Klipsch is arriving at Audio Advice Live 2026 with considerably more than a few familiar copper-colored woofers under its arm. The American loudspeaker manufacturer will use the Raleigh show for the full debut of its new Reference Premiere III speaker lineup, following an early preview at CES 2026, with Onkyo electronics helping power the demonstration.
A second system will move considerably further up the Klipsch food chain, pairing the Limited Edition 80th Anniversary Klipschorn with the company’s Heritage Active Crossover for what should be one of the more interesting two-channel demonstrations of the weekend.
The timing and venue are significant. Audio Advice Live returns to the Sheraton Raleigh Hotel from August 7 through 9, 2026, with more than 60 experience rooms, more than a dozen immersive Dolby Atmos theater systems, major product debuts, educational sessions, simulators, and live music. More importantly for enthusiasts, you can actually buy a ticket and walk through the front door. Unlike CES and CEDIA, which are primarily industry events, Audio Advice Live is built around giving consumers direct access to manufacturers, engineers, designers, and the equipment itself.
That increasingly makes Raleigh a destination for hi-fi and home theater enthusiasts who want an actual ears-on experience with new products rather than forming an opinion from a YouTube video, measurement chart, or 47-message forum argument between people who have never heard the product.
The company behind the show is also becoming much harder to describe as merely a regional retailer. Raleigh-headquartered Audio Advice has expanded beyond its North Carolina locations in Raleigh, Charlotte, and Wilmington into Nashville and St. Louis, recently acquired Sound Components in Miami, and has a new Las Vegas location listed as “coming soon.”
That gives the retailer an increasingly national footprint at the same time Audio Advice Live is evolving into one of the more important consumer-facing audio and home theater shows in the United States.
We have already reported on several of the more significant products making their way to Audio Advice Live 2026, along with an in-depth look at the rather ambitious Ascendo, Trinnov, and Christie 9.7.4 home cinema showcase systembeing demonstrated in Raleigh.
Playback Distribution is also taking over three rooms at this year’s show, giving attendees a much broader look at its growing portfolio of high-end audio, networking, furniture, subwoofer, and acoustic-treatment brands.
Klipsch and Onkyo Go Big With a 7.4.4 Channel Home Theater System
For its primary home theater demonstration at Audio Advice Live 2026, Klipsch and Onkyo are building a 7.4.4-channel system around the global debut of Klipsch’s new Reference Premiere III loudspeaker lineup, powered by Onkyo’s current flagship TX-RZ70 11.2-channel AV receiver.
And Klipsch is not exactly easing the new range into the shallow end of the pool. The system uses four RP-8203F floorstanding loudspeakers, four RP-1600CSW subwoofers, four in-ceiling height channels, and enough amplification and processing to give attendees a proper sense of what the new Reference Premiere III models can do inside a full-scale Dolby Atmos home theater.
Klipsch and Onkyo 7.4.4 System
- Klipsch RP-8203F Floorstanding Speakers (Walnut) x4: $799.99 each
- Klipsch RP-6103M Bookshelf Speakers (Walnut) x2: $699.99 each
- Klipsch RP-5403C Center Channel Speaker (Walnut) x1: $749.99
- Klipsch Pro-180RPC In-Ceiling Speakers (Black) x4: $699.99 each
- Klipsch RP-1600CSW Compact Subwoofers (Black) x4: $1,499.99 each
- Onkyo TX-RZ70 11.2-Channel AV Receiver (Black): $2,899.99
Audio Advice Live System Price: approximately $17,050
Klipsch Reference Premiere III Series
The Klipsch Reference Premiere III Series consists of nine models in total, with four of them featured in the company’s 7.4.4-channel Audio Advice Live demonstration and compared in our chart below.
The new Reference Premiere III lineup builds on the previous Reference Premiere II Series with a redesigned high-density Tractrix horn tweeter that uses an upgraded BMC material intended to reduce unwanted resonance. Klipsch has also flush-mounted the horn assembly into the front baffle to minimize wave breakup, improve off-axis response, and create a wider, more consistent listening sweet spot.
Klipsch has also given the Reference Premiere III Series a cleaner and more contemporary industrial design. New knife-edge cabinets are designed to improve structural rigidity while giving the speakers a more streamlined appearance that should integrate more easily into modern living spaces.
The technology may be familiar territory for Klipsch, but the changes suggest the company is focused on refining the Reference Premiere formula rather than reinventing it — probably the smarter move for one of its most important speaker families.
Klipsch RPIII Speakers Compared
| Klipsch Speaker Model | RP-8203F | RP-6103M | RP-5403C | Pro-180 RPC |
| Speaker Type | Floorstanding | Bookshelf | Center Channel | In-Ceiling |
| Price (each) | $799.99 | $699.99 | $749.99 | S699.99 |
| Frequency Response ( +/- 3dB) | 35Hz-25kHz | 44Hz-25kHz | 50Hz-25kHz | 52Hz-23kHz |
| Sensitivity (@ 2.83V / 1m) | 98dB | 94.5dB | 96dB | 96 dB |
| Power Handling (Continuous/Peak) | 150W / 600W | 100W / 400W | 150W / 600W | 50W / 200W |
| Impedance | 8 ohm (3.46 min. @162Hz) | 8 ohm (3.4 min @185Hz) | 8 ohm (3.4 min @210Hz) | 8 Ohm Compatible |
| Crossover Frequency | 1630Hz | 1500Hz | 650Hz / 1950Hz | None |
| High Frequency Driver | 1″ Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter with Flush Mount BMC Axial Tractrix® Horn | 1” Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter with Flush Mount BMC Axial Tractrix® Horn | 1” Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter with Flush Mount BMC Axial Tractrix® Horn | 1″ (2.54cm) Titanium Dome Tweeter mated to a composite coated round Tractrix® Horn |
| Low Frequency Driver | Dual 8” Cerametallic Cone Woofers with Faraday rings | 6.5” Cerametallic Cone Woofer with Faraday rings | Quad 5.25” Cerametallic Cone Woofers with Faraday rings | 8″ (16.51cm) Cerametallic Woofer |
| Enclosure Material | MDF (Internally Braced) | MDF (Internally Braced) | MDF (Internally Braced) | ABS |
| Enclosure Type | Bass Reflex via dual chamber rear-firing Tractrix® Ports | Bass Reflex via dual chamber rear-firing Tractrix® Port | Bass Reflex via rear-firing Tractrix® Port | Infinite Baffle |
| Inputs | Dual aluminum binding posts / bi-wire / bi-amp | Dual aluminum binding posts / bi-wire / bi-amp | Single aluminum binding posts | Spring-Loaded Speaker Wire Terminals |
| Height | 43.10” (109.5 cm) | 15.75” (40.0 cm) | 6.87” (17.4 cm) | 10.75” (27.3cm) |
| Width | 10.84” (27.5 cm | 7.95” (20.2 cm) | 32.06” (81.4 cm) | 10.75” (27.3cm) |
| Depth | 18.25” (46.3 cm) | 13.00” (33 cm) | 15.08” (38.3 cm) | 4.5” (11.5 cm) |
| Weight | TBD | TBD | TBD | 7.4 lbs (3.36kg) |
| Finish | Ebony, Walnut | Ebony, Walnut | Ebony, Walnut | Black Baffle/Frame, White Paintable Grille |
| Accessories | Not Indicated | Not Indicated | Angle screw | Round Grille, Square Grille, Paint Shield |
| Install Kit (sold separately) | N/A | N/A | N/A | IK-800-C (Sold Separately) |
| Fire Rated Enclosure (sold separately) | N/A | N/A | N/A | ME-800-C (Sold Separately) |
Four Klipsch RP-1600CSW Subwoofers Bring the Low-End Muscle
| Klipsch Model | RP-1600CSW |
| Product Type | Powered Subwoofer |
| Price (each) | $1,499.99 |
| Frequency Response (+/- 3dB) | 14.5Hz – 175Hz |
| Maximum Acoustic Output | 123dB |
| Amplifier Type | Class D with Analog Preamp Stage |
| Amplifier Power | 800W RMS / 1600W Peak |
| Driver | 16” Ultra Long Throw Cerametallic |
| Enclosure Material | MDF |
| Enclosure Type | Compact Sealed Acoustic Suspension |
| Inputs | Dual RCA/LFE Line In, WA-2 Wireless Port |
| Height | 19.22” (48.8 cm) |
| Width | 18.33” (46.6 cm) |
| Depth | 18.33” (46.6 cm) |
| Weight | 78.8 lbs (35.7 kg) |
| Finish | Ebony Vinyl |
The Reference Premiere Subwoofer Line
The Klipsch Reference Premiere Subwoofer Series consists of three models, with one of them featured in the company’s 7.4.4-channel Audio Advice Live demonstration.
Each subwoofer combines a rigid sealed enclosure, a high-excursion front-firing Cerametallic woofer, a precision analog preamplifier, and a high-efficiency Class D amplifier designed to deliver clean, articulate bass with impressive depth and output from a relatively compact cabinet.
The new Reference Premiere subwoofers are equally at home in two-channel and home theater systems, and are designed to integrate with Klipsch loudspeakers or just about any system in need of more low-frequency authority. Klipsch says the compact designs can extend bass response by as much as an additional octave, adding greater impact and realism to music, movies, and gaming without demanding a ridiculous amount of floor space.
And then there is the most important specification of all: the rear-panel gain control goes up to 11.
The spirit of Spinal Tap is alive and well in Hope, Arkansas.
Klipsch and Onkyo Go Old School With a Heritage Reference Two Channel System
If high-end two-channel listening is more your speed, Klipsch and Onkyo are also teaming up on what they are calling the “ultimate” two-channel system, anchored by the Limited Edition 80th Anniversary Klipschorn with Heritage Active Crossover.
Priced at $24,998 per pair, the anniversary Klipschorn sits at the opposite end of the Klipsch universe from the Reference Premiere III system being demonstrated elsewhere at the show. The system pairs the legendary horn-loaded loudspeakers with Onkyo’s new Icon Series P-80 preamplifier and M-80 power amplification, giving attendees an opportunity to hear one of Klipsch’s most historically significant designs with decidedly modern electronics and active crossover technology.
Klipsch and Onkyo Heritage Two Channel System
- Klipsch Limited Edition 80th Anniversary Klipschorn with Heritage Active Crossover: $24,998/pair
- Onkyo Icon P-80 Preamplifier: $1,999
- Onkyo Icon M-80 Power Amplifier: $1,999 each
Audio Advice Live System Price: approximately $32,000
The Klipschorn has been around in one form or another since 1946, but pairing an 80-year-old loudspeaker concept with an active crossover and Onkyo’s latest flagship separates is hardly an exercise in looking backward. If you want to understand how Klipsch intends to carry its Heritage lineup into its next chapter, this might be the more revealing of its two demonstrations in Raleigh.
Klipsch Brings the New Rebellion Heritage Bookshelf Speaker to Raleigh
Beyond the components featured in its 7.4.4-channel home theater and two-channel Heritage systems, Klipsch will also be showing the Rebellion, one of the company’s most interesting new loudspeakers of 2026.
First shown at HIGH END Vienna 2026, the Rebellion expands Klipsch’s Heritage lineup into a more compact form factor while drawing heavily on the company’s horn-loaded design history. That alone makes it one of the more intriguing Klipsch products to hear in Raleigh, particularly for listeners who appreciate the Heritage aesthetic and dynamics but do not necessarily have room for a Klipschorn or La Scala.
Onkyo will also bring several products first introduced in Vienna, including the Muse Series Y-50 Network Integrated Amplifier Anniversary Edition, along with the CREATOR GX-30ARC and GX-10DB Powered Monitor Anniversary Limited Edition compact speakers.
The Bottom Line
Klipsch and Onkyo appear to be entering one of their strongest product cycles in years, with a complementary approach to home theater, two-channel audio, and increasingly ambitious product development. Audio Advice Live 2026 gives consumers a rare opportunity to hear much of that progress in one place.
The $17,050 Reference Premiere III 7.4.4 system should be especially compelling for home theater enthusiasts because it is relatively attainable compared with many of the more elaborate demonstrations at the show. Heritage fans will gravitate toward the anniversary Klipschorn and Rebellion, although we still wish Klipsch had brought the much-discussed OJAS kO-R2 along for the ride.
You can’t bring everything to Raleigh.
Price & Availability
Klipsch Reference Premiere III Speakers will be available beginning in October 2026; Reference Premiere Compact Subs will become available in November. The Pro-180 RPC in-ceiling speaker is currently available.
Related Reading:
- Klipsch Unveils Next-Gen Powered Speaker Line at CES 2026, Powered by Onkyo and Dirac Live
- Klipsch Odyssey Limited Edition Bluetooth Speaker Is the Movie Souvenir Odysseus Would Bring Back to Ithaca
- Klipsch Flexus Core 300 Soundbar System Review: DIRAC for the Masses
- Onkyo at 80: Anniversary Editions and Future-Forward Concepts Take Center Stage at CES 2026
