Klipsch And Devon Turnbull Launch Limited-Edition kO-R1 Speakers

Klipsch is launching a fascinating new limited-edition speaker designed in partnership with renowned multidisciplinary artist Devon Turnbull, founder of Ojas. We recently discussed Turnbull and his Ojas brand in the context of the “Art of Noise” exhibition at San Francisco’s Museum of Modern Art. As part of the exhibition, Turnbull and his partners took turns playing a curated program of music for attendees on a custom-built, high-performance audio system of Turnbull’s own design. (See our article ‘Art of Noise’ Exhibition Features Audio Design At San Francisco’s MOMA.) The new speaker is called the kO-R1 ($8,498/pair). It’s a horn-loaded design blending “minimalist elegance and bespoke craftsmanship with the category-defining horn technology Klipsch has perfected over its legendary 75-plus-year history,” according to Klipsch. Like the company’s other premium Heritage speakers, the kO-R1 is handcrafted in Hope, Arkansas. 

The loudspeaker was inspired by Klipsch’s Heresy speaker and Turnbull’s minimalist ethos and unique aesthetic style. Klipsch says it boasts a “captivating multi-cell design and an exquisite cabinet of full butt-joined Baltic birch plywood.” The exposed bi-radial horn is made of sand-cast aluminum, while anodized aluminum is used in the binding posts. The speakers feature a cutting-edge adjustable horn mount and a five-step high-frequency gain attenuator, which reportedly allow precise tuning of the sound. Other touches include rubber anti-vibration feet and a laser-engraved metal ID plate to highlight the exclusive nature of this limited-edition product.

My strict adhesion to the horn speaker design philosophy means that Klipsch is one of the few brands that has 100% conceptual cohesion with my own vision. Both our brands prioritize premium audio packaged with classic design. There are few visionaries more important in the history of horn speakers than Paul W. Klipsch and I’m proud to contribute to that legacy.

— Devon Turnbull

This partnership is more than just a product — it’s a celebration of craftsmanship, audio purity, and a shared passion for delivering exceptional sound experiences. The kO-R1 is where heritage meets modern artistry, and we can’t wait for you to hear it.

— Vince Bonacorsi, COO of Klipsch

Turnbull worked closely with Roy Delgado, who was protégé to Paul W. Klipsch himself. Like his mentor, Delgado has “carried the torch of high efficiency horn design from his early days of working under PWK and through the decades since his passing,” according to the company. Delgado has been responsible for updating the legendary Klipsch Heritage speaker models, including the Klipschorn and the La Scala, originally designed by Paul W. Klipsch. Klipsch’s early experiments included multi-cell horn designs in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Over time, these transitioned from wood, to fiberglass, to cast metal. Current Klipsch products still use high-efficiency, low-distortion horns with the goal of delivering “the dynamic impact of the live music experience like no other brand,” according to the company. This loudspeaker DNA provided the common link between Klipsch and Ojas speakers, all of which use acoustic horns designed with “the ultimate respect for science-based audio reproduction.” 

This partnership fuses nearly a century’s worth of audio experimentation and engineering into an exceptional loudspeaker handmade at our facility in Hope with the same care and craftsmanship of PWK’s beloved Heritage products. Working alongside Devon on this journey of nearly a year, I was quite

— Roy Delgado, Principle Engineer at Klipsch

The kO-R1 combines a 12-inch Klipsch K-28-E woofer (as seen in the Heresy) with a K-706 high frequency driver in a front-ported Baltic birch plywood cabinet. The kO-R1 comes with the Klipsch K-12 speaker stand to ensure proper height and presentation. The package also includes a hardbound book chronicling the “journey of inspiration, research, design, and manufacturing” that led to this limited-edition product. The speakers are available in your choice of two finishes: Spiral Red Oak, which looks very Klipsch to me, or Pewter Grey, which is Ojas all the way. The Klipsch + Ojas kO-R1 loudspeakers are available now from the Ojas store and at select authorized Klipsch retailers, such as Common Wave HiFi here in Los Angeles.

More information: Klipsch + Ojas

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