Yee-haw! Klipsch's Americana-inspired portables are here to lasso the crown from JBL

(Image credit: Klipsch)

What do you associate with good ol' fashioned Americana? Cowboy boots and muscle cars? Bruce Springsteen? Bacon on a cheeseburger? Or, maybe, campsite cookouts with your favourite Bluetooth portable speaker.

That's the vibe we're getting from Klipsch's latest line of all-American Bluetooth speakers designed to celebrate the heritage of some of the US's most famous locations. The new Klipsch Music Series - comprising the Austin, the Nashville and the Detroit - pays tribute to three American towns with a reputation for a proud musical heritage.

The Austin is up first, the smallest of the trio which looks somewhat akin to the palm-sized Marshall Willen or even the excellent JBL Go 3. Boasting 12 hours of battery life and a weight of just 397g, it's a dinky little portable that can pretty much fit into your backpack, even your pocket, without too much fuss.

You may like

Next is the slightly larger, rectangular Klipsch Nashville, still a small model that would probably be best compared to the JBL Flip 6 in terms of its form, function and price. With dual 5.7cm drivers and 24 hours of playtime, the Nashville is the next step up from its dinky Austin sibling.

Klipsh Music City Series Detroit — The Klipsch Music City Series Detroit is the biggest, and most expensive, of the three units. (Image credit: Klipsch)

If you want to go all out with something more substantial, Detroit is the place to be. With dual 7.6cm drivers and 2.5cm tweeters, as well as 24 hours of playback, the heftier Detroit is probably best compared to the Award-winning JBL Charge 5 as a portable yet weighty model that packs plenty of punch.

While there are certainly differences between the models, there are also some common threads. All are IP67 rated for dust and waterproofing no matter which city you visit, and all three can connect to the official Klipsch Connect App from which things such as EQ and setting personalisation can be controlled. Plus, long-ranging wireless connectivity means that each model will be playable up to 40 feet (12 meters) away from its source player.

The new Music City Series certainly look the part, feeling somewhat akin to the dashing, even iconic looks of the fetching Marshall range of speakers. According to Paul Jacobs, Klipsch's CEO, “Our Music City Series is a celebration of music and culture. We wanted to pay homage to some of the most influential cities that have shaped the world of music, and we did so by crafting speakers that not only sound incredible but also embody the essence of Austin, Nashville and Detroit".

The Klipsch Austin and Nashville and available to pre-order now in the US (it will launch in the UK and other territories later), while the Detroit is due to arrive in the new year. Prices for the units are as follows (further prices pending):

Klipsch Austin: $99
Klipsch Nashville: $149
Klipsch Detroit: $299 (arriving early 2024)

MORE:

These are the best Bluetooth speakers around

Read our JBL Go 3 and JBL Charge 5 reviews

Happy Halloween! Here are 9 of the best Halloween tracks to test your hi-fi system

Harry McKerrell is a senior staff writer at What Hi-Fi?. During his time at the publication, he has written countless news stories alongside features, advice and reviews of products ranging from floorstanding speakers and music streamers to over-ear headphones, wireless earbuds and portable DACs. He has covered launches from hi-fi and consumer tech brands, and major industry events including IFA, High End Munich and, of course, the Bristol Hi-Fi Show. When not at work he can be found playing hockey, practising the piano or trying to pet strangers' dogs.