BMW Enters the Home Speaker Business
Press Release
BMW GROUP DESIGNWORKSUSA DESIGNS INNOVATIVE PREMIUM HOME SPEAKER FOR THE LEGENDARY KLIPSCH® BRAND
04/21/2008
Los Angeles – Acoustics and aesthetics blend harmoniously in the new premium Klipsch® Palladium P-3(TM) 9F floorstanding speaker designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA. This collaboration resulted in a compelling design and enhanced concert-quality sound for the company”s flagship speaker series, and audio industry authorities have seen and heard the difference.
Earlier this year, the innovative P-39F garnered a top-ten spot on Germany’s Audio magazine ranking of speaker reviews in recent years. Also, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) TechHome Division recognized the speaker as one of three finalists for the 2008 Mark of Excellence Awards in the “Best Speaker – Floorstanding Speaker” category.
Very few speaker companies have been around as long as Klipsch. For over 60 years, the company has developed premium sound solutions that create the most engaging, emotional and dynamic entertainment experiences. From state-of-the-art home theater systems to audiophile-quality architectural speakers and from compact iPod® speakers to massive professional cinema systems, Klipsch has a product for every lifestyle, application and budget.
“Building on the company’s legacy of audio innovation and trends in furniture design, we created a resonant design theme for the new premium speaker inspired by classic audio and contemporary furniture,” said Verena Kloos, BMW Group DesignworksUSA President. “The theme naturally links contemporary lifestyle aspirations with the essence of Klipsch’s brand values and core technology.”
Finished in a horizontal zebra-grain veneer, the cabinet stands nearly five-feet high and reflects the sophisticated audio technology it encases. Its striking curved form, influenced by the catenaries curve of Physics, intrinsically lends structural and visual benefits and optimizes the aural experience.
The new speaker design also celebrates Klipsch’s hallmark horn-loaded technology, which delivers high-efficiency sound with low distortion, controlled directivity, flat frequency response and wide dynamic range. Showcasing it in a package befitting of a modern lounge or home theater, the metallic horn is recessed into the top of each cabinet in a jewel-like setting. Meanwhile, the low frequency drivers are modestly concealed below, and the speaker appears to float on a brushed aluminum base.
The elegant mix of materials, rich color-stained zebra-grain veneers with high-luster metal finishes, echoes trends in contemporary home furniture design, compliments a wide range of home décor and imparts a distinctly premium Klipsch presence. The Palladium™ P-39F, priced at around $15,000 per pair, will begin shipping to U.S. specialty retail outlets this summer. For more information, visit: www.klipsch.com/palladium.
About Klipsch
Established in 1946, Klipsch-a wholly owned brand 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. For more information, visit klipsch.com.
About BMW Group DesignworksUSA
With offices in Los Angeles, Singapore and Munich, BMW Group DesignworksUSA is a subsidiary of BMW Group with diverse and cross-functional expertise in the fields of design strategy, design research, brand communications, color and materials, product development, 3D modeling, and engineering. Beyond its automotive design work for BMW Group, the design consultancy is commissioned by a large number of leading companies working in the transportation, consumer electronics, medical, consumer packaged goods, and lifestyle industries. More information can be found at: www.designworksusa.com
