The Klipsch Jubilee at a glance
The Klipsch Jubilee represents a lifelong ambition realized. Paul W. Klipsch dreamed of a fully horn loaded loudspeaker that could serve as the ultimate expression of his design philosophy, and the Jubilee carries that vision forward. It is a two way, fully horn loaded system, hand built in Hope, Arkansas, that treats both the high and low frequencies to horn loading rather than relying on a conventional direct radiating bass driver.
What sets the Jubilee apart from the rest of the Klipsch catalog is the way it is engineered as a complete system rather than a simple passive box. It uses an active DSP crossover and bi-amplification, so the high frequency compression driver and the horn loaded bass section are each driven by their own dedicated amplifier channel, with the crossover handled in the digital domain before amplification. That is a fundamentally different approach from the passive Heritage models, and it is central to the Jubilee experience.
Klipsch design and technology
Fully horn loaded, top to bottom
The high frequency section is a Tractrix horn loaded compression driver, the signature Klipsch approach that controls dispersion and delivers enormous efficiency. The low frequency section is horn loaded as well, meaning the bass energy is coupled to the room through the horn geometry rather than radiated directly. The enclosure is a plywood cabinet built around that horn structure. The result is a speaker with the effortless dynamic ease that horn loading is known for, where transients arrive with speed and macro dynamics build without strain.
Active DSP crossover and bi-amplification
Where most Klipsch loudspeakers use a passive crossover inside the cabinet, the Jubilee uses an active DSP crossover. Each driver receives its own amplifier channel through bi-amplification, and the crossover work happens digitally before the signal ever reaches the amplifiers. This gives the system precise control over how the two horns integrate. It is important to understand that this is an active, bi-amplified design, so the way you configure amplification differs from a single stereo pair driving one passive speaker.
Very high sensitivity
Like the rest of the Klipsch family, the Jubilee is remarkably sensitive with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. High sensitivity means the speaker converts a little power into a lot of sound, which is why Klipsch designs are famous for partnering happily with modest wattage as well as with powerful solid state amplifiers. The Jubilee rewards clean, well engineered amplification because it will reveal exactly what you feed it.
Sound character
The Jubilee sounds like live music at its most unforced. Horn loading gives it a sense of presence and immediacy, where voices and instruments have body and the leading edge of every note is clear and quick. Because both bands are horn loaded, there is a coherence to the bass and treble that many listeners find deeply satisfying, with low frequencies that feel taut and articulate rather than merely large. It plays quiet passages with delicacy and then scales up to concert level dynamics without compression or hardness. This is a loudspeaker for the listener who wants to feel the energy of a performance in the room.
Where the Jubilee sits in the range
Klipsch Heritage and their high performance passive designs give you a ladder of options, and the Jubilee stands at the summit of horn loaded engineering. If you are considering where it fits, it helps to see the whole family.
The Klipsch Heresy IV is a compact three way that suits smaller rooms and closer listening. The Klipsch Forte IV adds a rear firing passive radiator and greater scale. The Klipsch Cornwall IV steps up cabinet volume and effortless output. The Klipsch La Scala AL6 brings folded horn bass into the picture, and the Klipschorn AK7 is the legendary corner horn that anchors the Heritage line. The Klipsch RF-7 III represents the high output Reference approach for those who want a floorstander in that idiom.
All of these passive models need amplification, and their high sensitivity makes them wonderful partners for low power tube amplifiers as well as capable solid state. The Jubilee is different by design intent. Its active DSP crossover and bi-amplification make it a fully realized system approach rather than a passive speaker you simply hang an amplifier on. If you love the Heritage sound and want the most complete expression of fully horn loaded, two way engineering, the Jubilee is where that path leads.
Ideal system and use case
The Jubilee is at home as the centerpiece of a serious two channel system in a dedicated listening room. Its scale and dynamic capability suit medium and larger spaces where you can let it breathe, and its coherence rewards attentive, seated listening. Because it is a bi-amplified active system, plan your electronics around delivering clean amplification to each band, and give your source signal chain the same care you would give any reference system.
Amplification thoughts
Given the Jubilee's high sensitivity, you do not need brute force so much as quality and control. On the solid state side, the Accuphase E-800S Integrated Amplifier and the Accuphase E-700 Integrated Amplifier bring Class A refinement that horns tend to reveal beautifully. The Luxman L-509Z Integrated Amplifier and its Luxman L-509Z Black Centennial Edition offer a slightly different tonal signature that many find gorgeous with Klipsch. For separates, the Accuphase P-7500 Stereo Power Amplifier and the monophonic Accuphase A-300 Class-A Monophonic Power Amplifier give you the flexibility that a bi-amplified system invites. Because the Jubilee uses an active DSP crossover, we recommend speaking with us so the amplification is matched correctly to the system architecture.
Source thoughts
Feed the Jubilee a source worthy of its resolution. The Accuphase DP-770 Precision MDSD SA-CD Player is a superb one box disc source, while the Accuphase DC-1000 Precision MDSD Digital Processor serves as a reference grade digital front end for streaming and digital libraries.
How it compares within the AEA room
If you are weighing the Jubilee against other loudspeakers we carry, think in terms of design goal rather than ranking. The Spendor Classic 200 and Spendor Classic 200Ti are three way, direct radiating floorstanders in the British tradition, voiced for a smooth, room friendly balance. The Marten Parker Trio and Marten Parker Quintet floorstanders, along with the Marten Parker Duo Diamond standmounts, pursue a diamond tweeter clarity and low coloration ideal. The Jubilee's fully horn loaded, high sensitivity design chases a different ideal again, the immediacy and dynamic ease of horns. Each has a distinct character, and the right choice depends on the sound you love and the room you have.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Klipsch Jubilee in brief?
The Klipsch Jubilee represents a lifelong ambition realized. Paul W. Klipsch dreamed of a fully horn loaded loudspeaker that could serve as the ultimate expression of his design philosophy, and the Jubilee carries that vision forward. It is a two way, fully horn loaded system, hand built in Hope, Arkansas, that treats both the high and low frequencies to horn loading rather than relying on a conventional direct radiating bass driver.
Where does the Klipsch Jubilee sit in the range?
Klipsch Heritage and their high performance passive designs give you a ladder of options, and the Jubilee stands at the summit of horn loaded engineering. If you are considering where it fits, it helps to see the whole family.
Who is the Klipsch Jubilee best suited to?
The Jubilee is at home as the centerpiece of a serious two channel system in a dedicated listening room. Its scale and dynamic capability suit medium and larger spaces where you can let it breathe, and its coherence rewards attentive, seated listening. Because it is a bi-amplified active system, plan your electronics around delivering clean amplification to each band, and give your source signal chain the same care you would give any reference system.
What should I pair with the Klipsch Jubilee?
Given the Jubilee's high sensitivity, you do not need brute force so much as quality and control. On the solid state side, the Accuphase E-800S Integrated Amplifier and the Accuphase E-700 Integrated Amplifier bring Class A refinement that horns tend to reveal beautifully. The Luxman L-509Z Integrated Amplifier and its Luxman L-509Z Black Centennial Edition offer a slightly different tonal signature that many find gorgeous with Klipsch.
How does the Klipsch Jubilee compare to the alternatives?
If you are weighing the Jubilee against other loudspeakers we carry, think in terms of design goal rather than ranking. The Spendor Classic 200 and Spendor Classic 200Ti are three way, direct radiating floorstanders in the British tradition, voiced for a smooth, room friendly balance.
Come hear the Jubilee
AEA is an authorized Klipsch dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so we invite you to contact us to arrange a listen and to make sure the Jubilee is ready for you. We are happy to talk through the active bi-amplified system approach and help you build a source and amplification chain that suits your room and your music.