Highly Efficient Modern Klipsch 400 Watt (Peak) Towers R-26F

Paul W. Klipsch was posted to Hope, Arkansas, in 1941 as an Army officer. He patented his corner-horn design in the mid-1940s and founded Klipsch in Hope in 1946; Klipsch says its first speaker was built by hand there that year, with the horn made in a tin shed. He hired his first employee in 1948.

The Heritage line. The Klipschorn of 1946 was followed by the Heresy (1957), designed as a centre speaker to sit between a pair of Klipschorns, the Cornwall (1959), the La Scala (1963) and the Forte (1985).

A new generation. Fred Klipsch bought the company from Paul Klipsch in 1989, and headquarters later moved to Indianapolis. Paul Klipsch died in 2002 at 98. The Reference Series arrived in 1999.

A Canadian connection. In 2006 Klipsch bought Audio Products International of Toronto, with its Energy and Mirage brands. Audiovox, later VOXX, bought Klipsch in 2011, and Gentex bought VOXX in 2025.

Heritage: the Klipschorn, Heresy, Cornwall, La Scala and Forte, built to order by hand in Hope. Drivers change between generations, so identify the version.

KG series (mid-1980s to early 1990s): lower-priced horn-tweeter floorstanders such as the KG 4 (1985 to 1992) and KG 5.5.

Reference (1999 onward): horn-tweeter towers, bookshelf speakers and centres, from the RB-5 and RF-7 to the later RF, RB and RC models.

Synergy (late 1990s and 2000s): such as the KSF 8.5 and the SF-1.

Subwoofers: powered models such as the RPW-10.

Horn diaphragms. The compression drivers in older Klipsch speakers age; owners report tired midrange diaphragms on Heritage models and raspy tweeters on some KG pairs. Listen to each horn on its own at a moderate level.

Reference tweeters. A crackling tweeter can be a loose connection, and owners say these tweeters can fail if played very loud.

Crossovers and passive radiators. Many Heritage and KG owners recap their crossovers, and KG passive radiators can have cracked surrounds.

Modifications. Aftermarket diaphragms and crossovers are common upgrades on Heritage and KG models. Ask what has been changed.

Where it was made. Heritage models are built in Hope. Check the label before calling any other Klipsch "made in USA".

Everything we list is inspected, tested and serviced as required here, and comes with our warranty.