If you’re an audiophile, then you know that the type of speakers you have can make all the difference.
One of the most high-quality speaker companies is Klipsch.
However, if you’re interested in buying a set of Klipsch speakers, then you’ll quickly realize how expensive they can become.
Why Are Klipsch Speakers So Expensive? (10 Reasons)
The average price of Klipsch speakers is around $500 with cheaper models costing around $100 and more expensive models costing $1,000 or more.
A few models can even sell for $6,000 or more.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because they’re primarily built in the United States, the company offers free shipping on its orders, the speakers offer several costly features, and some of them come in limited collections.
Let’s look at these factors and some others in more detail.
1. Made In The USA
One of the primary reasons Klipsch speakers are expensive is that they’re made in the United States.
Klipsch prides itself on producing its speakers and audio equipment in the United States.
The company’s founder, Paul Klipsch, made the first Klipsch speaker in Little Hope, Arkansas, in 1946.
While the company has moved its headquarters since then, it proudly produces its speakers in the United States to this day.
However, while that does mean more employment for Americans, it also means the speakers are going to be on the more expensive side.
Because the cost of living is higher in the United States than in some other countries, wages are higher as well.
Other companies can cut costs when they use labor across the sea.
Since the cost of living tends to be lower in other countries, particularly those outside of Europe, the company doesn’t have to pay them as much.
Since labor costs are lower, the company can afford to place cheaper prices on its products.
Klipsch doesn’t have that luxury.
Instead, it focuses on producing high-quality speakers that are American-made.
The speakers are expensive, but that means those who buy them are essentially supporting workers in the United States.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because they’re made in the United States which has high labor costs.
2. Free Shipping Costs
Although you may be paying a lot of money for a set of Klipsch speakers, you don’t have to worry about paying for shipping.
Klipsch offers free shipping on its speakers.
This can save you a lot of money depending on what speakers you’re buying.
For example, if you’re looking to buy a large and heavy set of speakers, then normally, the shipping fee would be quite high.
That’s because shipping charges usually come down to the size and weight of a product.
Since the shipping company receives payment based on how many boxes they can ship in a day, if the box is big and heavy, then that reduces how many boxes they can ship.
As such, a higher price usually gets attached to larger boxes.
For particularly large or heavy items, you might be looking at a very expensive shipping fee.
That can make your overall purchase quite expensive.
Klipsch takes care of that fee for you.
All you have to worry about is paying for the speakers in question.
That said, it also means that Klipsch is taking on more costs.
To offset those costs, it likely spreads the cost of shipping across its prices.
The prices become a bit more expensive since it allows Klipsch to cover shipping without losing money in the process.
Klipsch is expensive because it offers free shipping on its products.
3. Customer Support Costs
Klipsch also has a great reputation for its customer support.
Since Klipsch makes high-quality speakers, it wants its customers to have a great experience from start to finish.
This also includes taking care of any problems that the customer has after the sale.
Klipsch is aware that if it didn’t take care of its customers after the sale was over, then its reputation would tank.
Customers would be unlikely to buy from the store in the future if they knew they weren’t going to get any help with broken speakers.
As such, Klipsch invests quite heavily in its customer support team.
It wants its customer support team to treat its customers well.
That means focusing on hiring quality service agents and training them well.
That also includes paying them well.
If a company wants the best out of its employees, paying them well is usually the best method to use.
However, this also means that Klipsch takes on more costs.
Since it’s taking on higher costs, it has to offset those costs with higher prices.
Klipsch is expensive because of its high-quality customer service and its costs.
4. Collections
Some of Klipsch’s most expensive speakers come from its collection series.
One example if its Klipsch & McLaren Partnership collection.
This is called The Legends Series.
It features a collection of speakers painted to reflect the success of Grand Prix racer Bruce McLaren.
Each speaker features the gold color that McLaren used on his racecar.
These speakers are extremely expensive with prices like $11,000 and $16,000 per speaker.
There are a few reasons such speakers are expensive.
For one, as part of a series, the speakers are likely only available for a limited time.
At some point, Klipsch is no longer going to sell them.
Since they were part of a special series, collectors are going to pay top dollar for them.
There’s a good chance that such speakers are going to sell for even more money years from now among audiophile collectors.
These speakers don’t just appeal to audiophiles but also to historians and racecar enthusiasts.
As such, it’s a good investment for a collector.
Klipsch knows that, which allows it to charge high prices for its speakers.
Limited editions are also specifically built with scarcity in mind.
Only a few models are typically available before that edition goes away forever.
As such, the supply of those particular speakers won’t ever meet demand.
That also sends the price skyrocketing.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because they often release collectible versions in limited series.
5. Expensive Wood Cabinet
Most of Klipsch’s speakers feature real wood cabinets.
Some of the more expensive speaker cabinets will contain thick wood.
Others will have a vinyl wooden cabinet designed to encase the speaker without affecting its sound.
However, the type of wood that Klipsch uses is one of the primary reasons its speakers are so expensive.
Klipsch knows that a lot of its customers want wood that looks great.
As such, it invests in high-quality wood sources.
Two of its most common types of wood are walnut and ebony.
Both are quite expensive, but ebony is even more expensive.
Ebony is a rare dark wood that can make a product look sophisticated.
Because it’s quite rare, its sourcing is highly regulated.
If businesses want to source ebony, then they usually have to spend a good deal of money.
Since Klipsch is spending a good amount of money on its ebony wood, it’s going to charge higher prices on its speakers.
The more wood a speaker contains, the higher the cost of manufacturing it.
That’s typically why bigger speakers are more expensive than smaller ones.
They contain more wood.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because the cost of sourcing ebony is quite expensive.
6. Large Speaker Cones
One of the reasons Klipsch is so beloved is its speaker design.
Klipsch regularly upgrades certain aspects of its speaker design, too.
However, because its initial speaker design was such a success, the company has mostly stuck with it.
The problem with the design is that it usually has a large speaker cone.
That means more materials are used to make the speaker.
It’s also a bit more sophisticated in its design.
That requires a bit more engineering than standard speakers.
Since overall manufacturing costs are a bit higher on Klipsch speakers, it needs to sell its speakers at higher prices to offset the costs.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because manufacturing particular speakers is a bit expensive.
7. Offers Lots Of Inputs For Different Audio Outputs
A problem that some people have with their speakers is that they’re unable to easily connect them to other devices.
Klipsch wanted to change that with its speakers.
There’s no shortage of different inputs on its speakers.
Whether you have a USB or RSA plug or need to plug in a subwoofer, Klipsch makes it easy for you.
The speakers typically have inputs for any kind of need.
This makes the speaker more expensive because it costs more for Klipsch to include those inputs.
Each input requires different engineering and manufacturing for installation.
It all has to work seamlessly as well.
This also makes using the speaker more convenient.
Customers don’t have to worry about buying some sort of connector that allows them to transfer one type of audio into another.
This additional convenience also adds to the price tag.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because they have several different types of inputs that allow you to have more options for your audio outputs.
8. Powered Speakers
One of the reasons Klipsch speakers can produce high-quality sound is that they’re powered speakers.
This means that the speakers have a built-in amplifier.
They don’t rely on an external amplifier to enhance the sound.
Powered speakers tend to be more expensive than passive speakers.
That’s because the manufacturer has to spend more money on building a customized amplifier for the speaker.
The result is a speaker that produces crisp, high-quality sound.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because it costs Klipsch more money to make its own amplifiers and build them inside the speaker.
9. Bluetooth Connectivity
Another feature that Klipsch speakers have is the ability to connect to Bluetooth.
This makes it extremely easy to sync the speakers to a streaming device.
For example, you can easily connect your phone to your speakers and stream whatever you’re listening to directly to it.
Whether it’s music, a podcast, or something else, streaming to your speakers is extremely easy.
However, this also means that Klipsch has to take on more costs to produce a speaker with Bluetooth connectivity.
It costs the company a bit more money, so it sells its speakers at higher prices.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because many of them come with Bluetooth connectivity which is more expensive to produce.
10. Professional Speakers
A final reason Klipsch speakers are expensive is that some of the models are meant for professional use.
For example, Klipsch produces speakers meant for concert halls, theaters, or live events.
These speakers are typically huge and capable of producing large amounts of sound.
Despite the added volume, it still uses the best technology possible to make the audio as clear and crisp as possible.
Since it’s primarily meant for professionals, however, the price is extremely high.
Material costs aside, Klipsch makes these speakers for bigger budgets.
Businesses tend to have higher budgets than individuals.
As such, Klipsch can price its professional speakers at high prices.
Klipsch speakers are expensive because some of its speakers are specifically geared toward professionals.
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