Janice R. Andrews
The well-known American audio company Klipsch has teamed up with Ojas, a small audio brand started by Devon Turnbull, to make the kO-R1 horn-loaded amplifier, which is only available in limited quantities. Turnbull used to create streetwear, but his carefully made sound systems have won him a lot of praise in the audio world. Two of the biggest names in music are working together to make an exclusive speaker that combines high-quality sound with a simple design.
You can get the kO-R1 speaker in two finishes: Spiral Red Oak or Pewter Grey. Each pair costs $8,498. The speaker is made from Baltic birch plywood and has a 12-inch woofer. It has a big, boxy shape and Ojas’s signature brutalist style. A high-frequency driver is housed in an open, sandcast metal multi-cell horn at the top. The horn’s unique design not only makes sure it sounds great, but it also shows off its industrial, stripped-down look, with wires that can be seen and a five-step reduction for fine-tuning the sound.
Anodized metal binding posts on the back of the speaker make connections safe, and anti-vibration rubber feet on the bottom make it more stable and improve sound quality. Klipsch’s plant in Hope, Arkansas, makes each speaker by hand, and each one comes with a special Klipsch stand. A laser-engraved metal ID plate on the side of the cabinet proves that it was made by hand and comes from a certain place.
Turnbull started making music as a hobby while building his clothing brand, Nom De Guerre. It has since grown into a full-fledged business. The word “Ojas,” which comes from the Sanskrit language and means “life vitality,” has become popular in the music business. Top stores like Supreme and famous people like music artist Mark Ronson like Turnbull’s methods.
Through the kO-R1 project, Turnbull was able to work closely with Roy Delgado, who is Klipsch’s top engineer. Paul W. Klipsch, the founder of the company, taught Delgado how to make high-efficiency horns. This partnership is a great fit for Turnbull’s goal.
Turnbull said, “Klipsch is one of the few brands whose ideas are completely in line with mine.” “I’m proud to add to the history of horn speakers with a brand that shares my values.”
