requires surprisingly little power to play loud, lively, and clean.
The Forte has always been an excellent middle choice in the Klipsch Heritage line. While hefty at 72 pounds, the dimensions are tidy enough to fit in many spaces. No matter where you put it, it will fill the room with incredible sound and is rated for a continuous 116db of output. This speaker can party, but it will also do so with finesse. Zero Fidelity’s Sean Fowler calls them “badass.” That might say it all.
Klipsch Cornwall IV
The recently redesigned Cornwall IV is the embodiment of the principles of Klipsch live sound. Initially introduced in 1959 as a larger counterpart to the Heresy, the Klipsch community rebelled when it was discontinued in 1990. It took some years - Klipsch now calls them the "dark years" - but the Cornwall returned in 2006.
The 2019 redesign brought a new mid-frequency driver and midrange driver horn that provide better clarity and detail. New Tractrix-design ports at the bottom bring out increased bass extension from the 15-inch woofer, and a new riser makes this large but mid-sized tower an elegant floating appearance. The metal grill modernizes the look but still retains the overall classic Klipsch Heritage aesthetic.
The Cornwall is the largest of the "compact" Klipsch Heritage line, yet at 100 pounds is not exactly small. In fact, Steve Guttenberg says this speaker will make your current speakers sound small. That's a testament to the big, bold, live sound quality the Cornwall IV will bring to your room. Yes, you might need a bigger space.
Experience the incomparable sound of Klipsch Heritage speakers at A&B TV, where you can audition them for yourself. Our showroom is safely open for business, and we are taking all necessary precautions for health and safety. Call us today at (512) 454-4534 for more information, expert advice, and current pricing. We look forward to hearing from you!