Few loudspeaker families carry the history that the Klipsch Heritage line does. Founded by Paul W. Klipsch in 1946, the company has spent generations refining horn loading, and the Heritage floorstanding models remain hand built with real wood veneer cabinets. This guide walks through the lineup we carry as an authorized Klipsch dealer, explains what these speakers share, and helps you choose by room size, system, budget and listening priorities.
The Shared Klipsch Heritage Design
Every model here is built around the same core philosophy. Klipsch uses Tractrix horn loading on the midrange and high frequency drivers, a design goal that controls dispersion and delivers effortless dynamics. All of these speakers use titanium diaphragm compression drivers and are voiced for very high sensitivity. That high sensitivity is the signature Heritage trait. Because the speakers convert a small amount of power into a lot of sound, they pair beautifully with low wattage tube amplifiers as well as with solid state electronics. You do not need a large power plant to bring them to life.
Keep in mind that these are passive loudspeakers, which means they need external amplification. This is different from the powered Klipsch models such as The Fives, The Sevens and The Nines, which have built in amplification and need only a source. If you want a Heritage sound with the least amount of gear, the powered lineup is worth a look, but the Heritage floorstanders reward a carefully chosen amplifier.
The Lineup by Tier
Compact Heritage: The Heresy IV
The Klipsch Heresy IV is the most room friendly floorstander in the family. It is a three way, horn loaded design with a 1 inch titanium tweeter and a 1.75 inch titanium midrange compression driver, both on Tractrix horns, paired with a 12 inch woofer. It carries a 99 dB sensitivity rating and a rear firing Tractrix port for its bass reflex loading. At roughly 24.8 inches tall on its riser and about 45 pounds each, it is the smallest and most placement forgiving of the group, with a frequency response reaching down to 48 Hz. This model suits smaller and medium rooms and anyone who wants the Heritage voice in a discreet footprint.
Mid Heritage: The Forte IV
The Klipsch Forte IV steps up in scale and bass extension. It shares the 1 inch titanium tweeter, 1.75 inch titanium midrange and 12 inch woofer arrangement, but adds a 15 inch rear firing passive radiator in a sealed enclosure. That design goal pushes its frequency response down to 38 Hz. At 36.5 inches tall and about 72 pounds each, it is a taller full floorstander that still fits comfortably in many rooms. The Forte IV suits listeners who want deeper, fuller low end and a larger sound stage than the Heresy IV while keeping a manageable cabinet.
Large Heritage: The Cornwall IV
The Klipsch Cornwall IV is a big, expressive three way with a 15 inch fiber composite woofer, a 1.75 inch titanium midrange on a Tractrix horn and a 1 inch titanium tweeter on a Tractrix horn. Its 102 dB sensitivity and 34 Hz low frequency reach make it the most effortless of the direct radiating Heritage models. At 38.5 inches tall, 25.5 inches wide and 100 pounds each, it wants a medium to large room where it can breathe. Choose the Cornwall IV when you want large scale dynamics and deep bass without moving to a fully horn loaded bass design.
Fully Horn Loaded Heritage: La Scala AL6, Klipschorn AK7 and Jubilee
At the top of the family sit the fully horn loaded systems. The Klipsch La Scala AL6 uses a 15 inch woofer in a folded bass horn together with horn loaded midrange and tweeter compression drivers, reaching a 105 dB sensitivity rating. It is a freestanding fully horn loaded speaker, so it does not require corners, and its scale and immediacy are remarkable.
The Klipschorn AK7 is the model that started it all, in continuous production longer than any other Klipsch loudspeaker. It is a corner horn, meaning its folded bass horn uses the room corner as part of the enclosure. With a 12 inch woofer, horn loaded midrange and Tractrix tweeter, a 105 dB sensitivity rating and a 33 Hz low frequency reach, it delivers full range horn sound when placed in solid corners. If you have proper corners to work with, the Klipschorn is a design unlike anything else in the line.
The Klipsch Jubilee represents the most modern engineering approach in the Heritage family. It is a two way, fully horn loaded system with an active DSP crossover and bi-amplification, which means each driver section is driven by its own amplifier channel and the crossover work is handled digitally. This is a different architecture from the passive models above and is aimed at listeners who want the ultimate expression of Klipsch horn engineering and are ready to build a system around its bi-amplified, DSP driven design. Like the La Scala and Klipschorn, it is hand built in Hope, Arkansas.
Which Should You Buy? By Scenario
Small or apartment sized room
The Heresy IV is the natural starting point. Its compact cabinet and forgiving placement make it easy to live with, and its high sensitivity means a modest tube or solid state amplifier drives it happily.
Medium room wanting more bass and scale
The Forte IV is the step up, adding the 15 inch passive radiator for deeper reach while remaining a sensible size for many living spaces.
Larger room wanting big dynamics
The Cornwall IV gives you the largest direct radiating Heritage woofer and the highest sensitivity of the non horn loaded models, ideal when you have space to let it open up.
You want fully horn loaded sound without needing corners
The La Scala AL6 delivers the folded bass horn experience as a freestanding speaker, so you gain the fully horn loaded presentation with more placement flexibility than a corner design.
You have solid corners and want a Heritage icon
The Klipschorn AK7 is purpose built to use the room corner as part of its bass horn. Given proper corners, it is a landmark full range horn loudspeaker.
You want the most advanced Klipsch horn engineering
The Jubilee and its active DSP crossover with bi-amplification are for the listener building a reference level, fully horn loaded system with modern signal processing at its heart.
Matching Amplification and System
Because these speakers are so sensitive, they are among the most flexible partners in high fidelity. A well made low wattage tube amplifier can sound wonderful, and so can quality solid state electronics. Remember that the passive models here need amplification, while the Jubilee follows its own bi-amplified, DSP driven approach. If you are building a full system, our team can help you match electronics, sources and cabling appropriately to whichever Heritage model you choose so the pairing stays balanced from front to back.
Come Listen at Our Timonium Showroom
All Elite Audio is an authorized Klipsch dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Because demo units rotate and not every model is always set up on the floor, we invite you to contact us so we can arrange a listen and make sure the Heritage loudspeaker you are considering is ready for your visit. We would be glad to help you find the right fit for your room, your system and the way you love to listen.