The Klipsch Cinema 600 makes a strong case for traditional sonic theatrics. This mid-ranger makes up for a lack of Dolby Atmos and Wi-Fi smarts with a well-designed wall of sound thanks to its distinctive horn drivers (a brand specialty), muscular subwoofer, and dynamic power plant.
Build quality
It’s a huge beast, this soundbar. It will be a suitable fit for 65-inch screens at 1.15 meters wide. Similar in size and difficult to conceal in your environment is the coordinating wireless subwoofer.
But in addition to its size, the Cinema 600 also stands out for its solid construction and airy appearance. With its nearly complete cloth wrap, it has a traditional, sophisticated appearance. However, the left and right horn tweeters are not covered by the cloth shield and instead have a high-end brushed metal appearance. Additionally, Klipsch’s wood enclosure isn’t scared to rock a few right angles, unlike some of its competitors who are betting everything on curved synthetic cabinets.
There are physical buttons for power, input, and volume above the tweeter enclosure to the right. Without an onscreen display, the Cinema 600 communicates with the outside world only through a single red LED, which is borderline antisocial. There is a remote, of course: a straightforward, ergonomic zapper that turns on when picked up. It features presets for Dialogue, Surround, and Night audio as well as volume and subwoofer level controls that fit comfortably in the hand.
My Initial Impressions
After watching a few movies, I had the feeling that the soundbar has crisp channel clarity and is shamelessly bold. Focused, robust, and fluid dialogue that avoids sibilance. The Cinema 600’s overall presentation has a warm warmth to it; it has a similar sound to a good pair of standmount speakers, but with the added benefit of a dedicated center channel. When Teddy’s spacecraft lifts off in Cowboy Bebop episode 2 (Netflix), there is still a three-dimensionality to the sound that makes the levitating metal feel even more realistic despite the absence of Atmos upfirers or steering DSP.
Specifications and Features
Specifications
- DIMENSIONS: 1,443(w) x 73(h) x 86(d)mm
- WEIGHT: 14kg (including subwoofer)
- ONBOARD POWER: 600W
- Separate subwoofer: Yes
- DRIVERS: 3 x Tractrix horn-loaded 1 in tweeters; 4 x 3 in fibre composite woofers
- Total CONNECTIONS: 1 x HDMI input; 1 x optical digital audio input; 3.5mm analogue audio input
- DOLBY Atmos/DTS:X: No/No
- 10 in driver REMOTE CONTROL: Yes
Features
- Bluetooth
- Dolby Digital compatibility
- HDMI CEC control
- Dialogue
- Surround and Night audio presets
- 28Hz-20kHz claimed frequency response
- wireless subwoofer connection
- motion sensitive backlit remote
- optional Surround 3 speakers for 5.1 setup
Verdict
The Klipsch Cinema 600 Soundbar works well for a variety of purposes. This 3.1 setup has a fairly neutral sound signature that makes it suitable for listening to a wide variety of content, though the treble gives vocals and instruments a bit of brightness. It is a good option for vocal-centric content, such as TV shows, thanks to its discrete center.
