Klipsch has just introduced its next generation of Klipschorn and La Scala speakers. The new Klipschorn AK7 and La Scala AL6 models feature new modified Tractrix midrange horns, updated compression drivers, new finishes, and for the first time, the speakers allows professional integrators to add an optional external Heritage Active Crossover.
The Klipschorn AK7 speakers are set to cost $17,998 per pair while the La Scala AL6 will be $14,998 per pair. Both are available in American Walnut, Black Ash and a new American Auburn finish. The Heritage Active Crossover module, meanwhile, is available in the Black Ash finish only and costs $3499. All mentioned products are expected to be available in Europe this May.
Updated Klipschorn & La Scala Models Introduce Horn-Loaded Compression Drivers
New to the AK7 and AL6 models, the Klipschorn and La Scala utilize three-way horn-loaded designs that delivers high levels of efficiency. According to Klipsch, each driver is coupled to what it says is a precisely engineered horn that is optimized for one of three passbands, generating greater acoustic power from lower wattage.
The La Scala AL6 even features upgrades to its patented horn loaded, vented system for maximizing efficiency, output extension, and lower distortion. According to the company, these design element realizes the benefits of both a horn-loaded system and a bass reflex system. The K-281 12-inch woofer with folded horn resides in a new enclosure that Klipsch claims helps to produce richer and more robust bass from any room placement location.
To further optimize high-frequency performance, the K-771 compression driver is paired with a patented, wide-dispersion extended phase plug. The use of the phase plug Klipsch says, minimizes cancellations and equalizes wavelengths, providing a wider, more consistent soundstage.
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The new 3-inch KT-1133-HP midrange compression driver also adds a full inch to the drivers used in previous Klipsch models. Its larger compression area is said to maximize energy so that the driver doesn’t have to work as hard to increase the sound pressure to the horn’s throat.
Additionally, the AK7 and AL6 now feature Klipsch’s classic Tractrix technology for improved acoustic precision. The new, patented K-406M modified Tractrix midrange horn features a shorter 2-inch throat that improves time alignment by bringing the exit point of the driver closer to the other. Klipsch’s Mumps technology is also present to improve coverage across all drive-units, integrating small contours to help maintain an even frequency response to the horn’s edge.
Speakers Benefit from Custom Heritage Active Crossover Module
The latest Klipschorn and La Scala models can now also be paired with the company’s Heritage Active Crossover. Designed by Klipsch’s VP of technology and innovation, Matt Spitznagle, and tuned by acoustician Roy Delgado, the active crossover was initially employed with the Jubilee and helps breathe new life into the DSP active network by delivering improved time and phase alignment, as well as balanced equalization (EQ), and true-to-source response, according to Klipsch. The external components also fit easily in a rack or on a shelf.
The newly designed I/O panel on both the new Klipschorn and La Scala models now includes both passive and active inputs as well as a passive output. Both models will be available with the passive crossover network installed. The new panel design Klipsch suggests, makes it easy to switch between passive and active configurations, accommodating the Heritage Active Crossover for a plug-and-play set up for dealers.
New Designs Decades in the Making
Looking back Klipsch admits that for years, the Klipschorn project laid dormant, but the idea never faded. In 2022, Klipsch recalls that it revived Paul W. Klipsch’s vision with the release of its flagship Jubilee loudspeaker. Klipsch boasts the reception to the Jubilee was so overwhelmingly positive that Delgado and his team knew they had to take it further.
“The team felt it was imperative to offer Klipsch fans a choice, so as we set to incorporate the active crossover on the Klipschorn and La Scala, we were inspired to boost the passive performance with key upgrades. With over two years of development, we built upon the legacy—not just honoring the past but carrying it into the future,” comments Delgado.
In addition to the two new Heritage models, Klipsch is also debuting a new finish option for the Heritage Series: American Auburn. The company adds this finish replaces the longstanding Natural Cherry, and Klipsch suggests that American Auburn sits between Black Ash and American Walnut to provide homeowners with more finish options.
Moreover, Klipsch states that audiophiles familiar with the book-matched veneer process that it uses for the Heritage loudspeakers includes the choice of veneer leaf that is delicately sliced from premium timber before being precisely joined to provide a mirror image of the wood grain across two speakers. This process Klipsch says gives a consistent appearance between both units, like the two visible pages of an opened book.
