In this review, we will be comparing Klipschorn 80th and Heresy III, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary and Klipsch Heresy III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary | Klipsch Heresy III |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Compression Horn | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Paper | 12" Fiber-composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-20k Hz | 58-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 103 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100-400 watts | 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 65.70kg / 144.5lbs | 20.00kg / 44lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 51-15/16" x 31-1/2" x 24"
1320.0 x 800.0 x 610.0mm | 23-7/8" x 15-1/2" x 13-7/16"
607.0 x 394.0 x 342.0mm |
|---|
Klipschorn 80th and Heresy III are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Heritage Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Klipschorn 80th is a 2-way design whereas the Heresy III is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th AnniversaryKlipsch Heresy III
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary |
Klipsch Heresy III |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
Klipschorn 80th features a " K-692 with K-5-K aluminium horn Compression Horn Tweeter and 1 x 15" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz. On the other hand, the Heresy III features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter, a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fiber-composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Klipschorn 80th has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas Heresy III has a frequency range of 58-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the Klipschorn 80th can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Heresy III's min frequency of 58Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Klipschorn 80th and Heresy III have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Klipschorn 80th sensitivity is rated at 103 dB and the Heresy III's is at 99 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch Heresy III, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Klipschorn 80th can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas Heresy III has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Klipschorn 80th.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Klipschorn 80th and Heresy III features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary's and Klipsch Heresy III's external dimensions. Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary has external dimensions of 1320.0 x 800.0 x 610.0mm (51-15/16 x 31-1/2 x 24inch) whereas Klipsch Heresy III has external dimensions of 607.0 x 394.0 x 342.0mm (23-7/8 x 15-1/2 x 13-7/16inch).
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 406mm wider, 713mm taller and 268mm deeper than Klipsch Heresy III.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary needs about 262% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is 268mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is 713mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is approximately 4880.0cm2 / 756.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Heresy III is approximately 1347.5cm2 / 208.9inch2. The Klipschorn 80th requires 262% more surface area than the Heresy III which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary weighs 65.70kg / 144.5lbs and the Klipsch Heresy III weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the Klipschorn 80th 229% heavier than the Heresy III.
Here is a comparison of how Klipschorn 80th and Heresy III's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary
What's in the Box of Klipsch Heresy III?
Here are the items that come with the Heresy III:
- Floor-standing loudspeaker
- Detachable grille (installed)
- Base riser (installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
103 dB
vs
99 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
607mm
vs
1320mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1347cm2
vs
4880cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2346USD
vs
20000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary |
Klipsch Capitol Heresy III |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100-400 watts |
100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
103 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
34-20k Hz |
58-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Fiber-composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Treated cloth |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Compression Horn |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1320.0mm (52") |
607.0mm (23.9") |
| Width |
800.0mm (31.5") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
610.0mm (24") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
65.70kg (144.5lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Horn Loaded |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
19 mm MDF with real wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Tigerwood |
Blonde Cherry |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Klipsch's Heritage series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary digs deeper - 34Hz against 58Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is more sensitive (103dB vs 99dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary takes more power (400W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch Heresy III is easier to place; Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary: bi-amping; Klipsch Heresy III: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Klipsch Heresy III is cheaper - $2,346 against $20,000, about 88% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary B Klipsch Heresy III
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary measures better, Klipsch Heresy III costs about about 8.5x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 58Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch Heresy III much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch Heresy III is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.