Common Wave Hi-Fi isn’t just another audio shop in Los Angeles—it’s one of the few places left that actually puts in the work to educate people about hi-fi instead of just moving boxes. On September 18th, they’re running their “Hi-Fi Night School Master Class,” and it’s not some casual demo with background jazz and a cheese plate. This one brings in Klipsch’s Chief Audio Engineer, Roy Delgado Jr., and reps from Luxman to put their latest designs through their paces, followed by a live Q&A.
It’s the kind of event that shows why high-end retailers matter: they give people direct access to the people who actually design the gear, not just the sales pitch. And yes, it’s happening in the heart of L.A., where you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a boutique—but very few are willing to host nights like this. Complimentary food and drinks are on tap courtesy of The Airliner, and proceeds head back into local school and music programs.
We’ve already seen what Common Wave Hi-Fi can do, and it left a mark. Back at T.H.E. Show 2022, they didn’t just show up—they rolled in with multiple rooms that all sounded dialed-in, no dead weight. One of those rooms was our first run-in with DeVore Fidelity’s O/baby loudspeakers, and it wasn’t some throwaway demo.
The O/baby’s horn-loaded .75″ textile dome tweeter and that new 7″ woofer—cut from the same uncoated German paper stock as the O/96 and O/Reference—made it clear the speaker wasn’t a gimmick. It was one of the early listens, and it stuck. That’s the thing with Common Wave: they don’t half-step, and in an L.A. market full of flash, they’ve shown they can actually deliver the goods.
The System: Klipschorn AK7 Meets Luxman in a No-Nonsense Demo
This isn’t a lifestyle setup with mood lighting and Bluetooth fluff. Common Wave is dropping the all-new Klipschorn AK7 loudspeakers in their active, tri-amped glory, driven by Luxman’s mix of tube warmth and solid-state muscle. Analog duties? A Kuzma Dual Arm XL DC Turntable, armed for both stereo and mono with cartridges hand-built by Koetsu’s Japanese craftsmen—the kind of gear that makes accountants cry and audiophiles grin.
Digital playback rides on Luxman’s latest components, rounding out a system that’s about as subtle as a LAPD raid but twice as satisfying.
Roy Delgado Jr. – Klipsch’s Horn-Loaded Heavyweight
Roy Delgado Jr., Klipsch’s Chief Audio Engineer, is taking the wheel for this Hi-Fi Night School Master Class. The guy’s been shaping Klipsch for over three decades, carrying on Paul W. Klipsch’s obsession with horn-loaded truth while dragging the company’s flagship designs—Jubilee, Klipschorn, La Scala—into the present without sanding off the edges.
For us, this isn’t about polite applause. It’s about finally hearing the kind of Klipsch setup you never get at a hotel hi-fi show, where the air conditioning rattles louder than the bass and the “reference system” is usually just a sales pitch. Delgado’s systems don’t play that game. This is Klipsch and Luxman hitting full stride, with analog and digital front ends you almost never see outside of a dealer who actually gives a damn.
That’s the rare part: L.A. is littered with “high-end” boutiques, but only a handful throw open the doors and put the real gear in front of people. Delgado doesn’t need to convince anyone—he just has to fire up the system, and the rest writes itself.
Event Details – Lock In Your Spot Before It’s Gone
Space is tight, so RSVP and a small donation are required to get in. Drop $40 and you’ll also snag a Limited Edition Night School T-Shirt—because why not make a little memory while you’re learning from the best?
Common Wave Hi-Fi Night School
Thursday, September 18th, 7–9 PM
21 and Older
1451 E 4th Street, Suite 106
Los Angeles, CA 90033
In true Bosch fashion: if you stroll in thinking you can just wander and peek over shoulders, think again. L.A. is full of wannabes and window-shoppers, but this isn’t one of those nights. Show up ready, or you’ll be on the sidewalk listening to the echoes.
Get tickets: Common Wave Hi-Fi Night School with Klipsch