“The speaker’s upper cabinet contains the new tweeter, which sports a lightweight polyimide diaphragm loaded by Klipsch’s Tractrix horn.”
Like no other.
“This is a striking sounding design, in an almost entirely positive way. It’s the aural equivalent of a bright, fresh autumn morning with an azure-blue sky and a chill in the air through which the sunshine blazes a path. Listening to this huge loudspeaker makes music feel alive, vivid, tactile, bracing and beautiful.
Here though, you’re right in front of the PA stack at the concert, taking in those lightning transients, added to the sort of dynamics that you just don’t expect from a modern ‘sensible shoes’ floorstander. This absolutely defines the sound of this loudspeaker- it’s all about speed and impact. It’s great in other ways too, but it’s almost as if you’re so taken by its immediacy that you don’t really notice.
But above all it gave a directness you normally only experience at a live event. I loved the arresting crack of the snare drum and realistic hi-hat zing that was metallic yet superbly defined. The way the vocals were carried was also special, for this speaker’s ability to go loud and quiet with
Robert’s every inflection was quite uncanny. More than this, there was a huge sense of headroom- no matter how loud or how quick, it was all water off a duck’s back for this vast Klipsch. It was hard to discern and sense of either compression or strain.
The looks still don’t prepare you for the sheer scale of the performance. Few loudspeakers I’ve heard are so specific about exactly where things are spatially. The piano work was natural sounding, with lovely timbre and ringing harmonics. Rich vocals were pin sharp and vivid yet didn’t grate and the acoustic guitar playing was etched in tone but not edgy.
Cymbal strikes were nicely defined too, without unwanted zing, while strings had a natural rawness to them without edge. Bass guitar was super taut and tight, but there was next to no sense of boxiness or cabinet boom.
It is superb at what it sets out to do. You’ll love it. It makes music a living, breathing tactile entity that has you on the edge of your seat, transfixed.”