Vitavox & Klipschorn 💫

 

The Vitavox CN-191 is recognised worldwide as one of the classic horn loudspeaker designs. It owes its existence to a combination of the superb bass and treble horns designed for early cinema installations and the wonderful work of Paul W. Klipsch, a decade or so later. 

A licence for its manufacture was granted by Klipsch in 1947, and, under the name of the Vitavox Klipschorn Reproducer, it was introduced to the British public late that same year. The stunning cabinet aesthetics were the work of leading industrial designer Fred Ashford M.C.I.A. and the beautifully finished, internally complex enclosures were constructed by the famous Compton Organ Company (then a near neighbour of Vitavox in Willesden, London).

The bass was handled by the Vitavox K15/40, a 15" driver developed specifically for use in the ingenious folded horn enclosure, whilst for the upper frequencies a CN157 dispersive horn fitted with the famous S2 pressure unit was located under the hood above, behind the bronze grille and decorative gold bezel.

Over the decades, the use of modern materials and production techniques has extended the performance of the drivers, and the high mass R300W has replaced the CN157 cast aluminium dispersive, but beyond this the specification of current production units remains largely unchanged.

This is the 79th anniversary since the CN191 story began!