Klipsch Heresy Floorstanding Speakers

4.56/5 (57 Reviews) MSRP : $799.00


Product Description

First introduced in 1957, the Heresy, a three-way design, started out as a compact center Channel speaker to accompany the Klipschorn in three-speaker Stereo arrays. In 1985, Klipsch made some changes and improvements to this model and re-released it as the Heresy II. Today, Klipsch has given the Heresy III a bi-wire network, titanium diaphragm Tweeter and larger magnet assembly. The midrange has moved from a phenolic to a titanium diaphragm. All of these changes result in improved tonal balance and increased output. In fact the Heresy III is two decibels louder (96 to 98dB), improving on its already high sensitivity.


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Reviews 1 - 5 (57 Reviews Total) | Next 15

User Reviews

Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by Klipschman a AudioPhile

Date Reviewed: February 24, 2013

Bottom Line:   
To nodahomer.Please sell me your Cornwalls for next to nothing as that is what you seem to think they are worth.I bought my Heresy speakers pre 76 and wish I had bought the Belles.My cars and trucks have all come and gone but my Heresys are still worth almost as much as what I paid or them and are NOT for sale.If you have some sort of hidden agenda ,so be it .I hope you enjoy shopping at the big boxes on Black Fridays.

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Used product for:   More than 1 year

Duration Product Used:   AudioPhile

Product model year:   Pre 1995



Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by dyjams a Audio Enthusiast

Date Reviewed: July 25, 2011

Bottom Line:   
Want to have a some fun and create a sound system that meets audiophile standards, while on a comparably reasonable budget, that simply floors the unexpected listener with a huge yet detailed wall of sound? I did. Here we go: Buy six (yes, 6!) H1's (1970's-mid-80's) via CL or eBay for $300-$400/pr. Stack 'em 3 per side, paint to match, bond 'em with a some tape and corner 'em. Replace all the woofers with Eminence Delta 12-LFA's @ 100 db/w. Great musician setup since you are already deaf, lol. Hope ya like it since this is my crib notes from years experimenting and I'm already deaf anyway... Cheers!, Doug

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Used product for:   More than 1 year

Duration Product Used:   Audio Enthusiast

Product model year:   Pre 1995



Overall Rating:4
Value Rating:5
Submitted by GIG on the strip a AudioPhile

Date Reviewed: July 7, 2011

Bottom Line:   
I first heard the Heresy's at a nightclub from across a narrow river in 1978. The Village People were pumping and reverberating off the nearby buildings. It sounded wonderful. When I turned 18 I was able to go into that nightclub and saw four birch Klipsch Heresy's suspended around a small dance floor. About 20x20' with a Klipsch each corner. I thought it sounded good outside, it was astounding inside. There was no way you could stand still. These are such lively and crisp speakers with that punch in just the right frequency.

I made note of them and put them on a wish list. I compared them to the early Bose 901's I'd heard at skating rinks and although not as smooth, spacious and deep, the Heresy's sounded alive in comparison. I wound up purchasing Advent loudspeakers and a Marantz amp and of the three speaker systems, the Advents are superior (in my opinion). BUT, the Heresy's have characteristics that make it a perfect speaker when you want to get the 'live' experience. True, their musicality and bass pales in comparison to the Advents and Bose setups and their accuracy isn't all there but that's exactly what makes these speakers so special. They are accurate enough that you can listen for hours at relatively high level and experience only minimal fatigue. And what a sound stage! Spec's be damned. The Heresy's just plain rock.

I operate a 1,000 sq. ft. listening room and have two 1974 Heresy's I's up front and two KSB 3.1's as behind the audience as corner satellites. I have a secret weapon though. I'm using the Advents placed on the back wall underneath two tables and use them as sub's at very low volume. Using standard quality pro amps with 200 watts per for mains, 100 watts per for satellites and 50 watts per for the advents. This is an astounding setup. I get compliments on a near daily basis on how good the sound is. I'm so glad I didn't go with the usual JBL, Peavy, Pyle, EV, Mackie, Yamaha setups. I must say though,Yamaha gives the Heresy's a run for the money but those pro PA speakers sound... well, like PA speakers. Built to bludgeon and not for listening.

For amplification of live music, I can't think of a better speaker for the money. Picked mine up from Craigslist for $300 in dark wood but had to repair the woofers after about a year. One cone separated from the voice coil but hey, I was pumping strong vocals through them and they were over thirty years old . I leave the grills off to proudly display those horns. Just beautiful. I do need to do a little EQ to minimize the older horn squawk. These are definitely speakers you can tweak to meet your needs.

Since I opened shop I've picked up an identical pair of Advent loudspeakers for use in my home. In my opinion, the Advents are just about the best speakers I've ever heard for home use but you can't beat Klipsch for that live sound.

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Used product for:   More than 1 year

Duration Product Used:   AudioPhile

Product model year:   Pre 1995



Overall Rating:3
Value Rating:3
Submitted by NodaHomer a Audio Enthusiast

Date Reviewed: February 11, 2011

Bottom Line:   
Klipsch speakers and accuracy? Like Iced Tea in your Chili they don't blend. The Heresey is not some killer speaker. The cubic box crammed with variations of woofers and horns is not exactly what the "homers" say. These claims of accuracy in hearing all these fine details and subtle changes are just plain fantasy. If you come from Cerwin Vega or other cheesey mass consumer type brands I'm certain they are an upgrade. I've owned different pairs of the Heresy's, Forte's, and Cornwalls, KG's, and others. None are "audiophile class" or capable. Let's go beyond comment and opinion though? There are web pages filled with comments regarding Klipsch speakers. When it comes to Heritage types or vintage versions from the mid 85's back the one constant that is evident is this: On their own they are not as good as you can tweak them to be. People and business both combine to making an industry on tweaking and updating them. That's where the popularity resides mostly.

If you pay 300 or 1000 do you expect to dump that much in them to make them reach these bragged about levels that the tweaker raves over? These are mostly all slightly above average mass consumer level speakers. They are over-justified commonly. They are boring unless you like to rock the house down with high volume levels. I personally can't stand them. Many many people feel the same way and if you do explain it then you set yourself up for an internet street brawl.

Everyone hears differently. There is no sense in assuming based on a bandwagon mentality that the Heresy must sound good unless you feel it's fashionable to own them and tell everyone you do. Go listen and do comparisons. They may disappoint you greatly if you buy what the mob mentality is selling? Especially when it comes to these glorified claims of unbelievable accuracy and detail. JBL and Altec made far superior horns and drivers, and woofers for sure btw. DON'T READ - GO LISTEN. Make a decision on what your ears tell you not what homers say. Guess what? I own Cornwalls and they sound poor even after tweaking the cross-overs and updating drivers when it comes to accuracy and fine detail. The Forte models are better then the Heresy, the Cornwall better then the Forte. The K - Horn is not included in this subject though but I'd rather have a modified A7 or C19 any day. Rather have a C56 Dorian with a JBL LE12C over a Heresy, Forte, or Cornwall any day. You listen, you compare, you decide but don't be convinced by the reviews here?

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Used product for:   More than 1 year

Duration Product Used:   Audio Enthusiast

Product model year:   Pre 1995



Overall Rating:5
Value Rating:5
Submitted by rickcoder a AudioPhile

Date Reviewed: November 30, 2009

Bottom Line:   


I just started reading through this site and thought i'd post a few things. The Heresy's are an excellent speaker, for anyone looking to grab a pair at a yard sale or an estate sale i would say go for it. Just make sure they work, I had a hard time finding a pair in near mint condition with nice cabinets and paid $350 for them. I got these to see if a flea sized amp would make them sing and it does!!! I always thought dynamics in a speaker meant that is could go from soft to loud and back which is true BUT the 99db sensitivity on these speakers let's you here a drummer make subtle shifts in dynamics the way you hear it live. AMAZING! That is what I think dynamics is all about, those subtle shifts of dynamic shadings get lost in heavy coned and insensitive speakers. I compared these to Martin Logan Sequels and the ML's are more transparent but NO WHERE NEAR as dynamic! The ML"s make me think while the Heresy's make me dance! Love em'.

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Used product for:   More than 1 year

Duration Product Used:   AudioPhile

Product model year:   Pre 1995




Reviews 1 - 5 (57 Reviews Total) | Next 15

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Heresy I Before/After Pics

Sorry to start a new thread but I could not find my original post. Before lucking into my Heresy ...
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Taking the title back....Klipsch Heresy II find

After seeing fellow vintage collector Dakatabg scoring find after find this past week I felt the nee ...
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Heresy or progress?

While at blockbuster tonite I saw a disc on blu of [I]twenty million miles to earth[/I], an old fav ...
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Klipsch Heresy. PICS.

Heresy's: Does anyone else get a kick-in-the-pants from these? Have you ever given these a good ...
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audiophile heresy: my $105 system...

got the last piece of the all-battery powered system today when the Sonic Impact T-amp arrived from ...
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