Inspired by its country’s rich musical heritage, the legendary American manufacturer has developed a new range of Bluetooth speakers called Music City. Through the Klipsch Austin, Klipsch Nashville and Klipsch Detroit models, the brand has created a sound signature embodying the energy of each of the three iconic cities of American music. The Klipsch Detroit is the most powerful speaker in this range, like the industrial city of Michigan, the birthplace of the nation’s automobile industry. Priced at €349, does this 30-watt, 4-driver all-rounder live up to its promise?
Included accessories
The Klipsch Detroit Bluetooth speaker comes perfectly packed in its box. It is protected in a synthetic bag, adorned with its removable strap. Of course, the box also includes the USB-C to USB-C charging cable and instructions for use.
Presentation
Design
Like the rest of the Klipsch City range, the Detroit has a design reminiscent of Marshall’s Bluetooth speakers, such as the famous Marshall Emberton II. The chassis is rubber-coated for durability, and the perforated plastic grille fully protects the drivers.
A fabric strap is pre-installed on the Klipsch Detroit Bluetooth speaker. This is a real asset for a device that weighs 2.5 kg. It is adjustable and can be used as a carrying handle, or used to sling the speaker over your shoulder. This strap is also easy to remove for those who prefer to use the speaker exclusively at home. To do this, simply remove the metal hooks and pull on the strap.
Battery life and robustness
Despite its rather large size for a portable model (334 x 107 x 119mm), the Klipsch Detroit Bluetooth speaker is designed to face any situation. In fact, the new Klipsch speaker is certified IP67. In other words, it resists sand and dust, and can withstand immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. So it’s perfectly possible to enjoy your music by the pool or at the beach during the summer. What’s more, its built-in battery guarantees 20 hours of autonomy. So you can enjoy your music all day long without worrying about recharging. This practical, adventurous speaker also features a powered USB-C port (5V 3A) for recharging a smartphone on a day out.
Audio design
The Klipsch Detroit Bluetooth speaker takes advantage of its wide format to adopt a more elaborate audio design than its competitors. It features two 3″ midbass drivers and two 1″ tweeters. This system is powered by a 30-watt amplifier module. Finally, four passive radiators further enhance the bass. As a result, the Klipsch Detroit portable speaker promises to cover a frequency response extending from 55Hz to 20kHz.
Bluetooth and chaining
The Klipsch Detroit portable speaker boasts a Bluetooth 5.3 receiver for wireless music streaming from a smartphone, tablet or computer. This connection benefits from an extended range that operates up to 12 meters from the source. This all-terrain speaker also features a built-in microphone for hands-free calls. Note that Bluetooth 5.3 supports the Multipoint functionality, which is very useful for everyday use.
Compatible with the Klipsch Connect control app, the Detroit speaker features the brand’s Broadcast wireless daisy-chaining mode. This feature lets you link more than ten Klipsch Nashville, Austin and Detroit speakers, as well as The One Plus and The Three Plus, to enjoy broader audio coverage at a party, for example.
The Klipsch Connect app, available for free on iOS and Android, also provides access to the tri-band equalizer and four integrated DSP modes: Voice, Bass, Treble and Rock. The control app also enables lets you benefit from the various updates offered by the American manufacturer.
Klipsch Detroit: key specifications
- 30 watts of power
- 2 x 3″ midbass drivers
- 2 x 1″ tweeters
- 4 x passive radiators, 3 x 3″
- Frequency response from 55Hz to 20kHz
- Waterproof and robust (IP67)
- 20 hours of autonomy
- Bluetooth 5.3
- Wireless daisy-chaining (Broadcast mode)
- Built-in microphone
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 334 x 107 x 119mm
- Weight: 2.5kg
Listening conditions
Setting up the Klipsch Detroit portable speaker is quick and easy. Like all Bluetooth devices, it takes just a few seconds. Once the speaker is switched on, simply press the Bluetooth button to trigger the receiver. The Klipsch Detroit then appears in devices near the smartphone. Pairing is just as intuitive via the app, which immediately detects the speaker.
Klipsch Detroit: listening impressions
Thanks to its wide format, which allows it to integrate two pairs of drivers, the Klipsch Detroit immediately stood out from its competitors with its depth of bass. However, the sound remained balanced. On the instrumental of Gaël Faye’s “Lundi méchant”, the Bluetooth speaker revealed the full extent of its capabilities.
Right from the start of the song, the speaker revealed a real finesse in the treble. The strings were full of detail, giving us the impression that we were listening to a live rendition of the song. When the bass drums kicked in, the impact of the bass was striking. The tone is set: the Klipsch Detroit knows how to play on all fronts.
While this Bluetooth speaker doesn’t pretend to be a high-fidelity model, as that is not the brand’s goal, its sound remained detailed and balanced. At high volume, the Detroit maintained good tonal balance. Naturally, with all the drivers on the front panel, we lost a little bit of this balance when situated behind the speaker, letting the bass overwhelm the treble.
This new Klipsch speaker bears the brand’s sonic signature of consistently generous bass. Despite its relatively compact size and given its power, this sonic performance is due to the presence of four passive radiators. These optimize the bass, making the Klipsch Detroit suitable for parties of up to ten people. With its Broadcast mode, this portable speaker can be used as a party sound system to get your friends dancing.
Finally, the various DSPs that can be activated via the Klipsch Connect app give the speaker its versatility. The Voice mode, for example, can be used to play a podcast in the background when you’re working from home, while the Rock mode can be used for more dynamic listening. The tri-band equalizer also lets you fine-tune the sound distribution over 12 levels, for a personalized sound experience.
Klipsch Detroit compared to …
Dali Katch G2: at €399, this Danish speaker features a 50-watt amplification system and high-quality materials, starting with its leather handle. In terms of connectors, the Dali model features a mini-jack auxiliary input, which the Detroit lacks. The Dali speaker can be slipped into a suitcase, while the Klipsch is more of an adventurer. The American speaker is well suited to portable listening, thanks to its robustness and water resistance. What’s more, the Klipsch Detroit benefits from a more advanced wireless daisy-chaining mode, enabling the association of more than 10 speakers, compared with just 2 for the Dali Katch G2.
Soundivine Le Magnum: other than their aesthetic differences, the Soundivine speaker features a 2 x 35 watt amplifier module and a 3.5 mm mini-jack input. However, the Detroit benefits from greater portability: it’s lighter and adopts an adjustable strap. What’s more, unlike the Soundivine, its chassis is durable, waterproof and dustproof. What’s more, the American model boasts twice the battery life of its competitor (20 hours vs. 10 hours).
Klipsch Detroit: who is it for?
This all-terrain speaker is designed for music lovers who enjoy listening to music at high volume in all circumstances. Resistant to sand, dust and water, the Klipsch Detroit is a true adventurer. Its high power output and ability to reproduce deep bass make it particularly well-suited to urban and rock music fans. Last but not least, its adjustable strap is a great asset for those looking for a speaker that’s easy to transport.
Conclusion
Like its Klipsch GIG XXL and Klipsch GIG XL party speakers, the American manufacturer has chosen to focus on functionality. Extremely easy to use, the Detroit seems ready for anything. Resolutely solid and with a 20-hour battery life, it ensures warm sound diffusion in all circumstances. In the purest Klipsch tradition, it bears the Klipsch sonic signature.
We liked
- The powerful bass
- The adjustable strap
- How easy it was to use
- The tri-band equalizer
We would have liked
- A mini-jack input
