My dad and I built some plywood cabinets with a horn for our live gigs many, many years ago, and guess what, they sounded killer! These KO-R1 units look like a blast. Great plywood, custom aluminum horn, nice crossover parts are all expensive and while my jam is diy stuff that packs a punch, this piece of kit looks solid.
Pricewise it's a little out of reach, but I'm happy that such horn designs are still a part of the conversation. You can say what you want about this type of speaker, but you can't ever say a gigantic horn isn't sexy!
Horn speakers always remind me of the Leslie boxes my Dad used to run his electric organ through. A great live sound. That horn spinning around threw the music in every direction. Rock on!
I imagine the same cheap crossover parts inside. It might sound fantastic, but I believe Klipsch lost their chance to build a statement speaker. An American Tannoy if you will that can be the centerpiece for Klipsch in the upscale home.
It’s hilarious to see this many negative comments when all signs point to this being a smaller sized and more affordable version of the La Scala (with possibly even better imaging and soundstage?) This feels like one of those times when people want to just trash something on the internet off of first glance but if they had a chance to hear it for 5 minutes they’d take it all back instantly lol… big fan of this collab and I hope Devon and Roy get their time in the sun once this makes its rounds in real life and people get to hear it. I have a feeling this build will be celebrated for a long time in this space.
@@rofgabor I think there’s a lot more than just the look getting bashed in these comments. It certainly includes the look which I get is all preference but people are bashing everything from pricing, bracing, specs… and everything in between. If you hate the way it looks than Ojas isn’t for you and if you hate Klipsch to begin with than this collab for sure isn’t for you but everyone else should be open to these things being killer speakers worth a listen.
@@ajjb21 the market will decide, if people buy these for 8K, no one cares what a few people - including me - say here about the looks. Honestly, I think they could look so much better (to me) with a few changes that would cost little to nothing
@@rofgabor ya I agree with you, I’m interested to see how these sell as a limited run. I think 8k is a tough space for a “form follows function” speaker in 2024, unless you’re like me and already a big Ojas/Klipsch Heritage fan and you’re blown away by the fact that these two did a project together and okay with the price tag that comes along with that type of build.
It's a good idea to listen to these speakers with your own gear. If you have the money, and it moves you on the genre of music you listen to, than the money might not be an issue. I own the Pure Audio Project Trio speakers with the 10" horn for over 2 years, amazing speakers for 7k. I'd put them up against speakers that are over 25k easy. I live in NYC and i'm an eager to listen to OJAS KO-R1 at USM. I will bring my own record, Lee Morgan's Infinity Tone Poet and see what happens. I'll give my very honest opinion after I hear them. I'd like to hear from others that will visit the showroom.
Plywood box, a horn, a 12 inch driver. They are selling a DIY speaker at hifi prices. I might make a set myself, they look cool. 600$ in parts and a Saturday will probably get me to a 90% copy
@@keplermissionthere is a 7000$ divide between these and a diy pair. If time is money then sorting the crossover on a diy pair would have to take me a few hundred hours before it would be a losing proposition. Even if sorting the crossover takes me a few tries and part orders I will still be several thousand dollars the richer. We have to remember that this young man comes from the branded clothing market......he cut his teeth on low quality textiles with huge mark ups based on brand and marketing. He has taken those lessons and applied them to the hifi market (just another group of consumers willing to pay crazy prices for inferior products that have hype based on marketing). Klipsch sees a cool kid reaching a young crowd through interesting NYC pop ups and realized this collaboration is a way to reach a younger hipper audience. It's a basic speaker selling at insane prices due to the cool factor. Kanye West sneakers of hifi.
These guys are keeping Altec Lansing alive in spirit and I couldnt be happier when a brand knows how to read a room. I bet these would sound lovely on my Dynakit ST-70A! Next time im in Manhattan, im checking these out!
@@keplermission I dont see your correlation, but I'm aware theres folks who swear by ONLY vintage Cerwins. I just find it interesting how the Altec design is still the gold standard for a decent sized niche of this thing we love. So long as the crossover is up to snuff on quality, the price isnt as nutty as it seems. A nice shape set of vintage Altecs will run you 2-5k and just a little less if you chose to buy parts and DIY it.
This looks like what my dad built into the wall of our living room in 1960. I think it was Altec-Lansing drivers. As a kid, I helped him build the cabinet of plywood. Might have been 3/4 in.
Hello Steve, how do they compare to the Cornwall's mids, highs and soundstage. Also, since it uses the Heresy woofer how do they compare overall to Heresys?
I am a form fallows function guy, but.........the looks on this thing is straining my commitment to that philosophy. Still, I don't question the product's ability, and would enjoy owning some. I always enjoy remembering what I read about a guy who was haunting his local audiophile store, then he bought some big Klipsch speakers and they didn't see the guy again for twenty five years.
Excellent review! While many below complain about the cheap looking cabinets, I see an homage to the early generation Klipsch Heresies which were birch plywood, and those early versions are still in demand on the secondhand market. Only Klipsch could pull that off and result in good looking speakers, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say. Yeah; I'll admit that the KO-R1 looks like a whittled down version of a Heresy (and the specs bear this out as the frequency response and efficiency are below the Heresy IV) so I'm trying to figure out how they could outperform a Heresy at almost 3x the price. I'll keep my mind open as I'm intrigued but count me as skeptical. Nevertheless, I'd love to hear them.
I'm happy to see more interest in horn designs. Just keep in mind there are reasons for size in horns. Fully front loaded true high eff above 100db is very large indeed. And is what one wants in horns.
They say MSRP is set on a basis of multiplying the cost to produce by 5X. Have a look online for a good set of Altec components this speaker is based on, youll see the price isnt too far off the rails sadly. You could DIY this set for a little under half the price if you shop well.
@@AllboroLCD The 12" driver is custom made by eminence (I speculate some change to coil, no suspension tuning because klipsch is bass anemic). Buy an eminence driver with steel basket, lets say Beta range (looks like a beta range), theu cost like 140, thats retail. If klipsch is buying in huge numbers, I recon unit price is in the 40s, The compression driver is also some cheap thing, probably costs 20. Crossover uses cheap parts, binding post are cheap ferromagentic type. Cabinet is cheap and unbraced, seen picture of inside online. Most expensive part might be the cast horn. BUT, slap a huge price on something and people with more money than brains go crazy for it :D Other interview video with Devon and the klipsch guy has comment disabled, because people are calling them out on beeing a money grab
@@dannyb5874 im certain the BS being uncovered is all a result of the project having going through the corporate process and the end result is likely not the initial intention. What I do know is how much genuine Altec components sell for on the market, and how much genuine reproduction components from GPA cost. Say the product is up to snuff against real Altec, the cost of the OJAS speaker can without a shadow of a doubt be justified. All im putting out there.
My favorite parts of the videos are when you describe sound and how it affects you. SO well done, so well described, just as we did in print. I mean, I know exactly how that speaker sounds now, and your open baffles and low-power amps. I wanna visit and hear that rig. Good on everyone involved.
I think Steve Guttenberg could also show some short sound samples with display speakers in the videos! Today, TH-cam can get fairly good quality audio recorded with high-quality microphones, 1m. from a distance, uploading and listening with good headphones should give you an idea of the sound quality of the speakers. At least some general idea of the sound of the given speakers!
When Steve said "Brooklyn", it reminded me that I have a pair of near-perfect Grado Mini Lab speakers packed away somewhere. They were built by Joseph Grado (cartridges/headphones) himself in the early to mid 60s. As I remember they sound phenomenal for a bookshelf-sized speaker. They're the only set of Mini Labs that I've seen after thoroughly scouring the internet, although I did notice a couple of midsize 'Lab Standard' speakers that are still known to exist. Beautiful walnut cabinet, tweed cloth, & a very cool rectangular silver emblem with Sicilian Red (GRADO) letters. Grado built a classy Laboratory Series turntable in the 60s too, using the same wood & emblems. The Mini Labs were $100, & the Standards were $300 in the early 60s which was pretty pricey then for small speakers from a little-known Brooklyn workshop; probably why they're a rarity today. Sorry to veer of topic.
The Volti room at the Capital Audio was awesome as was their new speaker. While the Volti speakers are expensive, the parts and craftsmanship put into them make it seem like a value, certainly compared to this Shop Project.
For the money I was shocked at how unsophisticated the cabinet construction was. Instead of mitered corners it looks like someone's home made dog house. Come on guys please good wood work for that money.
😅😅😅klipsch heritage hat auch das Wort Gerung noch nie gehört. Nein. Der aufgerufene Preis ist eine Frechheit. Leute meinen aber sowas besitzen zu müssen!!👎👎🇩🇪
@@thomasschafer7268 Gehrung mit "h" bitte. Aber stimmt schon, in Europa dann noch zuzüglich Importeur-Marge und Mehrwertsteuer, tippe mal auf UVP dann um die € 9990.
My only experience of horns was a pair of Lowthers (folded horn cabinet) back in the late 80s. I bought them thinking, given the size, that they'd be bass monsters. Of course they weren't! But the clarity and absolute musical ease of the presentation was quite breathtaking and has made any box speaker since sound constrained. Are there any folded horn speakers being made today?
Anyone else troubled by the face of the horn sitting entirely behind the front baffle of speaker? Seems like this would cause all kinds of diffraction anomalies. 🤔
Big Klipsch fan with modified Fortes. So, they can definitely be taken farther. I just can't wrap my head around spending this much on a speaker that looks like an HBR. I'd need a more finished look at this price.
It’s sad guys like this have never experienced a proper stereo. These speakers matched with an amp correctly are unbelievable. It’s like the band is in the room with you.
To be clear, my no thank you comment was not about getting a free pair but saying this design is not worth the $8k price given the components and cabinet which looks like a poorly done DIY. There are many other options at 8k. If you only want positive feedback, then let folks know that your "reviews" are in fact, advertising.
Comment on the viewers system. NAD and Polk Audio always did seem to pair nice with each other. I use to own a pair of Polk SDA's and an NAD 7400 receiver and they played so nice with each other.
Thanks, it was my setup that Steve showcased. The NAD C 316BEE V2 drives those Polks very well - so well that I'm almost afraid to replace them if I get to a point I can. The NAD is the very first *real* amplifier I've had and I'm 63. It's the first amplifier in which I was able to run it with the tone controls *off* (the 316BEE has a tone control defeat switch) and still get plenty of bass response. It really sounds gorgeous. That unit on the bottom in the Sony STR-DH190 that was a temporary replacement for my 50 year-old Technics SA-5560 whose pots finally gave up the ghost after many DeOxit applications. I have it on the bottom shelf there as a place holder for my NAD C 538 CD Player that is on backorder from The Music Room thanks to Helene. Another edition not shown is the BluMe HD Bluetooth that now sits on the shelf with the NAD just to the right of it and features the Wolfson 24-bit DAC. I use it to connect my computer to the NAD for my digital collection and PC audio. Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate them, and I thank you, Steve, for showing off my setup. I was emailing Steve about a different matter but I conformed with his request to send photos of my setup. That was the photo I had at the moment with that Yes 90125 LP that's water damaged - the record is in near pristine condition however and I was showcasing it in a FB group I belong to. "Owner Of a Broken Heart" really kicks it on the Polk 70s via the NAD.
@@mikehaas7 on my Polk and NAD setup my tone controls sat dead center too. I felt there was no need to mess with them no matter what the music was being played. No need for eq either. As a matter of fact I would get mad when friends came over and started messing with them. I love that fact that NAD products are so simple and easy to use. I think that's one of the things that makes their products work so good, being simple.
@@teddine7366 Polks get either great reviews from users or bad reviews - there's just no middle ground. I think they rock now that I've heard them connected to a real amplifier. Neither the 5560 nor the Sony *ever* sounded this good or drove them so well!
Just a silly observation. Turnbull's demo speakers used at 1:06 are the exact set of speakers that Steve has in his studio at 11:40, as they have the very same wood grain. Check out the oak knot hole at the one o'clock position of the woofer on the right speaker.
@@devonojas Thanks for the response, Devon. I've been a subscriber to a wonderful Mid-century Modern home magazine with the initials of 'AR' since it began 20 years ago, & devotedly follow the same MCM & Scandinavian design visions myself. I'd say a vast majority of the audio equipment shown in the magazine's dens or living rooms sticks out like a sore thumb & spoils the congruity of the period represented. Your new minimalist creation however, would likely blend seamlessly & look fantastic, not to mention the superb sound. Speaker Product Placement/Embedded Marketing possibilities in a home magazine? Hopefully, the MCM home owners will be a large part of the kO-R1's audience. Beautiful job, & good luck!
Great review Steve. I completely respect you not making comparisons to specific speakers you’ve reviewed in the past from memory. BUT… I’d be super interested in any general comments about how these babies compared to the Volti Razz which you so liked a year ago. Wondering whether the esoteric tweeter, two-way design add to liveliness, directness & detail?…. Thanks
Target audience: 1) “Gotta have it” people who have $8.5k of disposable income 2) People who want Altec horns but don't have the space, namely the million dollar tiny apartment home owners predominantly on the east and west coast as evident by the choice of “exclusive” dealers
Nice review! However, I have a problem with some of these newer companies releasing simple products at astronomical prices. I'm sure they sound good if you say they do. But we're essentially talking about a rectangular plywood box (albeit special birch ply - but still), 2 drive units, and a few crossover components. What could the bill of materials be on such a product? I understand that there is R&D. But again, we're not talking about multiple human trials and a decade of trying to meet FDA standards in the development of a new med. They are essentially mating existing drive units, with what we used to call an L-pad back in the day. I just don't know how you get to just under $9k. BTW, I feel the same about many of the single driver speakers in rectangular boxes selling for $5k+, as well as the open baffle products which are also a few drivers and a few crossover components mounted to a flat panel and approaching five figures. Now, I've never heard any of these. And if they are brilliant - I'll be happy to be wrong. But at some point there needs to be accountability on the cost basis for these products. And don't get me started with the direct to consumer cost structure that has no Keystone markups in the distribution network like we had just a few decades back.
I want to add I watched all SG videos with Devon. He always came across cool and knowledgeable and nerdy. All the good things for devising an audio product. But maybe a design student's feedback would be beneficial.
Great review. And all due respect to Devon, I have followed him since I first saw him on your channel, he is forward thinking and great. But for the price, then needing a subwoofer added, I have a mental block about that. However, I guess the lack of bass is on Klipsch. I have Klipsch bookshelves, using a subwoofer, but that is expected and my system synergy is great. What I'm saying is, when you see that speaker you expect great bass !
Well, that's not the way this works for high sensitivity speakers. For example the much larger klipsch Lascala doesn't make a lot of deep bass either! And I didn't say that the KO R1 didn't make base, I said it made excellent base but dropped off at 50 Hz. I could easily live with that, and I'm guessing most people could as well.
My 3-way horns have 5 components in the crossover. So it’s not true that more drivers always means more complex crossovers. I bet these have more complex crossovers than my 3 way.
just curious why there is uneven space like a gap between the top of the cabinet and the horn? By design? aesthetically it looks like a middle school woodworking project.... that was sent back to be fixed. But I don't doubt it sounds good
@@devonojas they look amazing man and I can’t wait to get mine delivered!!! Do you have a recommended distance it needs to be from the wall for ideal placement or because it’s front ported is that not really a factor?
Can’t wait for OJAS & Klipsch to make a modern Valencia-inspired creation!! That could be out of this world. But I shiver in pain predicting the price… this partnership would charge.
@@kurtgrutzner6607If you used GPA drivers, just the drivers would cost well over half of the retail price of this speaker. So yeah, it would be expensive.
Things are really funny. I’m from a time (so do you Steve) when adding a subwoofer to a two channel system, was one of the biggest sins a human being could make…
This could easily be the topic of a long form article. Nothing has changed more in audio than people’s preferences for bass. I’m down to do the podcast!
Perhaps these collaborators should dump the “limited” designation and cut the price in half. At least. They might sell more of these. Or perhaps there’s a marketing strategy at work here.
Since you seem curious: High density birch plywood vs MDF Sand cast aluminum horn vs injection molded plastic Included stands Small run of drivers and crossovers Engineering a limited product… Some of the reasons they’re more expensive.
Thanks for the extra detail on materials, Devon. I understand why some may be disappointed in their appearance as these speakers do not cater to one’s understanding of quality, they simply are quality without embellishment. I imagine the limited run allows for less sacrifices with the materials used. We know Steve loves the sound of horns but would have been useful to hear more about the approach and materials, two things that really make this speaker special. Looking forward to hearing them.
@@devonojas High density birch plywood vs MDF -> just a few extra dollars Sand cast aluminum horn vs injection molded plastic -> just a few extra dollars Included stands -> 50 bucks production max. Small run of drivers and crossovers -> price and darn ugly, confirms they knew only rich fools are going to buy this. Not an excuse for inflated price, it is the RESULT of a inflated price. Engineering a limited product… -> The result of inflated price on a ugly product; and marketing strategy to make the people with too much money feel special.
I like high efficiency speakers. I you can't "wake up" a speaker with just a watt or two it will sound bland, the same as every other. But if you can 'wake up" a speaker with only a watt or two, that speaker will reveal more detail. Volti Audio speakers are in this class too.
I still have my dad’s 1973 JBL horns and 14” woofers in Barzilay cabinets. They are powered by a Mac integrated amp 45 watts per channel. It doesn’t sound great until the volume is up past 1/4. That’s when my wife yells to turn it down! Then I have to use the Sennheiser pro headphones.
The cabinets look like a DIYers first attempt at a prototype. This is not what I would expect an established manufacturer to put on the market. Especially not for $8500. Unbraced thin panels are going to ring like crazy. A waterfall plot of these speakers is going to be a mess.
Nice but, I have to wonder what the actual cost of production on these is. Spendy. Bram Stoker's Dracula OMS is incredible. I use it a lot for demos just for the dynamic range that always takes people by surprise, especially when the brass section comes in on the song "The Storm". lol they always grab their seat as if a fire truck is coming and not knowing where it's headed.
@@Staybrown11 $3500. I think Klipsch must be getting run by corporate mentalities. Nearly $15k for La Scalas?! There’s no need for such ridiculous pricing.
Steve, I had ordered the Ojas when they were released, but got cold feet. Sean at IQ Home Entertainment was kind enough to cancel my order and give me a great deal I couldn't refuse for a pair of K. Forte IV... How do these 2 compare? Are the Ojas significantly better than the Forte IV?
This is certainly working for me as an argument for horn speakers. Sound Artist make a lovely concentric design that I would love to try, the sc8b. Could be a nice speaker for a review, maybe? Since you loved the ls3/5a they make too.
@Thunderbird139 Agreed. I've read the tool alone for a cast multicell is five figures. Some very compelling production options coming out of Germany right now. Bioplastics!
There are issues running a very large woofers (12 to 18) up into the midrange is known. Hornes do give you grest dynamics and will, play very loud if designed properly. I am sure the instructions are fired right in your face with energy but that does not mean the sound is more refined and detailed. Yes! I've owned several horn type speaker designs including Aztec, and EV. For PA i have powered QSC 2 way 8" with a horn. Pretty descent for home audio, surprisingly, is not perfect. In a home, they will play loud enough to destroy your hearing in a few minutes!
Great review. Thanks. Luckily, I live not far from IQ Home Entertainment. I will have to go take a listen!!! Curious though how they ended up with this speaker? They are a Klipsch dealer I guess. In fact , I listened to a pair of Cornwall iv’s there when I was considering that speaker for purchase.
I used to live in Alexandria and work in Fairfax, stopped by once or twice though never bought anything. Kicking myself that I can't stop by to demo these!
That's a lot of buckeroos for something that looks and as been commented on as a nice " DIY" loudspeaker. The competition at that price is fierce. I hope its sound exceeds the asking price. Hey Steve, how about given us those that view your videos a little TH-cam snippet of how this and your other review speakers sound?. I know it's not worth anything meaningful, but it would be nice all the same.
My dad and I built some plywood cabinets with a horn for our live gigs many, many years ago, and guess what, they sounded killer! These KO-R1 units look like a blast. Great plywood, custom aluminum horn, nice crossover parts are all expensive and while my jam is diy stuff that packs a punch, this piece of kit looks solid.
Pricewise it's a little out of reach, but I'm happy that such horn designs are still a part of the conversation. You can say what you want about this type of speaker, but you can't ever say a gigantic horn isn't sexy!
You're a joy to watch, Steve!
Horn speakers always remind me of the Leslie boxes my Dad used to run his electric organ through. A great live sound. That horn spinning around threw the music in every direction. Rock on!
Looks like a DIY kit. So Steve, would you spend YOUR money for these?
I imagine the same cheap crossover parts inside. It might sound fantastic, but I believe Klipsch lost their chance to build a statement speaker. An American Tannoy if you will that can be the centerpiece for Klipsch in the upscale home.
It’s hilarious to see this many negative comments when all signs point to this being a smaller sized and more affordable version of the La Scala (with possibly even better imaging and soundstage?)
This feels like one of those times when people want to just trash something on the internet off of first glance but if they had a chance to hear it for 5 minutes they’d take it all back instantly lol… big fan of this collab and I hope Devon and Roy get their time in the sun once this makes its rounds in real life and people get to hear it. I have a feeling this build will be celebrated for a long time in this space.
but people aren't criticizing the sound. They are criticizing the look. Which is everyone's prerogative. We can see what it looks like.
@@rofgabor I think there’s a lot more than just the look getting bashed in these comments. It certainly includes the look which I get is all preference but people are bashing everything from pricing, bracing, specs… and everything in between.
If you hate the way it looks than Ojas isn’t for you and if you hate Klipsch to begin with than this collab for sure isn’t for you but everyone else should be open to these things being killer speakers worth a listen.
@@ajjb21 the market will decide, if people buy these for 8K, no one cares what a few people - including me - say here about the looks. Honestly, I think they could look so much better (to me) with a few changes that would cost little to nothing
@@rofgabor ya I agree with you, I’m interested to see how these sell as a limited run. I think 8k is a tough space for a “form follows function” speaker in 2024, unless you’re like me and already a big Ojas/Klipsch Heritage fan and you’re blown away by the fact that these two did a project together and okay with the price tag that comes along with that type of build.
probably more similar to heresy than la scala
Had a smile throughout this video. Being an avid Klipsch fan, would love to listen to this speaker someday.
World is gone mad. This DIY looking speakers with plain craftmanship and quite cheap components for 8k?!?! Insane..
😅😅😅Nein. Eine Frechheit!!
It's a good idea to listen to these speakers with your own gear. If you have the money, and it moves you on the genre of music you listen to, than the money might not be an issue. I own the Pure Audio Project Trio speakers with the 10" horn for over 2 years, amazing speakers for 7k. I'd put them up against speakers that are over 25k easy. I live in NYC and i'm an eager to listen to OJAS KO-R1 at USM. I will bring my own record, Lee Morgan's Infinity Tone Poet and see what happens. I'll give my very honest opinion after I hear them. I'd like to hear from others that will visit the showroom.
Reminds me of my RadioShack experiments of the 70’s. They sounded great by the way for $30. I enjoy your channel.
Ojas is fashion audio for thoses with a disposable income and a hypebeast mentality...
they must look better in person, because with looks like that, they might get the nickname, "divorce maker"
@@richardelliott8352 Well uh ... Herb's speakers are DeVores and they made their name on a brand sounding like 'divorce'.
Plywood box, a horn, a 12 inch driver. They are selling a DIY speaker at hifi prices. I might make a set myself, they look cool. 600$ in parts and a Saturday will probably get me to a 90% copy
@@keplermissionthere is a 7000$ divide between these and a diy pair. If time is money then sorting the crossover on a diy pair would have to take me a few hundred hours before it would be a losing proposition. Even if sorting the crossover takes me a few tries and part orders I will still be several thousand dollars the richer. We have to remember that this young man comes from the branded clothing market......he cut his teeth on low quality textiles with huge mark ups based on brand and marketing. He has taken those lessons and applied them to the hifi market (just another group of consumers willing to pay crazy prices for inferior products that have hype based on marketing). Klipsch sees a cool kid reaching a young crowd through interesting NYC pop ups and realized this collaboration is a way to reach a younger hipper audience. It's a basic speaker selling at insane prices due to the cool factor. Kanye West sneakers of hifi.
@@billbones1000 yes! shinjitsu audio is for you
These guys are keeping Altec Lansing alive in spirit and I couldnt be happier when a brand knows how to read a room. I bet these would sound lovely on my Dynakit ST-70A! Next time im in Manhattan, im checking these out!
@@keplermission I dont see your correlation, but I'm aware theres folks who swear by ONLY vintage Cerwins.
I just find it interesting how the Altec design is still the gold standard for a decent sized niche of this thing we love. So long as the crossover is up to snuff on quality, the price isnt as nutty as it seems. A nice shape set of vintage Altecs will run you 2-5k and just a little less if you chose to buy parts and DIY it.
@@keplermission Can never go wrong with an MC275 or an ST-70, thats the extent of what I could recommend you honestly.
I like OJAS in general but it feels like such a rip off
This looks like what my dad built into the wall of our living room in 1960. I think it was Altec-Lansing drivers. As a kid, I helped him build the cabinet of plywood. Might have been 3/4 in.
Hello Steve, how do they compare to the Cornwall's mids, highs and soundstage. Also, since it uses the Heresy woofer how do they compare overall to Heresys?
Looks like somebody made it in their garage.
I am a form fallows function guy, but.........the looks on this thing is straining my commitment to that philosophy. Still, I don't question the product's ability, and would enjoy owning some.
I always enjoy remembering what I read about a guy who was haunting his local audiophile store, then he bought some big Klipsch speakers and they didn't see the guy again for twenty five years.
Just don't tell your visitors how much you paid for them, wouldn't want them to die laughing..! 😂🤣😂
Larry Coryell is great. Didn't expect that reference!
Excellent review! While many below complain about the cheap looking cabinets, I see an homage to the early generation Klipsch Heresies which were birch plywood, and those early versions are still in demand on the secondhand market. Only Klipsch could pull that off and result in good looking speakers, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say.
Yeah; I'll admit that the KO-R1 looks like a whittled down version of a Heresy (and the specs bear this out as the frequency response and efficiency are below the Heresy IV) so I'm trying to figure out how they could outperform a Heresy at almost 3x the price. I'll keep my mind open as I'm intrigued but count me as skeptical. Nevertheless, I'd love to hear them.
I suspect eliminating a crossover in the human voice-range has much to do with outperforming the Heresy. I'd love to hear them too.
Enjoy those horns again Steve. Heard from a Klipsch / Ojas dealer you purchased the review pair. If that's the case, that's high praise indeed. :)
I'm happy to see more interest in horn designs. Just keep in mind there are reasons for size in horns. Fully front loaded true high eff above 100db is very large indeed. And is what one wants in horns.
Dig your shirt Steve!
Great review Steve - This re-affirms why I love my vintage Klipsch speakers. - Cheers!
These aren’t vintage.
+$8k for a Birchwood box with Heresy drivers... Let's hope they put higher grade products in the xxover than they do in their Heritage line....
Why would they? No one will ever see the crossover. IMHO, this is a design/fashion product.
Agreed. Industrial design piece with an AM radio installed.
@@scottparkhurst5928Dumb comment of the week. Congratulations
This video by Skyfi Audio and comment section pretty much sums up the dog n pony.
th-cam.com/video/vnED-DtH7dI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=GVdTTKZgbMM9ch7n
Steve is so likable and I enjoy his videos. But I watch them knowing (based on his own comments) that they are promos not reviews.
LOL. $8500??? Are you insane?
They say MSRP is set on a basis of multiplying the cost to produce by 5X. Have a look online for a good set of Altec components this speaker is based on, youll see the price isnt too far off the rails sadly. You could DIY this set for a little under half the price if you shop well.
@@AllboroLCD half????? more like one fifth.
@@CashGravel Ya think so?
@@AllboroLCD The 12" driver is custom made by eminence (I speculate some change to coil, no suspension tuning because klipsch is bass anemic). Buy an eminence driver with steel basket, lets say Beta range (looks like a beta range), theu cost like 140, thats retail. If klipsch is buying in huge numbers, I recon unit price is in the 40s, The compression driver is also some cheap thing, probably costs 20. Crossover uses cheap parts, binding post are cheap ferromagentic type. Cabinet is cheap and unbraced, seen picture of inside online. Most expensive part might be the cast horn. BUT, slap a huge price on something and people with more money than brains go crazy for it :D Other interview video with Devon and the klipsch guy has comment disabled, because people are calling them out on beeing a money grab
@@dannyb5874 im certain the BS being uncovered is all a result of the project having going through the corporate process and the end result is likely not the initial intention. What I do know is how much genuine Altec components sell for on the market, and how much genuine reproduction components from GPA cost. Say the product is up to snuff against real Altec, the cost of the OJAS speaker can without a shadow of a doubt be justified. All im putting out there.
Hmmm, I’ve seen better looking speakers at garage sales than these “Home Depot” specials.
My favorite parts of the videos are when you describe sound and how it affects you. SO well done, so well described, just as we did in print. I mean, I know exactly how that speaker sounds now, and your open baffles and low-power amps. I wanna visit and hear that rig. Good on everyone involved.
I think Steve Guttenberg could also show some short sound samples with display speakers in the videos! Today, TH-cam can get fairly good quality audio recorded with high-quality microphones, 1m. from a distance, uploading and listening with good headphones should give you an idea of the sound quality of the speakers. At least some general idea of the sound of the given speakers!
When Steve said "Brooklyn", it reminded me that I have a pair of near-perfect Grado Mini Lab speakers packed away somewhere. They were built by Joseph Grado (cartridges/headphones) himself in the early to mid 60s. As I remember they sound phenomenal for a bookshelf-sized speaker. They're the only set of Mini Labs that I've seen after thoroughly scouring the internet, although I did notice a couple of midsize 'Lab Standard' speakers that are still known to exist. Beautiful walnut cabinet, tweed cloth, & a very cool rectangular silver emblem with Sicilian Red (GRADO) letters. Grado built a classy Laboratory Series turntable in the 60s too, using the same wood & emblems. The Mini Labs were $100, & the Standards were $300 in the early 60s which was pretty pricey then for small speakers from a little-known Brooklyn workshop; probably why they're a rarity today. Sorry to veer of topic.
That's great stuff, thanks for sharing.
They look homemade. Sleeper speakers?
Devan comes from the fashion industry. You can draw conclusions from there.
For $8k I can have a beautiful pair of Volti Razz speakers shipped directly from the factory to my door. no thanx on the OJAS.
The Volti room at the Capital Audio was awesome as was their new speaker. While the Volti speakers are expensive, the parts and craftsmanship put into them make it seem like a value, certainly compared to this Shop Project.
Looks vs performance. I've always chosen performance.
Very nice. I’ll have to stick with my Heresy IV’s
I’m sticking with my Heresy I’s with alnico drivers ✌️
Love Klipsch. Own several pair but these are so expensive for a budget audiophile like me.
For the money I was shocked at how unsophisticated the cabinet construction was. Instead of mitered corners it looks like someone's home made dog house. Come on guys please good wood work for that money.
It was a design choice by Ojas… some love it, some don’t
For mitered plywood see Yamaha NS-5000.
My thoughts exactly
😅😅😅klipsch heritage hat auch das Wort Gerung noch nie gehört. Nein. Der aufgerufene Preis ist eine Frechheit. Leute meinen aber sowas besitzen zu müssen!!👎👎🇩🇪
@@thomasschafer7268 Gehrung mit "h" bitte. Aber stimmt schon, in Europa dann noch zuzüglich Importeur-Marge und Mehrwertsteuer, tippe mal auf UVP dann um die € 9990.
A Heresy with a supertweeter screwed on top? A dyi even I can handle.
Let's hope you are better at speaker modification than you are at spelling. 😂
That’s not a super tweeter. Also, if a DIYer is sand casting horns I would love to feature him on my accounts.
So are you picking up a pair Steve?
My only experience of horns was a pair of Lowthers (folded horn cabinet) back in the late 80s. I bought them thinking, given the size, that they'd be bass monsters. Of course they weren't! But the clarity and absolute musical ease of the presentation was quite breathtaking and has made any box speaker since sound constrained.
Are there any folded horn speakers being made today?
Klipsch's LaScalas and Klipschorns are folded horn designs. They've been doing this since 1946, by the way.
Lowther and Fostex both make folded horns. I’m sure there are others but those are the first that come to mind.
Klipsch knocked back my idea of having my face etched on their loudspeakers
Anyone else troubled by the face of the horn sitting entirely behind the front baffle of speaker? Seems like this would cause all kinds of diffraction anomalies. 🤔
Like phase coherent & time alignt behaviour. 😉
Big Klipsch fan with modified Fortes. So, they can definitely be taken farther. I just can't wrap my head around spending this much on a speaker that looks like an HBR. I'd need a more finished look at this price.
I also have fortes with tons of modifications, they definitely can be taken a lot further.
@@chelillingworth9466 Getting into Volti territory here...
Hell yeah! $8500 for a poorly braced plywood box? Sign me up
Good morning, Sport. The speakers are not for sitting on, unless you like your bass that way!
It’s sad guys like this have never experienced a proper stereo. These speakers matched with an amp correctly are unbelievable. It’s like the band is in the room with you.
@@Artguitars you are a condescending retard. My stereo is very "proper". A lot more than a plywood box and a nasaly horn.
@@Alamo-cz5xc Harbeth? Sometimes the cabinet is part of the sound.
The 8500 for somewhere around $1000 in parts would put me in a diy type mindset.
To be clear, my no thank you comment was not about getting a free pair but saying this design is not worth the $8k price given the components and cabinet which looks like a poorly done DIY. There are many other options at 8k. If you only want positive feedback, then let folks know that your "reviews" are in fact, advertising.
I would love to have Volti Audio build me a pair of speakers utilizing that horn. Dream machine.
Comment on the viewers system. NAD and Polk Audio always did seem to pair nice with each other. I use to own a pair of Polk SDA's and an NAD 7400 receiver and they played so nice with each other.
Thanks, it was my setup that Steve showcased. The NAD C 316BEE V2 drives those Polks very well - so well that I'm almost afraid to replace them if I get to a point I can. The NAD is the very first *real* amplifier I've had and I'm 63. It's the first amplifier in which I was able to run it with the tone controls *off* (the 316BEE has a tone control defeat switch) and still get plenty of bass response. It really sounds gorgeous. That unit on the bottom in the Sony STR-DH190 that was a temporary replacement for my 50 year-old Technics SA-5560 whose pots finally gave up the ghost after many DeOxit applications. I have it on the bottom shelf there as a place holder for my NAD C 538 CD Player that is on backorder from The Music Room thanks to Helene.
Another edition not shown is the BluMe HD Bluetooth that now sits on the shelf with the NAD just to the right of it and features the Wolfson 24-bit DAC. I use it to connect my computer to the NAD for my digital collection and PC audio. Thanks for your comments, I really appreciate them, and I thank you, Steve, for showing off my setup.
I was emailing Steve about a different matter but I conformed with his request to send photos of my setup. That was the photo I had at the moment with that Yes 90125 LP that's water damaged - the record is in near pristine condition however and I was showcasing it in a FB group I belong to. "Owner Of a Broken Heart" really kicks it on the Polk 70s via the NAD.
@@mikehaas7 on my Polk and NAD setup my tone controls sat dead center too. I felt there was no need to mess with them no matter what the music was being played. No need for eq either. As a matter of fact I would get mad when friends came over and started messing with them. I love that fact that NAD products are so simple and easy to use. I think that's one of the things that makes their products work so good, being simple.
@@teddine7366 Polks get either great reviews from users or bad reviews - there's just no middle ground. I think they rock now that I've heard them connected to a real amplifier. Neither the 5560 nor the Sony *ever* sounded this good or drove them so well!
Just a silly observation. Turnbull's demo speakers used at 1:06 are the exact set of speakers that Steve has in his studio at 11:40, as they have the very same wood grain. Check out the oak knot hole at the one o'clock position of the woofer on the right speaker.
It’s gotta be the demo pair making its rounds. I think they look lovely
You are correct. Good observation. We used them for a week and then Steve borrowed them after hearing at the demo.
@@devonojas Thanks for the response, Devon. I've been a subscriber to a wonderful Mid-century Modern home magazine with the initials of 'AR' since it began 20 years ago, & devotedly follow the same MCM & Scandinavian design visions myself. I'd say a vast majority of the audio equipment shown in the magazine's dens or living rooms sticks out like a sore thumb & spoils the congruity of the period represented. Your new minimalist creation however, would likely blend seamlessly & look fantastic, not to mention the superb sound. Speaker Product Placement/Embedded Marketing possibilities in a home magazine? Hopefully, the MCM home owners will be a large part of the kO-R1's audience. Beautiful job, & good luck!
Great review Steve. I completely respect you not making comparisons to specific speakers you’ve reviewed in the past from memory. BUT… I’d be super interested in any general comments about how these babies compared to the Volti Razz which you so liked a year ago. Wondering whether the esoteric tweeter, two-way design add to liveliness, directness & detail?…. Thanks
I can't mentally compare the KO to the razz, that was in and out of here in a week. No last impression, other than that I liked it.
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliacThank you for your honest reply Steve. Very much appreciated. Too bad though.
Has there ever been an audio product that Steve doesn’t like? 🤣
Target audience:
1) “Gotta have it” people who have $8.5k of disposable income
2) People who want Altec horns but don't have the space, namely the million dollar tiny apartment home owners predominantly on the east and west coast as evident by the choice of “exclusive” dealers
😅😅😅ist das der normale Durchschnittsbürger mit diesem Einkommen?🤔🤔👎🇩🇪
@@thomasschafer7268 It is not.
Dynaco! I was a big Dynaco fan back in the day. Thanks
Nice review! However, I have a problem with some of these newer companies releasing simple products at astronomical prices. I'm sure they sound good if you say they do. But we're essentially talking about a rectangular plywood box (albeit special birch ply - but still), 2 drive units, and a few crossover components. What could the bill of materials be on such a product? I understand that there is R&D. But again, we're not talking about multiple human trials and a decade of trying to meet FDA standards in the development of a new med. They are essentially mating existing drive units, with what we used to call an L-pad back in the day. I just don't know how you get to just under $9k. BTW, I feel the same about many of the single driver speakers in rectangular boxes selling for $5k+, as well as the open baffle products which are also a few drivers and a few crossover components mounted to a flat panel and approaching five figures. Now, I've never heard any of these. And if they are brilliant - I'll be happy to be wrong. But at some point there needs to be accountability on the cost basis for these products. And don't get me started with the direct to consumer cost structure that has no Keystone markups in the distribution network like we had just a few decades back.
That shirt looks good on you Steve. The collar looks sharp, your wife did a fantastic job. ;-)
I want to add I watched all SG videos with Devon. He always came across cool and knowledgeable and nerdy. All the good things for devising an audio product. But maybe a design student's feedback would be beneficial.
Thanks for watching!
many comments on cabinet construction. By the looks of the plywood, appears a much superior joint than cheap veneered and mitered corners.
What did the normal speaker say to the horn speaker? Could you please give. me a moment to catch up?
Great review. And all due respect to Devon, I have followed him since I first saw him on your channel, he is forward thinking and great. But for the price, then needing a subwoofer added, I have a mental block about that. However, I guess the lack of bass is on Klipsch. I have Klipsch bookshelves, using a subwoofer, but that is expected and my system synergy is great. What I'm saying is, when you see that speaker you expect great bass !
Well, that's not the way this works for high sensitivity speakers. For example the much larger klipsch Lascala doesn't make a lot of deep bass either! And I didn't say that the KO R1 didn't make base, I said it made excellent base but dropped off at 50 Hz. I could easily live with that, and I'm guessing most people could as well.
Steve a fine video the 70 is a great amp music on .peace
A fool is easily easily parted from his money.
Audio-fool that is 😅
My 3-way horns have 5 components in the crossover. So it’s not true that more drivers always means more complex crossovers. I bet these have more complex crossovers than my 3 way.
Steve have you heard Danley horn speakers? About the same price
just curious why there is uneven space like a gap between the top of the cabinet and the horn? By design?
aesthetically it looks like a middle school woodworking project.... that was sent back to be fixed. But I don't doubt it sounds good
Just a tiny bit, and I may have bumped it and knocked it off but a fraction of an inch. It can be reset easily, I just didn't notice it.
The horn is installed by the end user.
@@devonojas they look amazing man and I can’t wait to get mine delivered!!! Do you have a recommended distance it needs to be from the wall for ideal placement or because it’s front ported is that not really a factor?
Devon caters to rich hipsters.
When will you review the Klipsch LaScalla?
The late Art Dudley’s Altec Lansing Valencia 846a’s are a two way horn loudspeaker. I just love mine and they finally are my end game loudspeaker.
Can’t wait for OJAS & Klipsch to make a modern Valencia-inspired creation!! That could be out of this world. But I shiver in pain predicting the price… this partnership would charge.
@@kurtgrutzner6607If you used GPA drivers, just the drivers would cost well over half of the retail price of this speaker. So yeah, it would be expensive.
I like the exposed horn. You would theoretically be able to move it forward time alignment.
Show the spectral decay so we can see all the ringing and what poor driver time alignment looks like.
Things are really funny. I’m from a time (so do you Steve) when adding a subwoofer to a two channel system, was one of the biggest sins a human being could make…
This could easily be the topic of a long form article. Nothing has changed more in audio than people’s preferences for bass. I’m down to do the podcast!
Thank for your review. How do they compare to your previous review of Ben's system with his custom Ojas speakers?
At $8500 i will stand with my vintage Altec Valencia 846B 👽🛸
Perhaps these collaborators should dump the “limited” designation and cut the price in half. At least. They might sell more of these. Or perhaps there’s a marketing strategy at work here.
It's a marketing strategy, no doubt. There are many great speakers around $5k. Pricing these speakers higher grabs your attention.
Im just glad to hear it does low level listening well. XA-25 plus these! Woot! Perfect for being considerate of your neighbors without compromising.
Those look cool! I'm thinking of building something similar out of all vintage parts including Altec 288C horns!
Good luck with your build. 288C is a great driver!
and you will still have 7000 left in your pocket for family vacation :D
The price is ridiculous. There’s probably no reason these should cost more than current Heresy’s.
Since you seem curious:
High density birch plywood vs MDF
Sand cast aluminum horn vs injection molded plastic
Included stands
Small run of drivers and crossovers
Engineering a limited product…
Some of the reasons they’re more expensive.
Thanks for the extra detail on materials, Devon. I understand why some may be disappointed in their appearance as these speakers do not cater to one’s understanding of quality, they simply are quality without embellishment. I imagine the limited run allows for less sacrifices with the materials used.
We know Steve loves the sound of horns but would have been useful to hear more about the approach and materials, two things that really make this speaker special. Looking forward to hearing them.
@@devonojas
High density birch plywood vs MDF -> just a few extra dollars
Sand cast aluminum horn vs injection molded plastic -> just a few extra dollars
Included stands -> 50 bucks production max.
Small run of drivers and crossovers -> price and darn ugly, confirms they knew only rich fools are going to buy this. Not an excuse for inflated price, it is the RESULT of a inflated price.
Engineering a limited product… -> The result of inflated price on a ugly product; and marketing strategy to make the people with too much money feel special.
For $8500 you can get a pair of Cornwalls and a Decware amp and that combination = Audio Heaven.
I got my coffee. Let’s go.
Did you ever audition the Electro Voice PI-153s? I lived/loved with the sound of a bar room band performance. Dynaco……YES!
I like high efficiency speakers. I you can't "wake up" a speaker with just a watt or two it will sound bland, the same as every other. But if you can 'wake up" a speaker with only a watt or two, that speaker will reveal more detail. Volti Audio speakers are in this class too.
Agree. I wish I wish I wish someone would directly compare a Volti speaker, Razz or the new Lucera, with these.
I still have my dad’s 1973 JBL horns and 14” woofers in Barzilay cabinets. They are powered by a Mac integrated amp 45 watts per channel. It doesn’t sound great until the volume is up past 1/4. That’s when my wife yells to turn it down! Then I have to use the Sennheiser pro headphones.
Look into Volti as an alternative
Steve DID review the Volti Razz a year ago.
If you such a horn fan, why did you not get the PAP trio 15 instead of the duets??
Excellent review, Steve. Thank You. 👏👍🏻
The price point is 🤔
If I put the 3 way Heresy 4s on 12" stands would they sound like these K0-R1s, I wonder?
The cabinets look like a DIYers first attempt at a prototype. This is not what I would expect an established manufacturer to put on the market. Especially not for $8500.
Unbraced thin panels are going to ring like crazy. A waterfall plot of these speakers is going to be a mess.
aphex twin .nice music, thanks for all your cool super info video s
When you say "horn" do you mean any kind of horn? Or horn fed by a compression driver? Some companies have horn loaded domes.
A personal question Steve, where do you source your eyeglasses? They look great and you seem to have many different pairs.
Looks like MOSCOT
looks like something somebody made in his garage
Nice but, I have to wonder what the actual cost of production on these is. Spendy. Bram Stoker's Dracula OMS is incredible. I use it a lot for demos just for the dynamic range that always takes people by surprise, especially when the brass section comes in on the song "The Storm". lol they always grab their seat as if a fire truck is coming and not knowing where it's headed.
Regardless of who made it it’s way overpriced
@@drde4010what price point would it normally be to be acceptable to you?
@@drde4010 doesn't seem overpriced to me
@@scottyo64 $8,500, NOT $850~!!!
@@Staybrown11 $3500. I think Klipsch must be getting run by corporate mentalities. Nearly $15k for La Scalas?! There’s no need for such ridiculous pricing.
Steve, I had ordered the Ojas when they were released, but got cold feet. Sean at IQ Home Entertainment was kind enough to cancel my order and give me a great deal I couldn't refuse for a pair of K. Forte IV... How do these 2 compare? Are the Ojas significantly better than the Forte IV?
Crites will do it next.
I love horn speakers, they sound better than anything else.
Bullshit!
This is certainly working for me as an argument for horn speakers. Sound Artist make a lovely concentric design that I would love to try, the sc8b. Could be a nice speaker for a review, maybe? Since you loved the ls3/5a they make too.
Steve, would you rate the K0’s over the B&W 805 D3 speakers?
Would be curious if this does see a wider release in spring 2025 if it will be priced less like a limited edition (less $$$$ materials etc.)
@Thunderbird139 Agreed. I've read the tool alone for a cast multicell is five figures. Some very compelling production options coming out of Germany right now. Bioplastics!
yes they will be, you will get a cardboard cabinet instead of plywood
@@Alamo-cz5xc SNARK
Big Yawn🥱
I miss the opening music!!
There are issues running a very large woofers (12 to 18) up into the midrange is known. Hornes do give you grest dynamics and will, play very loud if designed properly. I am sure the instructions are fired right in your face with energy but that does not mean the sound is more refined and detailed. Yes! I've owned several horn type speaker designs including Aztec, and EV. For PA i have powered QSC 2 way 8" with a horn. Pretty descent for home audio, surprisingly, is not perfect. In a home, they will play loud enough to destroy your hearing in a few minutes!
Great review. Thanks.
Luckily, I live not far from IQ Home Entertainment. I will have to go take a listen!!! Curious though how they ended up with this speaker? They are a Klipsch dealer I guess. In fact , I listened to a pair of Cornwall iv’s there when I was considering that speaker for purchase.
I used to live in Alexandria and work in Fairfax, stopped by once or twice though never bought anything. Kicking myself that I can't stop by to demo these!
Wow, a new intro. Miss the music...
Personally, I never cared for the music. I like this version better.
He changes it up from time to time. This doesn't mean the end of the intro music.
Although a nice speaker, it's something that I just can't afford 😢. Oh well, life goes on. I will just have to continue listening to my ♾️ speakers
That's a lot of buckeroos for something that looks and as been commented on as a nice " DIY" loudspeaker. The competition at that price is fierce. I hope its sound exceeds the asking price. Hey Steve, how about given us those that view your videos a little TH-cam snippet of how this and your other review speakers sound?. I know it's not worth anything meaningful, but it would be nice all the same.