Klipsch Gets Nostalgic with New Speakers

As we progress into 2017, Klipsch continues its 70th anniversary celebration with two new Heritage Series speakers that recall the grandeur of its earliest designs.

Unveiled at the CES 2017, The Fifteens (right in photo) are powered floorstanding speakers with 15-inch woofers and 1.75-inch horn-loaded tweeters that blend the “timeless elements of real wood veneer, tactile spun-copper controls, a wide-baffle cabinet, and mid-century modern design.” The speakers are powered by a built-in 2 x 180-watt amplifier, fed by a 24-bit/192-kHz digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and support a range of connectivity options through Bluetooth streaming, a built-in phono pre-amp, RCA inputs, and optical and USB digital inputs.

“When designing The Fifteens, we took cues from the 1930’s and the result is a pair of romantically nostalgic floorstanding speakers with a distinct wide baffle and large format sound,” said Steve Jain, Klipsch VP and general manager. “The Fifteens completely redefine the audiophile experience with a design nod to the past and the latest technology.”

The Fifteens will sell for $2,999/pair when they become available late this year.

The retro-styled Forté III (left in photo), due out in the summer/fall time frame, will be hand-built in Klipsch’s Hope, Arkansas facility and is described as the first “truly full-range speaker” in the Heritage lineup. In addition to a 12-inch woofer and 15-inch passive radiator, the speaker features a “highly-efficient” horn-loaded tweeter and updated larger midrange driver—both with new titanium diaphragms for a “smoother response”—in a slim cabinet finished in real wood veneer with a lambswool grille.

The Forté III “blends the acoustics and classic design legacy of Paul W. Klipsch with the latest technologies available today,” according to the company. It will sell for “$3,600/pair.

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