New home theater speakers offer rich wood grain cabinets with all-new horn engineering inside
To the eye, the new Icon W speakers from Klipsch reflect a more classic approach, featuring furniture-grade wood veneer cabinets available in espresso and cabernet finishes. But to the ear, there is nothing traditional about them. Advancing the company’s proven horn-loaded technology to new levels of sophistication, this home theater series delivers full-bodied sound performances from slimmer enclosures.
There are five models in the Icon W Series: the WF-35 (above) and WF-34 floorstanding speakers, the WB-14 bookshelf speaker, the WC-24 center channel and the WS-24 surround speaker.
All of these speakers feature exclusive Klipsch XT Tractrix Horn-loaded technology — the same that’s used in the more contemporary-looking Klipsch Icon X Series. For over 60 years, horns have been the driving force behind the company’s signature high-output, low-distortion sound. XT — or X-Tractrix — engineering takes this time-proven philosophy to new levels by altering the surface geometry, which equalizes the speed of sound waves from the horn and smoothes the dispersion pattern.
Noted Tony Ostrom, Klipsch director of product marketing: “When this project began, our goal was simple: to create a new family of products that will bring the Klipsch mantra –power, detail and emotion — to a new generation of audio enthusiasts who demand aesthetically pleasing products that still deliver outstanding sonic performance.”
As the flagship models in the Icon W series, the WF-35 and WF-34 floorstanders each employ three high-output fiberglass cone woofers — 5.25 inches and 4.5 inches respectively — with powerful ceramic motor structures to unleash the kind of bass you both hear and feel. A premium 1-inch titanium tweeter mated to an 80-degree by 80-degree round Tractrix Horn with XT technology delivers the speakers’ precise high frequencies. Single-piece magnetic grilles allow you to expose the drivers for a more powerful stance, or cover them up to have the Icon W speakers fit more elegantly into the room.
The WB-14 bookshelf uses one 4.5-inch fiberglass cone woofer, while the WC-24 center channel and WS-24 surround have two. All of these models utilize 1-inch titanium diaphragm compression drivers. A threaded insert on the WB-14 and dual key hole brackets on the WS-24 allow for wall mount applications.
To achieve the ultimate Icon W home theater experience, Klipsch recommends the following setup: a pair of WF-35 or WF-34 floorstanders to serve as main channels, a WC-24 center channel and a pair of WS-24 surrounds. For a more compact system, the WB-14s can be used in place of the floorstanding models. However, because all of the speakers within the Icon W line are cosmetically and sonically matched, any combination will yield high-performance results. For added bass punch, either the Klipsch XW-500d or XW-300d subwoofer could be added to the system.
Available this month at Magnolia Home Theater and specialty audio outlets, Icon W will be sold at the following U.S. MSRP pricing:
- $1,499 for a pair of WF-35 floorstanders
- $1,199 for a pair of WF-34 floorstanders
- $599 for a pair of WB-14 bookshelf models
- $499 for each WC-24 center channel
- $749 for a pair of WS-24 surrounds.
About Klipsch
Established in 1946, Klipsch — a wholly owned division of Klipsch Group, Inc. — is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance loudspeakers and other audio products for the consumer and professional markets. Through proprietary horn-loaded technology, Klipsch is committed to developing loudspeakers that create the most engaging, emotional, and dynamic entertainment experiences. A family tradition, chairman and CEO Fred S. Klipsch and his wife, Judy, purchased the company from founder and cousin Paul W. Klipsch in 1989. Based in Indianapolis, Ind., the company’s headquarters is home to one of the most advanced professional audio research facilities in the world.
