An American Icon That Never Left Production
Few loudspeakers carry the history of the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7. Paul W. Klipsch introduced the original Klipschorn in 1946, and it has remained in continuous production ever since, hand built at the Klipsch Heritage workshop in Hope, Arkansas. The AK7 is the current expression of that founding vision, a fully horn loaded corner floorstanding speaker that still follows the same core principle Paul Klipsch believed in: use the room itself to help the loudspeaker do its work.
This is a three way, fully horn loaded design in the truest sense. Every band is horn loaded, from the folded horn bass bin to the horn loaded midrange compression driver to the Tractrix horn loaded compression tweeter. That completeness is what sets the Klipschorn apart from nearly everything else in high fidelity.
The Klipsch Technology Inside the AK7
A Fully Horn Loaded Three Way
The AK7 uses a 12 inch woofer mounted in a folded horn loaded bass bin, a horn loaded compression driver for the midrange, and a Tractrix horn loaded compression tweeter for the highs. The crossover points sit at 400Hz and 4500Hz, dividing the workload across three horns so each driver operates in its comfort zone. Frequency response is quoted at 33Hz to 20kHz, and the nominal impedance is a friendly 8 ohms.
The Corner Horn Principle
The most distinctive part of the design is the bass horn. The Klipschorn is a corner horn, meaning the walls of the room complete the mouth of the bass horn. When you place it snugly into the corners of your room, those two walls extend the horn, producing full, effortless low frequency output from a folded enclosure. This is the design goal Paul Klipsch pursued from the very beginning, and it is unique to the Klipschorn within the Heritage line.
Extraordinary Sensitivity
Sensitivity is rated at 105 dB at 2.83V and 1 meter. That is an exceptionally high figure, and it is the defining trait for anyone building a system. Because the AK7 turns a tiny amount of power into a large amount of sound, it thrives with low wattage amplification, including flea power tube amplifiers, while still responding beautifully to refined solid state. The horns are doing the amplifying that a cone speaker would ask the amplifier to do.
Sound Character
The Klipschorn AK7 sounds alive. Fully horn loaded systems are known for their immediacy, their dynamic ease, and their ability to reproduce the leading edge of a note without strain. Because the speaker is so sensitive, music emerges with a sense of relaxed authority at any listening level, from late night low volume listening to full scale orchestral swells. The folded corner horn gives bass that feels physical and unforced rather than pushed. Voices and brass through the horn loaded midrange have body and presence, and the Tractrix tweeter keeps the top end open and detailed.
This is the natural home for listeners who love acoustic music, jazz, large scale classical, and vintage recordings, where the dynamic contrast and tonal honesty of a horn system feels especially rewarding.
Where the AK7 Sits in the Klipsch Range
Klipsch offers a wide ladder of horn loaded loudspeakers, and it helps to understand where the Klipschorn belongs.
The Klipsch RF-7 III is a floorstander from the Reference line, a conventional cabinet design aimed at those who want Klipsch horn energy in a slimmer, more placement flexible package. Within the Heritage line, the Klipsch Heresy IV is the compact, stand friendly member, and the Klipsch Forte IV steps up in scale and low frequency reach. The Klipsch Cornwall IV is a larger full range Heritage floorstander that does not require corner placement.
Above those sit the fully horn loaded designs. The Klipsch La Scala AL6 is a fully horn loaded system that can be placed away from corners, while the Klipschorn AK7 is the corner horn that uses the room to complete its bass horn. The Klipsch Jubilee takes a different modern path with an active DSP crossover and bi-amplification. The AK7 is the direct heir to the original 1946 design and the one that most fully expresses Paul Klipsch's founding corner horn concept.
Building a System Around the Klipschorn
The AK7 is a passive loudspeaker, so it needs amplification and a source. Its 105 dB sensitivity means you have wonderful freedom here. You do not need a large amplifier for volume, so you can choose amplification based on tonal refinement rather than raw power.
Amplification
For pure Class A musicality, the Luxman L-100 CENTENNIAL Pure Class A Integrated Amplifier is a natural match, since the Klipschorn will let its clean, low power watts sing. The Luxman L-507Z Integrated Amplifier offers a refined all in one solution, and the Accuphase E-3000 Stereo Integrated Amplifier brings a smooth, composed character that many horn lovers enjoy. For a fuller bodied solid state voice, the Yamaha A-S3200 Integrated Amplifier pairs beautifully as well. If you prefer separates, the Yamaha M-5000 Power Amplifier gives you a dedicated power stage of real pedigree.
Source
For a streaming and digital front end, the Matrix Audio MS-1 Pre Flagship Music Streamer, DAC and Preamplifier is a versatile hub. For disc lovers, the Luxman D-07X CD Player or the Luxman D-07XB CENTENNIAL deliver a resolving, natural source that lets the horns show their transparency.
How It Compares to Other Floorstanders We Carry
If you are weighing the Klipschorn against other floorstanding designs, the difference is one of design philosophy. The Spendor D9.2 and the Gauder Akustik range, including the Gauder Akustik Capello 80 DV, the Gauder Akustik Arcona 100 MKII SD, and the Gauder Akustik Arcona 80 MKII SD, are conventional cone and dome loudspeakers that prioritize different placement freedoms and a different presentation. The Klipschorn is a fully horn loaded corner design built for dynamic ease and very high sensitivity. Which you prefer comes down to your room, your placement options, and the kind of sound you love.
Placement Notes
Because the AK7 relies on room corners to complete its bass horn, its performance is tied to placement. Each speaker stands 128.3 cm tall, measures 79.4 cm wide and 73.5 cm deep, and weighs roughly 79.4 kg, so a pair of solid corners on the same wall is ideal. The finishes are real wood veneer Heritage finishes, so these are as much a piece of furniture as a loudspeaker.
Come Listen for Yourself
All Elite Audio is an authorized Klipsch dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Our demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so if the Klipschorn AK7 is calling to you, please reach out to arrange a listen. We are happy to help you plan corner placement and build the right system around this legendary corner horn.