In this review, we will be comparing Klipschorn 80th and AK7, 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 Klipschorn AK7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary | Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Compression Horn | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Paper | 15" fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-20k Hz | 34-19k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 103 dB | 103 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100-400 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 65.70kg / 144.5lbs | 118.18kg / 260lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 51-15/16" x 31-1/2" x 24"
1320.0 x 800.0 x 610.0mm | 53" x 31-1/4" x 28-1/4"
1347.0 x 794.0 x 718.0mm |
|---|
Klipschorn 80th and AK7 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 AK7 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 Klipschorn AK7
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 Klipschorn AK7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
1 x 15-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 AK7 features a 1" polyimide diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 1 x 15" fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz - 290Hz.
Frequency Response
Klipschorn 80th has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas AK7 has a frequency range of 34-19k Hz.
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 AK7 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 103 dB.
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 AK7 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 AK7 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7's Binding post terminals allows 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 Klipschorn AK7'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 Klipschorn AK7 has external dimensions of 1347.0 x 794.0 x 718.0mm (53 x 31-1/4 x 28-1/4inch).
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is 27mm shorter and 108mm less deeper than Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 but it is also 6mm wider.
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 Klipschorn AK7 needs about 17% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is 108mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is 27mm 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 Klipschorn AK7 is approximately 5700.9cm2 / 883.6inch2. The Klipschorn 80th requires 14% less surface area than the AK7 which gives it a small advantage 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 Klipschorn AK7 weighs 118.18kg / 260lbs. This makes the AK7 80% heavier than the Klipschorn 80th.
Here is a comparison of how Klipschorn 80th and AK7'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 Klipschorn AK7?
Here are the items that come with the AK7:
- 2 Loudspeaker cabinets
- 2 Subwoofer cabinets
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
20k Hz
vs
19k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1320mm
vs
1347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
4880cm2
vs
5700cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Price per pair* |
17998USD
vs
20000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary |
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn AK7 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100-400 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
103 dB |
103 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-20k Hz |
34-19k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Compression Horn |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350Hz |
380Hz - 290Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1320.0mm (52") |
1347.0mm (53") |
| Width |
800.0mm (31.5") |
794.0mm (31.3") |
| Depth |
610.0mm (24") |
718.0mm (28.3") |
| Weight |
65.70kg (144.5lbs) |
118.18kg (260lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Horn Loaded |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
19 mm MDF with real wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Tigerwood |
American Auburn, Black Ash, American Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (34Hz vs 34Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (103dB vs 103dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary takes more power (400W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| 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 Klipschorn AK7: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is cheaper - $17,998 against $20,000, about 10% less. |
A Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary B Klipsch Klipschorn AK7
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 Klipschorn AK7 costs about about 11% more% 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.
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.