INDIANAPOLIS (January 25, 2008) — Nearly 600 attendees gathered at the Body English nightclub inside the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel and Casino on January 8—evening two of the International Consumer Electronics Show—to witness Orange County Choppers™ (OCC) unveil its latest creation: the Klipsch® Chopper. Watch footage from event.

All three members of the famous Teutul “American Chopper” family—Paul Sr., Paulie and Mikey—were present, along with the show’s film crew, to celebrate OCC’s completion of the Klipsch chopper, an epic piece of machinery that reflects the speaker company’s rebellious spirit and no-compromise audio legacy. 

“Our bike rocks—literally! For us to be part of something like this is too cool for words, but you definitely feel it once you sit on it,” said Mike Klipsch, president of Klipsch Audio Technologies. “High performance all-around—it’s ‘eye-catching style meets sheer brute strength’.”

Cheers ensued immediately following the Teutul’s grand entrance into the nightclub, especially for Mikey, who’s well known for adding comic relief to the chopper-based reality series. Unfortunately, Paul Sr. couldn’t coast in coolly and rev the bike’s engine like he normally would because of code violations; but that did not stop the crowd from chanting “fire it up” for three minutes straight. All three spoke to the enthusiastic crowd, and Paulie discussed the intricacies of the bike and the Klipsch and OCC partnership.

Klipsch executives also weighed in about the alliance. “This collaboration makes perfect sense as we do more than just build bikes and speakers, we create powerful and emotional experiences for our customers that stir the soul and lift the spirit,” said Klipsch.

Like every OCC chopper, the Klipsch bike is unique. It reflects the legendary 62-year-old company’s true personality by featuring its signature copper and black color scheme, horn and woofer assemblies, a working iPod® dock, detailed Paul W. Klipsch (PWK) logos on each chrome wheel’s blade-like spokes, as well as Klipsch logos on the air filter and black leather seat.

For those who are unaware, proprietary horn-loaded technology has—and will always be—the driving force behind Klipsch’s highly acclaimed and stunningly precise sound. In fact, Paul W. Klipsch founded the company in 1946 on the promise of a corner horn-loaded speaker design.

“We customize theme bikes for lots of different companies, but this one is second to none,” said Paul Sr. “It really incorporates Klipsch’s standards of high-performance, high-quality audio into a truly unique ride.”

Also as part of the partnership, OCC is currently building a new 92,000-square-foot corporate facility in Newburgh, N.Y. and has chosen Klipsch as its preferred audio provider. From the retail area to the shop floor and from the gym to Paul Sr.’s new office, more than 100 Klipsch speakers will bring dynamic sound to the entire building.

“The Klipsch name has always stood for high-performance audio,” said Paul Sr. “Whether it’s their headphones, home theater products or commercial designs, everything I’ve heard from Klipsch sounds fantastic.”

On February 4, Klipsch hosted a special bike unveiling at its corporate headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. for employees. “This is a big, once-in-a-lifetime deal for us and we wanted everyone inside the company to be a part of it,” said Klipsch. Watch footage from event.

TLC aired the “American Chopper” episode featuring the Klipsch bike on March 13, 2008.

Additional Chopper Details

• 10 ft. long and weighs 600 pounds 
• Back tire is 300 mm 
• Size and type of engine: A S&S 117 cubic-inch motor (1916CC) 
• 120 horsepower with 135 foot-pounds of torque 
• Six-speed transmission 
• 3.5-gallon gas tank with a half-gallon reserve 
• Features a pair of Klipsch K-77D horns and an RVX-42 woofer

About Orange County Choppers™
Orange County Choppers (OCC) is a New York-based custom motorcycle manufacturer founded by Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr. in 1999. OCC was started as a sideline to Paul Sr.’s steel manufacturing business, which was founded in the 1970s. The Orange County Choppers’ shop is featured weekly on “American Chopper,” a reality TV show that airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. EST on TLC.

INDIANAPOLIS (December 20, 2007) — In October, Klipsch—the number one speaker brand in the United States—commissioned Orange County Choppers™ (OCC)—the country’s best-known custom bike builder—to fabricate a speaker-inspired chopper that reflects the company’s rebellious spirit and no-compromise audio legacy.

Klipsch and the famous Teutul ‘American Chopper’ family will unveil the rumbling, muscular machine at a private Klipsch-hosted Robert Cray concert at the Body English nightclub inside the Las Vegas Hard Rock Hotel during the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). TLC will then air the American Chopper Klipsch® bike build episode on March 13, 2008, at 9 p.m. ET. 

Like every OCC chopper, the Klipsch bike is unique. It reflects the 61-year-old company’s true personality by featuring its signature black and copper color scheme, horn and woofer adornments, detailed Paul W. Klipsch (PWK) tributes, as well as Klipsch logos on the air filter and black leather seat.

For those who are unaware, proprietary horn-loaded technology has—and will always be—the driving force behind Klipsch’s highly acclaimed and stunningly precise sound. In fact, Paul W. Klipsch founded the company in 1946 on the promise of a corner horn-loaded speaker design.

“We customize theme bikes for lots of different companies, but this one is second to none,” said Paul Teutul, Sr. “It really incorporates Klipsch’s standards of high-performance, high-quality audio into a truly unique ride.”

The partnership between Klipsch and OCC does not stop with this amazing bike. Orange County Choppers is currently building a new 92,000-square-foot headquarter facility in Newburgh, N.Y. and has chosen Klipsch as its preferred audio provider. From the retail area to the shop floor and from the gym to Paul Sr.’s new office, more than 100 Klipsch speakers will bring dynamic sound to the entire building.

“The Klipsch name has always stood for high-performance audio,” said Paul Sr. “Whether it’s their headphones, home theater products or commercial designs, everything I’ve heard from Klipsch sounds fantastic. It was a no-brainer to have them outfit our new headquarters.”

According to Mike Klipsch, president of Klipsch, the partnership makes perfect sense because both companies know how to enrich the lives of their customers. “It’s not about buying a chopper or a speaker, it’s about passion, performance and embracing a treasured lifestyle,” he said. “When it comes to building our respective products, no detail is overlooked and each design is meant to enhance the owner’s experience.” 

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About Orange County Choppers™ 

Orange County Choppers (OCC) is a New York-based custom motorcycle manufacturer founded by Paul Teutul, Sr. and Paul Teutul, Jr. in 1999. OCC was started as a sideline to Paul Sr.’s steel manufacturing business, which was founded in the 1970s. The Orange County Choppers’ shop is featured weekly on ‘American Chopper,’ a reality TV show that airs on Thursday nights at 9 p.m. EST on TLC. 

INDIANAPOLIS (June 9, 2008)—Since 2001, Klipsch—a global manufacturer of premium sound solutions and one of the first U.S. loudspeaker companies—has hosted an annual summer pilgrimage, honoring its most passionate audiophile fans. The 2008 weekend event will take place June 20 and 21.

If the past is any indication, this year’s celebration of everything Klipsch will bring a significant number people from around the country—and from outside it—to the company’s headquarters, located on the northwest side of Indianapolis, Ind. While it’s exciting for those who visit here, it’s equally so for Klipsch employees, who voluntarily donate time and a lot of effort to make the event a success.

Audiophiles Abound
Typically, pilgrimage guests are members of the klipsch.com online forum community, currently made up of over 29,000 registered users. And often times, the company gets return crusaders year after year.
“Much like the Grateful Dead generated a tightly knit community of ‘Deadheads’ through its concert experiences, we’ve inspired our own set of dedicated cult-status followers by way of our on-line forum,” said Amy Unger, klipsch.com forum moderator. “For many of these forum members, visiting Klipsch is like visiting the ‘promised land’.”

At this event, attendees are treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the Klipsch Engineering and Technology Center, which is one of the most advanced audio research facilities in the world. Fans also interact with Klipsch staff, including executives, to learn the impact that Klipsch’s patented horn-loaded technology has made on the audio industry, and how it will influence the future of home entertainment products. And last but not least, pilgrims get to participate in new product listening sessions, where they are encouraged to provide feedback to engineering staff.

After attending last year’s Pilgrimage, forum member Chad Miller of West Lafayette, Ind. posted, “Wow. What a great day! Many thanks to the Klipsch team … Great facility, great people and great products. First class all the way around …”

A Pilgrimage that began with Hope
The annual Klipsch Pilgrimage began in February of 2001, when a small group of devout audiophiles toured the company’s Hope, Arkansas manufacturing facility, which at that time housed the engineering department. After engineering functions were relocated to Indianapolis, the event resumed and has been a staple on the Klipsch calendar ever since.

“In 2000, I was working tech support in Hope, taking calls from end users,” noted associate engineer Trey Cannon, who has been a part of every Pilgrimage. “Through that experience, I got to talk to lot of our customers. They expressed an interest in visiting the plant. I sent a request to chairman and chief executive officer Fred Klipsch, received his blessing and the Pilgrimage began—though it was first called the Hope Tour.”

For Steve Phillips, home theater customer service specialist, the event has special meaning, too—he attended the Hope Tour before joining the Klipsch staff in 2002. He has been a willing volunteer since he’s been here: “There’s a lot of work that goes into the room and system set ups; I help Trey after hours on my own time, because I really am dedicated to the success of the event and the fact that its meant a lot to me personally.”

In Touch with our Heritage
Klipsch manager of engineering operations, historian and seven-year Pilgrimage veteran Jim Hunter sees it as a way to acknowledge the company’s heritage. “I think it hearkens back to when we were a much smaller company. In those days, customer service was a part of engineering and we talked to our customers regularly, so we were close to them. These guys were—and are—rabid sound fanatics. And through the years, they’ve had impact on our products.”

For these and other company volunteers, the annual trek Klipsch customers make to Indianapolis has become a much-anticipated event. And thanks in part to their efforts, Klipsch has maintained its remarkable customer loyalty for over 60 years.

INDIANAPOLIS (January 30, 2008) — Things haven’t come easily to Patrick Henry Hughes. The 19-year-old was born without eyes and has been confined to a wheelchair since childhood. Despite these challenges, Patrick has excelled; today, he is majoring in Spanish at the University of Louisville and performs as a trumpeter in the marching band with his father, who wheels him through the band’s choreographed segments.

His remarkable story recently came to the attention of the ABC hit series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” Through the efforts of the program and local volunteers, the Hughes family recently took possession of a new, highly automated 3,200-square-foot home built from the ground up in just 106 hours. And Klipsch was a part of it all, providing surround speakers for the Hughes family’s new home theater systems.

According to Phil Deddens, owner of Super Home Systems in Louisville, the project was one of the most comprehensive his firm has undertaken, requiring 15 people working eight hours each to install all of the major pre-wiring for the two home theatres, telephones and security systems. “We worked ahead of the electricians, installing the wiring in the rafters even before roofing was begun,” Deddens noted. The final home theater installation included Klipsch CDT-3650-C in-ceiling speakers and RW-5802 subwoofers.

The Klipsch architectural loudspeakers are part of a unique voice-operated system that allows Patrick to change channels on the flat-screen televisions, adjust the audio levels, open doors, get the time and temperature and even operate the security system through simple spoken commands.

In addition to the ABC series’ cast and crew, hundreds of laborers from the Louisville area worked around the clock to make the dream house a reality. Deddens’ schedule was particularly hectic: “Our crew of 15 worked alongside 30 electricians, 20 HVAC installers and two plumbers per bathroom. It was definitely a crazy day.”

A crowd of over 5,000 greeted the Hughes family at the unveiling of their home. Patrick was given a 3-D model so that he could “see” his new residence. The episode is slated to air on February 17.

LOS ANGELES (January 22, 2007) — Klipsch Audio Technologies announced today that it is hosting the upcoming post-premiere parties for two of Sundance Film Festival’s most anticipated films: Black Snake Moan, starring Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake and Christina Ricci, and Chapter 27, with Jared Leto and Lindsay Lohan. The post-premiere party for Black Snake Moan will be held on January 24 and Chapter 27’s will be held on January 25 in Park City, UT. Both events promise to be main destinations for top stars, and will serve as a celebration of Klipsch Audio Technologies’ growing commitment to organically supporting cinema’s most compelling independent films.

“Klipsch Audio Technologies has chosen to support Black Snake Moan and Chapter 27 because these two extraordinary films and its stars echo our core values of power, detail and emotion,” said Judy Klipsch, vice chairman of the Klipsch Group. “Partnering with these films and supporting their releases is a natural fit for the brand, as the stars in these films have made successful crossovers from film to music, music to film, just as Klipsch has expanded beyond its core strength of audio technology to achieve greatness.”

The collaboration between both films and Klipsch, a leader in home entertainment and audio technology, is part of the company’s ongoing involvement in the entertainment industry at large. As part of their commitment to supporting the film industry, in 2005, Klipsch outfitted the historical Aidikoff Theater in Beverly Hills with a state of the art cinema sound system in order to provide the ultimate sound experience for screenings for celebrities, industry influencers and the press. In addition, Klipsch has executed numerous entertainment marketing initiatives in both film and music at marquee events such as the MTV Video Music Awards, the ESPY Awards, the Grammys, and the Sundance Film Festival.

About the Films:
Black Snake Moan, a Paramount Vantage film, stars Samuel L. Jackson, Justin Timberlake, and Christina Ricci. Set in a small Tennessee town, Black Snake Moan tells the story of two unlikely souls who are about to be drawn together at the sticky crossroads between rage and love. It will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24.

Chapter 27 is set in New York City, December 1980 and tells the story of a young man, Mark David Chapman (Jared Leto), who arrives in New York with the intent to kill John Lennon. A depressed and unstable soul, Chapman is torn between his love and awe for John Lennon's persona and his desire to kill Lennon in order to gain notoriety for himself. Scheduled to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, Chapter 27 also stars Lindsay Lohan as Judy, a fan of John Lennon who makes friends with Champman.

For inquires on both post-premiere events:
Tom Meyer-Klipsch
Explicit Events
323.525.1024
info@explicitevents.com

For inquiries about Black Snake Moan:
Bladimiar Norman
Paramount Vantage
732.979.3340
Bladimiar.Norman@paramountvantage.com

For inquiries about Chapter 27:
Craig Bankey
PMK/HBH Public Relations
310.289.6200
craig.bankey@pmkhbh.com

INDIANAPOLIS (September 29, 2006) — Klipsch Audio Technologies, a leading provider of premium audio products, today announced that its Hope, Arkansas-based manufacturing facility has been chosen by the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence (AIPE) as a 2006 Commitment Award winner.

The Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence, formerly Arkansas Quality Award, provides opportunities for all organizations within the state to measure their progress in striving for performance excellence.

Using the nation’s prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program as a guide, the AIPE offers a four-tiered award sequence that quantifies company growth. State businesses can apply at any one of the following levels: Challenge, Commitment, Achievement or Governor’s Award, which is the top honor.

Handpicked by a select panel of judges, Klipsch was evaluated for the Commitment Award based on the following seven criteria: leadership; strategic planning; customer and market focus; measurement, analysis and knowledge management; human resource focus; process management; and results.

“It’s truly an honor to be chosen for this esteemed accolade that recognizes quality and performance achievements,” said Mike Klipsch, president of Klipsch Audio Technologies. “We’ve been manufacturing loudspeakers in Hope for over 60 years and this Commitment Award is a testament to our dedicated employees who have helped make Klipsch a global leader within the consumer electronics industry.”

The Commitment Award level is for companies that have progressed to the point of demonstrating serious dedication to the use of quality principles to attain performance excellence. Recognition is given to those organizations that have advanced the knowledge and skills gained from the initial steps and have a solid plan to move towards larger goals.

Klipsch was one of three organizations to receive a Commitment Award. A special ceremony was held on September 25 at the Hot Spring Convention Center in Hot Springs, Ark., to honor award recipients at every level. President Mike Klipsch, director of manufacturing Jack Sparks and human resources manager Donna Garner were present to accept the award on Klipsch’s behalf. More than 250 businesses and civic leaders throughout the state attended the event.

The Klipsch manufacturing facility employs 82 individuals and manufactures the wooden speaker cabinets for the company’s highly acclaimed Reference Series as well as the vintage Heritage Series, which was developed by audio pioneer and company founder Paul W. Klipsch during the early days of Hi-Fi. Additionally, the company’s professional cinema products, which are used by top theater operators around the world, are built at this location.

About The Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence (AIPE) 

The private business community created the Arkansas Institute for Performance Excellence program in 1995. This not-for-profit organization provides a framework that encourages Arkansas organizations to engage in continuous quality improvement and to provide education and recognition to these organizations. Based on the broad representation attending the September 25 celebration, the program has achieved statewide acceptance through organizations that understand the value of quality in today’s workplace.

INDIANAPOLIS (November 26, 2007) — At last month’s two-day Hilly Hundred biking event in Southern Indiana, a team of 20 cyclists from Klipsch, a locally-based speaker company, proudly pedaled 100 miles in support of their health and the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund (ICWF), a not-for-profit organization that grants wishes to Indiana children with life-threatening illnesses.

Through the generosity of its employees and outside sponsors, including Five Seasons Sports Club, Klipsch raised $6,300 for ICWF. More importantly, a 15-year-old girl with chronic and severe asthma will soon be traveling with her family to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

Mike Klipsch, president of Klipsch, along with ProMotion Fitness, an outside firm that manages the Klipsch wellness program, spearheaded the ICWF fund-raising efforts.

According to Mike Klipsch, Klipsch instituted its employee wellness program four years ago, and when preparing its fiscal year 2008 health plan, he decided to merge the company’s fitness and charitable goals, resulting in the Klipsch/ICWF Hilly Hundred Challenge.

“I wanted to put a fresh ‘spin’ on fitness, fundraising and fellowship, especially since several Klipsch employees, including myself, are avid cyclists,” says Mr. Klipsch. “My goal for the Hilly Hundred Challenge was two-fold. Not only did it benefit a worthy cause and get us out in the community, it was a fun way to promote employee health.”

According to 56-year-old Gary Westfall, a cost accountant for Klipsch, the company wellness program and Hilly Hundred changed his life. After partaking in a Klipsch-sponsored health assessment four years ago, he received some unfavorable results, prompting him to get a physical. Much to his surprise, Gary discovered he was a diabetic and showed signs of once having a heart attack.

“I immediately changed my lifestyle,” says Westfall. “Today, through a healthy diet and exercise regime, I’ve lost 47 pounds and am no longer a diabetic. It took me a year to train for the Hilly, but it was well worth it as I helped make a child happy and benefited my health. In fact, participating in the event was one of the better things I’ve done in my life.”

Every Klipsch employee who participated in the Hilly, logged over 50 hours of cardio with ProMotion and raised $100 for ICWF, received a free Klipsch jersey and pair of biking shorts. Klipsch ordered additional biking gear to sell on its web site with all the proceeds going to ICWF.

For employees who could not participate in the Hilly, but still wanted to help out, Klipsch hosted a special wear-jeans-to-work day that raised $455. Each employee had to donate $5 to ICWF in order to dress casual.

According to Terry Ceaser-Hudson, executive director of the Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, an average wish costs $5,500. Since its founding in 1984, the organization has made nearly 1,700 dreams come true. This year alone, ICWF will have granted 130 kids between the ages of three and 18 their wishes.

“Klipsch has been a great partner and we appreciate their dedication to this event,” says Ceaser-Hudson. “Their employees are driven and devoted and most importantly, they understand the importance of granting a wish for an Indiana child.”

About Indiana Children’s Wish Fund 

Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, a 501C-3 not-for-profit organization, grants wishes to Indiana children, ages 3-18, who suffer from a life-threatening illness. Wishes range from trips to Disney, meeting celebrities, shopping sprees and much more. An average wish costs $5,500 and funding for wishes is made possible through the support of corporate donation, individuals and fundraising events. To date, the organization has granted nearly 1,700 wishes for Indiana children. For more information regarding Indiana Children’s Wish Fund, go to: www.indianachildrenswishfund.org

INDIANAPOLIS (July 6, 2007) — Much like the Grateful Dead generated a tightly-knit community of “Deadheads” through its concert experiences, the Klipsch speaker company has inspired its own set of dedicated cult-status followers by way of an online forum, consisting of over 25,000 active members.

For the past six years, Klipsch has honored its passionate fans by hosting an annual summer Pilgrimage. An event that allows them to meet Klipsch staff and fellow forum members, tour the company’s facility, listen and comment on product demonstrations, win high-performance audio products, as well as enjoy a commemorative meal.

This year’s gathering, which took place at the company’s headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. on June 23, brought in 80 forum members from all over the country, including one from Canada. In fact, half were return attendees from the previous year.

Forum member Mike Hurd, 29, of Nipigon, Ontario drove 998 miles to participate in the one-day event. “The trip was absolutely worth it,” he said. “Meeting the forum fanatics face-to-face was priceless, as well as listening to wonderful new product.”

According to Hurd, he first heard Klipsch when he was 16 years old and it turned him into a fan for life. “Listening to those Klipschorns burned an image in my mind, one of utter disbelief of how good they sounded,” he commented. “As far as I am concerned, Klipsch makes performance their number one priority, regardless of product category. Their speakers consistently deliver top-notch performance for less than their closest competitors.”

A visit to the klipsch.com forum will further demonstrate the devotion these folks hold for the Klipsch brand. Christy Luquet, screen name D’tel’s wife, of Picayune, Miss. made this post after attending this year’s Pilgrimage, “Klipsch as always … is one of the best companies in America to do business with.”
Additionally, Chad Miller, screen name Mace, of West Lafayette, Ind. posted, “Wow. What a great day! Many thanks to the Klipsch team … Great facility, great people, great products. First class all the way around …”

“These online ambassadors, many of which have earned ‘industry expert’ reputations, are essentially trusted ‘human yellow pages’ for us,” said Mike Klipsch, president of Klipsch. “It’s because we understand their value and appreciate their devotion that we host our annual Pilgrimage.”

Mr. Klipsch also said that Klipsch is one of the few manufacturers in the consumer electronics industry to offer such a broad, unregulated forum for consumers to share information, troubleshoot, and, in some cases, blow off a little steam.

“We don’t edit anything on the Klipsch.com forum,” said Klipsch. “We leave it all there—good and bad. We’ve received a lot of great feedback from this free-expression experiment. And it’s resulted in a Klipsch community with an incredibly high level of genuine customer intimacy and positive interaction. And to give you an idea of how this forum has grown, we had a little over 5,000 members in 2001, today we have over 25,000!”