How It Started
Klipsch, one of the first U.S. loudspeaker companies, has been building premium speakers since 1946. When Paul W. Klipsch, one of America’s most celebrated audio pioneers, founded Klipsch & Associates, he was operating inside a tin shed in Hope, Arkansas.
PWK was a relentless perfectionist, spearheading the Hi-Fi movement with the company’s foundational product, the Klipschorn. A true music lover, his goal was to reproduce a live orchestra performance in his living room.
THE KLIPSCHORN
Paul W. Klipsch achieved his objective by making the Klipschorn a fully horn-loaded design—technology that established industry standards for high sensitivity, wide dynamic range, low distortion, smooth frequency response and powerful bass.
As a result, horn loading has always and will always be the driving force behind the Klipsch brand’s highly efficient, stunningly precise sound.
THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF KLIPSCH SOUND
From years of tenacious research and experimentation, Paul W. Klipsch believed these four principles to be the foundation for great sounding audio products. They continue to drive the design of every new Klipsch model made.
High Efficiency / Low Distortion
Perhaps the most important principle – Klipsch’s Law: Efficiency is inversely proportional to distortion. This means that the more efficient a speaker is, the less distortion it produces. Distortion is the introduction of unwanted sound that is not present in the original recording. Klipsch technology is highly efficient - providing more accurate audio and requiring less amplifier power. The result is louder, clearer, distortion-free sound.
Controlled Directivity
Klipsch technology accurately focuses sound to the desired location, while reducing acoustic energy and amplifier power where sound is not needed or desired. This helps minimize room reflections, creates a more lifelike soundstage in the listening area, and contributes to greater impact and lower distortion for movie and music playback.
Wide Dynamic Range
The softest sounds are reproduced with remarkable clarity and sensitivity, while the loudest sounds are delivered with maximum life-like impact - without fatigue or distortion. Klipsch technology ensures the greatest possible range between the softest and loudest audio levels.
Flat Frequency Response
Music and movie soundtracks are reproduced objectively, without bias for specific frequencies or tonal ranges. Recorded sound is delivered as the artist intended, as accurately as possible - with spectral balance ensuring natural audio reproduction.
TRACTRIX® HORNS
Tractrix® Horns have for many years been the driving force behind Klipsch’s stunningly precise acoustics. Featured in every Klipsch speaker category, except for headphones and subwoofers, this proprietary technology provides a unique combination of precision, clarity and effortless power.
Cerametallic Woofers
A signature feature on the Reference Series speakers, Klipsch’s Cerametallic woofers exhibit a very high stiffness-to-mass ratio and superb damping, resulting in a powerful, solid bass foundation.
LINEAR TRAVEL SUSPENSION TWEETER
Klipsch exclusive Linear Travel Suspension (LTS) aluminum tweeter with Kapton® Suspension minimizes distortion for enhanced, detailed performances. Using Kapton, an extremely light and rigid material, in the tweeter suspension provides high efficiency and improves resolution and detail. LTS tweeters are a hallmark of Klipsch speakers, making them some of the best speakers in the world.
WIDE DISPERSION SURROUND TECHNOLOGY
As the cornerstone of every Klipsch surround speaker, proprietary Wide Dispersion Surround Technology (WDST) provides astounding sonic detail for rooms with less-than-ideal placement configurations.
Patented Oval Ear Tips
Klipsch’s patented oval ear tips for headphones and headsets are anatomically shaped to accurately fit inside the human ear canal. These soft, oval silicon tips reduce ear fatigue and provide excellent noise isolation for superior audio performance.
Dope From Hope
“The Dope From Hope is published occasionally, when something new comes from our Lab or when for other reasons something needs saying.“ — Paul W. Klipsch
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