Here's a bit of hi-fi nostalgia making its way back to the UK. American speaker specialist Klipsch is reviving its Heritage range of horn-loaded speakers.
First designed by company founder Paul W Klipsch in 1946, the 2009 Heritage range consists of four models.
The flagship is the legendary Klipschorn (£5999). This mighty speaker, which stands 1.28m high and weighs 79.5kg, is essentially identical to the original model developed more than 60 years ago.
Featuring a horn-loaded Phenolic diaphragm, 1in compression driver tweeter, 2in midrange and 15in fibre-composite woofer, the Klipschorn has a sensiitivity rating of 105dB, making it "an ideal partner for today's new generation of valve amplifiers," the company claims.
Originally designed for Winthrop Rockefeller
Next down in the range is the La Scala II (£3399). Originally designed by Paul Klipsch in 1963 as a PA speaker for Arkansas gubernatorial candidate Winthrop Rockefeller, this three-way, horn-loaded design apparently sounded so good people wanted to use it as a domestic speaker.
For those on a smaller budget, the £1699 Cornwall III began life as a centre speaker to be used in conjunction with a pair of Klipschorns.
And finally comes the biggest-selling model in the Heritage range, the £849 Heresy III. It stands a mere 60cm high and was first produced in 1957.
It's since been improved with a more powerful woofer, a biwire network and a titanium, diaphragm-equipped tweeter and midrange unit.
All the speakers in the Heritage range are built to order in Hope, Arkansas, USA. All prices are for single speakers.
