Klipsch has unveiled Reference Signature, a new horn-loaded loudspeaker range. The horn architecture the company has refined over 80 years has been rebuilt around a three-way layout that gives the midrange its own dedicated driver, and the series consists of 6 models. Suggested pricing targets a range of 1,600 to 3,000 USD per pair, with select models arriving this winter. The reveal came on September 2, and the speakers are being demonstrated ahead of launch through invitation-only sessions at CEDIA Expo 2026.

A Three-Way Layout That Frees the Midrange

The first thing worth noting about Reference Signature is that the floorstanding, monitor and center-channel models now assign high, mid and low frequencies to separate dedicated drivers.

In a two-way design, the woofer has to cover the midrange as well, which tends to place the crossover point right inside the band the human ear is most sensitive to. By adding one more driver, Reference Signature pushes that handoff outside that sensitive band. Voices and instruments are reproduced by a driver built specifically for them.

Founder Paul W. Klipsch was known for arguing that the midrange is where listening actually happens, and this design applies that principle across the entire series. At the center of each horn sits a titanium-diaphragm LTS (Linear Travel Suspension) tweeter handling the highs with reduced distortion.

The Midrange Sits Inside the Tweeter Horn

The second pillar is a new phase-aligned horn design. The midrange driver is positioned inside the tweeter horn so that mid and high frequencies radiate from the same acoustic center.

The goal is twofold: a more coherent transition through the crossover region, and tonal balance that holds up even when the listener moves off-axis. Klipsch says the character stays consistent whether you are seated or standing.

Driver sizes split into two families. The 8-inch models pair an 8-inch low-frequency driver with a 6.5-inch midrange, while the 6-inch models pair a 6.5-inch low-frequency driver with a 5.25-inch midrange. Floorstanders and the center channel carry two low-frequency drivers; monitors and the surround model use one. The low-frequency cones use Klipsch's spun-copper Cerametallic material, which doubles as the brand's visual signature.

Center and Atmos Models Get Their Own Structures

The RS-6301C center channel arranges its drivers vertically. The conventional MTM layout, with a tweeter flanked by woofers, causes horizontal lobing and comb filtering. The vertical array avoids that, aiming to keep dialogue clear and tonally consistent even for listeners sitting off to the side.

The RS-6101SA for Dolby Atmos is a two-way design with 3 placement options. It can sit on top of a floorstander or monitor as an elevation speaker firing at the ceiling, mount on a wall as a height channel, or serve as a rear surround. A switchable crossover changes the tuning between Atmos and Surround modes to suit each role.

Wood Grain and Leather in a New Industrial Design

The exterior has been reworked across the series. The front baffle is a one-piece BMC (bulk molding compound) part that acts as a rigid foundation to suppress cabinet resonance. Curved cabinet edges reduce diffraction, widening the soundstage and improving off-axis behavior.

Two finishes are offered, Ebony and Walnut, with horizontal grain that runs unbroken along the curved form. A decorative leather top panel adds a furniture-grade touch, and metal carpet spikes plus rubber feet are included for placement on different flooring.

Select models add an input panel with tweeter level adjustment at plus 1 dB, 0 dB and minus 1 dB, letting listeners tune the top end to the room or to taste. Dual binding posts support bi-wire and bi-amp connections.

Pricing Starts at 1,600 USD per Pair, Full Specifications at Launch

Manufacturer's suggested retail pricing targets a range of 1,600 to 3,000 USD per pair (about 250,000 to 470,000 yen). Select Reference Signature models are scheduled for release this winter, with final pricing and complete specifications to be announced at launch.

※1 USD = 156 JPY (as of September 7, 2026)

The series was first shown as a design study at the company's 80th anniversary presentation during CES 2026. At CEDIA Expo 2026 it moves from looks to sound, and a product management representative has described the reaction to the design as the reason it now feels right to let people hear it. No information on Japanese availability has been released so far.

Summary

Reference Signature is a new series that rebuilds Klipsch's horn-loaded loudspeakers around a three-way layout. The midrange gets its own driver, and that driver sits inside the tweeter horn so mids and highs radiate from a shared acoustic center. The lineup covers 2 floorstanders, 2 monitors, 1 center channel and 1 Atmos module, with suggested pricing of 1,600 to 3,000 USD per pair. Along with the one-piece baffle, curved cabinets and leather top panels, the full picture arrives when final pricing and specifications land this winter.