Klipsch has added three new Bluetooth speakers to its lineup, and each is named after an American city with deep roots in music-making. The Klipsch Music City Series includes Austin, Nashville and Detroit. All three speakers are built rugged and carry an IP67 rating, effectively making them dustproof and waterproof. You can sync them wirelessly with other Klipsch speakers, and thanks to the built-in mic, they can also work as a speakerphone. The $99 Austin and $149 Nashville will be available in the coming weeks, while the $299 Detroit will arrive in 2024.
As the smallest of the three, the 10-watt Austin measures just 4.1 inches per side and is only 1.7 inches thick. It has one 1.5-inch full-frequency driver and two passive radiators for bass. On the back, you’ll find a strap that’s designed to mount the Austin to a bike’s handlebar, or any other object you can find.
It weighs just 14 ounces and its rechargeable battery is claimed to last up to 12 hours on a full charge.
The medium-sized, 20-watt Nashville is designed to deliver 360-degree sound using two opposed 2.25-inch full-range drivers and two 3.78-inch x 2.5-inch rectangular passive radiators for bass. It weighs just over 2.4 pounds, and its internal battery will give you a reported 24 hours of playtime. Unlike the smaller Austin, you can use the Nashville’s battery to charge your other devices using a USB-C cable.
Detroit takes the group’s heavyweight status at 5.5 pounds. Klipsch hasn’t released a full set of specifications for the Detroit yet, so we don’t know how many watts it has, but we do know the driver configuration: two 3-inch drivers and two 1-inch tweeters, with four forced cancelations. Passive radiators.
It measures 13 inches and its battery is also good for a claimed 24 hours of playtime.
All three speakers can be controlled through the Klipsch Connect app, which gives you control over the EQ, as well as the ability to update firmware when available.
If the Klipsch Music City series sounds familiar, that’s because it closely mirrors Marshall’s Willen, Emberton, and Middleton Bluetooth speakers. Dimensions, weight, stiffness, power, and driver configuration are all very similar, as are the prices: Marshall asks $120 for the Villain, $150 for the Emberton, and $300 for the Middleton.
