Loudspeakers

For openers, don't conflate that 105dB sensitivity rating with PA-level thunderers, not least because the AK6's bass extension is modest for the prodigious size of both driver and enclosure. Yes, they'll blast hard if you're less than restrained with your volume control, with a quoted continuous output capability of 121dB, but whether you'd want them to is a different matter.

Rather, those high figures mean caution is advised when switching between tracks from different recordings, in case of unexpected differences in level. When sourcing music from the Aurender W20SE streamer [HFN Mar '23], I soon adopted a vinyl-playing procedure of turning the level right down, switching recordings and then cautiously advancing the volume once more.

These are definitely old-school 'choose your album and play it right through' speakers, better suited to relaxed listening than quickfire darting around your collection. I don't know why Perry Como's 'Magic Moments', with its velvety voice, close-harmony backing from the Ray Charles Singers and gently bouncing bassoon accompaniment, kept springing to mind when listening to the AK6, save that I formed the impression this 1957 easy-listening classic would be ideally suited to the speakers, and vice versa.

Horn And Bred
Yes, they sound persuasive with Anna Lapwood's organ transcription of Britten's 'Sea Interludes', from her Images album [Signum SIGCD688; 96kHz/24-bit], but in a relaxed manner that's better suited to the gentle sound-picture of 'Dawn' than the thundering, complex 'Storm' climax. Yes, crank up the level and the AK6 will pressurise the room, but there's not quite the conviction in the bass I'd anticipated, and a reduced sense of the scale of the massive Ely Cathedral instrument, and the space in which it's being played.

Similarly, with the Tallis Scholars' classic recording of Allegri's 'Miserere' [Hyperion/Gimmell CDGIM 639], the Klipschorns deliver a pleasant enough wash of sound, being both rich and warm, but there's not all the three-dimensionality to the sound experienced through more revealing speakers. It's noticeable how high these cast their rather soft-focus stereo image – whatever you choose to play has that 'music heard from the stalls' effect. That's fine with a 'churchy' recording such as this, or the slow-burning Vaughan Williams 'Fantasia On A Theme Of Thomas Tallis', from the recent Sinfonia of London/John Wilson release [Chandos CHAN 5291; 96kHz/24-bit], but slightly odd with more intimate recordings.

Match-Making
Firmly on the 'not suited' list is 'New Year's Day' from the 2008 remastered edition of U2's War [Mercury, Island et al; 1761675], where the brash attack of the track sounds too thin at high levels here, the vocals slightly abrasive and lacking substance. There is always the temptation to push them further – easy to do with minimal wattage – but you are unlikely to be rewarded with extra weight or warmth. It all goes to show how important it is to match the music to the speakers when the Klipschorns are in town.

But there is always an upside, and things are on much safer ground with Sting's 'It's Probably Me' from the deluxe edition of Ten Summoner's Tales [A&M download; 96kHz/24-bit]. This is a very relaxed, almost downbeat track, with a well-recorded rhythm section and distant sax punctuations. The lead vocal is more 'just there' than precisely imaged, though, and the same is true with Mark Knopfler's big, lush 'Prairie Wedding' from his Sailing To Philadelphia set [Warner Bros. download; 48kHz/24-bit].

Club Vibes
The AK6 is more comfortable with warm, rich recordings like these, and proves really at home playing small-ensemble jazz. 'Shepherd Song' from the Tord Gustavsen Trio's Opening album [ECM download; 96kHz/24-bit] features gentle piano, shimmering cymbals and muted bass and drums, all rendered in suitably 'small jazz club' style. The 'straight down the line' bop of Kyle Eastwood's 'Bullet Train' [Time Pieces; Jazz Village JV 570034] is also driven convincingly by the AK6s, the brass of Quentin Collins and Brandon Allen delivered cleanly and crisply. And with Eastwood's theme from 'Letters From Iwo Jima' on the same album, these speakers handle the simple piano and bass instrumentation persuasively. When the Klipschorns are in their element, the music can be very compelling indeed.

Hi-Fi News Verdict
Just as a classic car, however well-fettled, is at best a trip into nostalgia rather than an everyday driver, so the Klipschorn AK6s – while an insight into the hi-fi of years past – really can't be recommended in the light of more modern rivals. Yes, if you like what they do and want a sensitive, if muted, blast from history, you may love them, but you'll need to listen long and hard to ensure they match your musical tastes.