Klipsch is back at Milan Design Week 2026, but instead of rolling out another typical product launch, it’s continuing one of the more unusual collaborations in hi-fi. The new Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 is the follow-up to the limited-run kO-R1, and like that earlier model, it’s as much about design and experience as it is about sound.
The speaker is making its first appearance at the Fondazione Luigi Rovati museum in Milan, where Klipsch and OJAS are hosting appointment-only listening sessions from April 19 through April 26. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own music, which already tells you this isn’t your usual show-floor demo setup. A wider release is expected in June 2026.
The kO-R2 is the latest result of Klipsch working with Devon Turnbull, the artist and acoustic designer behind OJAS. The first speaker they did together, the kO-R1, leaned heavily into a minimalist, almost gallery-style presentation, and it sold out quickly.
This new model builds on that same idea. Instead of chasing specs or trying to outdo competitors on paper, the focus here is on how the speaker looks, how it fits into a space, and how it delivers sound in a more intentional way.
That approach also explains why Klipsch chose Milan Design Week instead of a traditional audio show. This is aimed at a broader audience than just the usual audiophile crowd.
“Working with Klipsch continues to be an exploration of how we can strip audio down to its most essential, emotional core,” said Turnbull. “With the kO-R2, we focused on creating something that feels immediate and human—where the technology disappears and the listener is left with a pure, physical connection to the music.”
At its core, the kO-R2 is a two-way, horn-loaded loudspeaker that’s handcrafted in Hope, Arkansas, by Klipsch’s long-time manufacturing team. It combines traditional horn speaker ideas with a more refined, design-forward build.
The main components look like this:
The horn itself is really the centerpiece here. It pulls inspiration from older Western Electric and Altec designs, specifically multisectoral and multicellular horns, but it’s not just a throwback for the sake of it. The shape (a mix of square and trapezoidal geometry) is designed to spread sound more evenly across the room.
If you’re not deep into horn speaker design, here’s the simple version: it’s about controlling how sound fills a space so you’re not locked into one “sweet spot” to hear it properly.
One detail that stands out is the five-step high-frequency attenuator. That’s basically a built-in way to adjust the treble output depending on your room or setup.
With horn speakers, small changes in placement or room acoustics can make a noticeable difference. Having that kind of control baked into the speaker gives users a bit more flexibility without needing external gear.
It’s a practical feature, even if the rest of the product leans heavily into design and presentation.
Klipsch is keeping this release pretty tight. The kO-R2 will be limited to 600 pairs worldwide, which means availability will likely be an issue right out of the gate.
Buyers will have two finish options:
Both versions come paired with a matte-black powder-coated horn, which keeps the overall look clean and consistent.
What’s missing right now are the usual details you’d expect—there’s no full spec sheet yet, and pricing hasn’t been announced. That seems intentional. This isn’t being positioned as a numbers-driven product, and Klipsch doesn’t appear to be in a rush to frame it that way.
The kO-R2 doesn’t really fit into Klipsch’s usual lineup. It’s not aimed at home theater buyers, and it’s not trying to compete directly with other floorstanding speakers on specs or features.
Instead, it sits in a different lane entirely, something closer to a crossover between hi-fi gear and industrial design. That might sound like marketing language, but in this case, it lines up with how the product is being introduced and presented.
The bigger picture here is that Klipsch is leaning into a collaboration that’s less about incremental upgrades and more about exploring what its core horn technology can look like in a different context.
For now, the kO-R2 is more about the idea than the full technical breakdown. The Milan debut gives people a chance to experience it in a controlled setting, but most buyers will have to wait until the official launch in June.
Here’s where things stand:
The Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 continues a very specific direction: take classic horn speaker concepts, rethink how they’re presented, and build something that works as both an audio system and a design object. Whether that balance lands for everyone is another question, but it’s clear this isn’t trying to be just another speaker launch.
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