For over seventy years, the Klipsch Heritage series has embodied the DNA of the American brand: high-fidelity speakers with timeless designs, directly inspired by the models imagined by Paul W. Klipsch. Today, the range features two new exclusive finishes: Auburn (dark walnut) and Red Oak (light wood), which complete an already rich palette of luxurious wood finishes.
A tribute to natural materials
Klipsch is one of the few manufacturers capable of developing speakers that stand the test of time and appeal to all generations. Its Heritage range brilliantly embodies this philosophy, bringing together legendary models with names steeped in history: Klipschorn, La Scala, Cornwall and Heresy. The latter carry on the legacy of the first speakers developed by Paul W. Klipsch, like the Klipschorn born in 1946 and whose 7th generation, perfected over the decades, is still in the brand’s catalog today.
With these new finishes, Klipsch remains true to its philosophy of combining sound performance with aesthetic refinement. The Auburn finish is distinguished by its dark walnut hue, warm and deep, evoking the aesthetics of vintage speakers. The lighter, brighter Red Oak version highlights the natural grain of oak, ideal for contemporary interiors while retaining a touch of authenticity.
Every speaker in the Heritage range is still designed and assembled by hand in the Klipsch workshops in Hope, Arkansas. The new finishes are no exception: real wood, hand-matched veneers, and a manufacturing process that perpetuates the brand’s traditional craftsmanship.
Keeping the Heritage soul intact
These cosmetic changes in no way detract from the primary vocation of the Heritage range: to offer a lively, realistic sound reproduction. Each model retains its own identity, perpetuating the sound heritage imagined by Paul W. Klipsch.
The flagship of the brand is the Klipschorn, unveiled in 1946. It remains to this day the oldest continuously produced speaker in the world. Designed around a folded bass horn using the angle of the room as an acoustic extension, it reaches abyssal depths while retaining outstanding efficiency. Even today, the Klipschorn AK7 embodies the founder’s dream: to offer a life-like reproduction of the orchestra at home, with a 15″ driver coupled to dedicated midrange and high frequency horns. The new Auburn finish in dark walnut elegantly dresses up this legend.
The Klipsch La Scala, launched in 1963, was originally designed for the performing arts and public address. Its horn enabled it to reach impressive sound levels with very little power, a precious asset in the era of tube amps with only a few watts. Quickly adopted by audiophiles, it became a benchmark for high performance. The latest generation, La Scala AL6, modernizes the icon with a new, optimized Tractrix horn midrange driver, optimal tweeter phasing and, for the first time, a bass-reflex enclosure. In its new Auburn finish, this speaker takes on even greater visual presence: the deep, warm hue of the dark walnut veneer underlines its monumental silhouette and echoes the flamboyant energy of its sound reproduction.
The Klipsch Cornwall, introduced in 1959, was originally intended as a more compact alternative to the Klipschorn and Heresy. Designed to play the role of center channel between two Klipschorns, its production stopped in 1990, before enthusiast fervor led to its comeback in 2006 with the Cornwall III. Its latest evolution, the Cornwall IV, incorporates a new midrange with redesigned horn and front Tractrix ports, delivering deeper bass and a wider soundstage, without sacrificing its DNA. It also benefits from the new Auburn finish, which highlights its generous proportions with a warm hue that further enhances its timeless elegance.
The Klipsch Heresy, meanwhile, was launched in 1957 as a complementary speaker, designed to be inserted between two Klipschorns. More compact, it quickly won over high-performance enthusiasts with its dynamism and versatility. The current version, the Heresy IV, features a 12″ woofer backed up by a rear port for more sustained bass, while preserving its legendary liveliness. In addition to its traditional finishes, it is now available in the new Auburn color, with its warm patina, as well as in Red Oak, a luminous light wood that enhances the finesse of its proportions and facilitates its integration into modern interiors.
The Klipsch Forte, introduced in 1985, has long been considered the most balanced speaker in the Heritage range, thanks to its less imposing format than that of the Cornwall and La Scala, while retaining remarkable sonic breadth. Its originality lies in the integration of a 15″ passive radiator at the rear, enabling it to descend to very low frequencies without needing an excessive enclosure volume. The latest generation, the Forte IV, benefits from a midrange driver with a compression chamber and Tractrix horn, as well as optimized horns for improved tonal coherence. It also benefits from the new Auburn and Red Oak finishes, two shades that underline both its vintage elegance and its modern versatility.
With the arrival of the Auburn and Red Oak finishes, Klipsch demonstrates that its Heritage range is more alive than ever. While the acoustic design of these speakers remains true to the original spirit of Paul W. Klipsch, their aesthetics continue to evolve to match today’s interiors. Whether it’s the warmth of Auburn or the elegant clarity of Red Oak, these new finishes enhance already legendary models.
