Klipsch Announces Wired Stratos HP-2 ($999.99) and HP-3 ($1,199.99) Headphones
Klipsch announced two wired over-ear headphones on November 13, 2026, during its 80th anniversary year: the closed-back Stratos HP-2 at $999.99 and the semi-open-back Stratos HP-3 at $1,199.99. Both models premiere at CanJam Dallas on November 14 and 15, 2026, with U.S. retail availability scheduled for December 2026 through Klipsch.com and authorized dealers. The release lists EMEA availability in January 2027 at €999 for the HP-2 and €1,199 for the HP-3.
The Stratos HP-3 shares its model designation with the earlier Heritage HP-3. Klipsch’s Heritage documentation lists a single 52 mm biodynamic driver in each earcup of the older model; the Stratos HP-3 uses a two-way coaxial array.
Two-Way Coaxial Driver Layout: HP-2 vs. HP-3
Each earcup combines a bio-cellulose mid/bass driver with a coaxially mounted 10 mm dynamic tweeter. Klipsch also links the series to Paul W. Klipsch’s headphone experiment in 1919, when he was 15.
The closed-back Stratos HP-2 ($999.99) uses a 40 mm bio-cellulose mid/bass driver paired with the 10 mm tweeter. Klipsch rates the headphones at 32 ohms impedance, 100 dB sensitivity (reference unstated), 30 mW power handling, and 380 grams weight. The semi-open-back Stratos HP-3 ($1,199.99) uses a 50 mm bio-cellulose mid/bass driver with the 10 mm coaxial tweeter and Klipsch Heritage Twitchell grille cloth. Klipsch rates the headphones at 24 ohms, 102 dB sensitivity (reference unstated), 30 mW power handling, and 458 grams.
| Specification | Klipsch Stratos HP-2 | Klipsch Stratos HP-3 |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure Type | Closed-back over-ear | Semi-open-back over-ear |
| Transducer Array | Two-way coaxial: 40 mm bio-cellulose mid/bass driver + 10 mm dynamic tweeter | Two-way coaxial: 50 mm bio-cellulose mid/bass driver + 10 mm dynamic tweeter |
| Impedance | 32 ohms | 24 ohms |
| Quoted Sensitivity | 100 dB (reference not stated in release) | 102 dB (reference not stated in release) |
| Frequency Response | 15 Hz – 18 kHz (±5 dB) | Press table reads “16 Hz–22 Hz (±5 dB)”; the intended upper limit requires confirmation from Klipsch. |
| Total Harmonic Distortion | <0.1% at 1 kHz (<1.5% full system) | <0.15% at 1 kHz (<1% full system) |
| Power Handling | 30 mW | 30 mW |
| Weight | 380 g | 458 g |
| Finish & Materials | Auburn stained sapele wood, machined aluminum yokes and contact points, copper-ring accents | Auburn stained sapele wood, Twitchell grille cloth, machined aluminum yokes and contact points, copper-ring accents |
| U.S. / EMEA Price & Window | $999.99 (Dec 2026) / €999 (Jan 2027) | $1,199.99 (Dec 2026) / €1,199 (Jan 2027) |
Materials, Cables, and Optional Stand
Both models are offered in Auburn, with stained sapele wood earcups, machined aluminum yokes and contact points, and copper-ring accents. The protein-leather headbands contain open-cell foam and a cutout intended to relieve pressure on the crown of the head. The microsuede earpads attach magnetically.
Each box includes two detachable braided nylon dual-mono headphone cables: a 1.37-meter balanced cable terminated in a 4.4 mm plug and a 2.5-meter unbalanced cable terminated in a 3.5 mm plug. A 3.5 mm female to 1/4-inch (6.35 mm) male adapter is also included. Neither package includes a headphone stand; Klipsch lists an optional walnut-veneer Klipsch Headphone Stand with a copper accent for $149.99, scheduled for December 2026.
Klipsch plans to announce details of the wireless Stratos HP-1 in early 2027. Its release also names the Onkyo HA-70 as an amplifier option. Onkyo lists the HA-70 at $649.99, with availability scheduled for spring 2027.
Specifications Requiring Clarification
The release gives no crossover frequency or ear-simulator measurements. It also leaves “full system” undefined in the THD entries. Independent measurements and listening would help assess how the two drivers integrate.
- Frequency-response window and HP-3 table entry: Klipsch specifies the HP-2 at 15 Hz to 18 kHz within a ±5 dB window. For the HP-3, Klipsch’s press-release table prints
16 Hz-22 Hz (+/-5 dB), an apparent unit error whose intended correction has not been confirmed. - Unstated sensitivity reference and power-handling conditions: Klipsch lists 100 dB sensitivity for the HP-2 (32 ohms) and 102 dB for the HP-3 (24 ohms), along with 30 mW power handling for each. The release does not state the sensitivity reference or the test conditions for the 30 mW power-handling rating. Those omissions limit the figures’ usefulness for assessing amplifier requirements.
- Weight: Klipsch lists 380 g for the HP-2 and 458 g for the HP-3. Fit and comfort require hands-on assessment.
Sources
1. Klipsch official Stratos Series press release and specification sheet (November 13, 2026) and klipsch.com
2. Klipsch Heritage Headphones HP-3 documentation: Heritage-Headphones-HP-3-Gift-Book_DigitalVersion.pdf
3. Onkyo official HA-70 press release (November 13, 2026), for HA-70 pricing and scheduled availability.
