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Nov 05, 2024

Klipsch And Devon Turnbull Launch Limited-Edition kO-R1 Speakers

Klipsch + Ojas kO-R1 Klipsch teamed up with Ojas to design a limited-edition loudspeaker, the Klipsch + Ojas kO-R1. At $8,498/pr it is a 2-way speaker with a 12" woofer and a Turnbull horn for the

Klipsch + Ojas kO-R1

Klipsch teamed up with Ojas to design a limited-edition loudspeaker, the Klipsch + Ojas kO-R1. At $8,498/pr it is a 2-way speaker with a 12" woofer and a Turnbull horn for the highs.

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Klipschis launching a fascinating new limited-edition speaker designed in partnershipwith renowned multidisciplinary artist Devon Turnbull, founder of Ojas. Werecently discussed Turnbull and his Ojas brand in the context of the “Art ofNoise” exhibition at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. As part of theexhibition, Turnbull and his partners took turns playing a curated program ofmusic for attendees on a custom-built, high-performance audio system ofTurnbull’s own design. (See our article ‘Art of Noise’ Exhibition Features Audio Design At SanFrancisco’s MOMA.) The new speaker is called the kO-R1 ($8,498/pair). It’s a horn-loadeddesign blending “minimalist elegance and bespoke craftsmanship with thecategory-defining horn technology Klipsch has perfected over its legendary75-plus-year history,” according to Klipsch. Like the company’s other premiumHeritage speakers, the kO-R1is handcrafted in Hope, Arkansas.

The loudspeaker was inspired by Klipsch’s Heresyspeaker and Turnbull’s minimalist ethosand unique aesthetic style. Klipsch says it boasts a “captivating multi-celldesign and an exquisite cabinet of full butt-joined Baltic birch plywood.” Theexposed bi-radial hornis made of sand-cast aluminum, while anodized aluminum is used in the bindingposts. The speakers feature a cutting-edge adjustable horn mount and afive-step high-frequency gain attenuator, which reportedly allow precise tuningof the sound. Other touches include rubber anti-vibration feet and a laser-engraved metal IDplate to highlight the exclusive nature of this limited-edition product.

Mystrict adhesion to the horn speaker design philosophy means that Klipsch is oneof the few brands that has 100% conceptual cohesion with my own vision. Bothour brands prioritize premium audio packaged with classic design. There are fewvisionaries more important in the history of horn speakers than Paul W. Klipschand I’m proudto contribute to that legacy.

—Devon Turnbull

Thispartnership is more than just a product — it’s a celebration of craftsmanship,audio purity, and a shared passion for delivering exceptional soundexperiences. The kO-R1 is where heritage meets modern artistry, and we can’t wait for you to hear it.

—Vince Bonacorsi,COO of Klipsch

Turnbullworked closely with Roy Delgado,who was protégé to Paul W. Klipsch himself. Like his mentor, Delgado has“carried the torch of high efficiency horn design from his early days ofworking under PWK and through the decades since his passing,” according to thecompany. Delgado has been responsible for updating the legendary KlipschHeritage speaker models, including the Klipschorn and the La Scala, originally designed by Paul W. Klipsch. Klipsch’s early experiments includedmulti-cell horn designs in a wide variety ofshapes and sizes. Over time, these transitioned from wood, to fiberglass, to cast metal. Current Klipsch products stilluse high-efficiency, low-distortion horns with the goal of delivering “thedynamic impact of the live music experience like no other brand,” according tothe company. This loudspeaker DNA provided the common link between Klipsch andOjas speakers, all of which use acoustic horns designed with “the ultimaterespect for science-based audio reproduction.”

Thispartnership fuses nearly a century’s worthof audio experimentation and engineering into an exceptional loudspeakerhandmade at our facility in Hope with the same care and craftsmanship of PWK’s beloved Heritage products. Workingalongside Devon on this journey of nearly a year, I was quite

—Roy Delgado, Principle Engineer at Klipsch

ThekO-R1 combines a 12-inch Klipsch K-28-E woofer (as seen in the Heresy) with aK-706 high frequency driver in a front-ported Baltic birch plywood cabinet. ThekO-R1 comes with the Klipsch K-12 speaker stand to ensure proper height andpresentation. The package also includes a hardbound book chronicling the “journeyof inspiration, research, design, and manufacturing” that led to thislimited-edition product. The speakers are available in your choice of twofinishes: Spiral Red Oak, which looks very Klipsch to me, or Pewter Grey, whichis Ojas all the way. The Klipsch + Ojas kO-R1 loudspeakers are available nowfrom the Ojas store andat select authorized Klipsch retailers, such as Common Wave HiFi here in LosAngeles.

Moreinformation: Klipsch + Ojas

Klipsch teamed up with Ojas to design a limited-edition loudspeaker, the Klipsch + Ojas kO-R1. At $8,498/pr it is a 2-way speaker with a 12" woofer and a Turnbull horn for the highs.

Buy Now

Thank you for supporting Audioholics by purchasing from our Affiliates.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.

Jacob is a music-lover and audiophile who enjoys convincing his friends to buy audio gear that they can't afford. He's also a freelance writer and editor based in Los Angeles.