Though the brand’s name is widely recognized in the realm of hi-fi sound, Klipsch isn’t exactly known for innovation. Its most well-known speakers were first built some eight decades ago, and the current iterations aren’t that different from the first ones to roll off the manufacturing line.
So it was pretty surprising to hear that Klipsch reached out to self-proclaimed “DIYer” Devon Turnball of Ojas to work on a project together. After all, Turnball’s projects are as bizarre as they are coveted.
That said, the results speak for themselves (no pun intended). The collaborative Klipsch x Ojas kO-R1 loudspeaker is the perfect blend of old and new, hijacking its style from the Klipsch Heresy — a model that dates back to the late 1950s — while getting an internal renovation courtesy of Turnball.
KlipschGP100 Winner
Klipsch x Ojas kO-R1 Loudspeaker
Specs
| Dimensions | 16.5" x 28.125" x 13.0" |
| Enclosure | 13-ply Grade A Baltic Birch Plywood |
| Transducers | K-28-E 12” Woofer; K-706 HF Driver |
| Weight | 52 lbs |
The novel speaker eschews its tweeter, changing the original three-transducer design to a twin — specifically, a K-28-E 12” Woofer and K-706 HF Driver. “There are a lot of compression drivers that have more than enough high-frequency extension,” Turnball says of his minimalist approach.
The whole thing is housed inside a Baltic birch plywood case (assembled using butt joints) on a KS-12 stand, topped with an adjustable sandcast aluminum horn developed by Turnball using a 3D printer.
