Klipsch Black Reference Theater Pack 5.1 Surround Sound System

Product Information

Don't for a second underestimate the pint-size Klipsch Reference Theater Pack's capabilities; this system can deliver a heavy punch in a small room. The system consists of four identical satellites which feature those iconic, brassy IMG drivers in a 3. Still, if you have a large room or crave chest thumping bass, you need to step up to a larger system. When the frontiersmen made their way over a waterfall, the sub delivered the thunderous roar of the moving water without sounding like it was working very hard. So yes, the Pack is a step down from the Quintet—and if you’re lucky enough to find anything left of the latter in the retail pipeline, go for it.

And it survives because it does what it does really well, allowing small satellite speakers to assert a big sound. I'm also looking to get the Klipsch R620F or R820F and use them as my front floor L+R speakers, then use two of the satellite speakers for a Dolby Atmos setup. High sensitivity ratings (91dB for the satellites, 95dB for the centre channel) equate to an easy drive, and make them ripe for partnering with a low-cost AV receiver.On the other hand, Klipsch’s use of horns is not only an evergreen company tradition but also an inspired piece of ingenuity that, literally, has been passed down from generation to generation. With it sat against my front wall, and a slim-line Marantz NR1710 AV receiver on processing and power duty (with a 100Hz rather than 80Hz crossover, as the satellites are rated down to around 110Hz), I was up and running.

Next, I turned to a live recording of outgoing music director Alan Gilbert leading the New York Philharmonic in Verdi’s Requiem at David Geffen Hall (CD). Yes, I could hear the resonance from time to time, though it wasn’t a deal breaker and didn’t prevent the system from performing well enough in other respects—imaging, resolution, and overall clarity. We've taken the premium materials and acoustic technology of our coveted Reference Series and designed a beautiful 5. Complete with a wireless subwoofer, the Reference Theater Pack brings the Klipsch cinematic sound into your home with an incredibly minimal footprint. Speaker terminals are inset and spring-loaded, most likely meaning some fiddling about with bare-wire cable, but this does mean the cabinets can fit flush to a wall (keyhole fixings are provided for wall-mounting).In assessing my Performance and Value ratings for the Reference Theater Pack satellites and center, I had to balance the downgrading of the enclosure from filled polymer to mere plastic against the continued effectiveness of the horn-loaded tweeters and IMG-coned woofers.

My usual 80 hertz and even 100 Hz would leave a huge hole; nowadays, I start at 120 and go from there. The subwoofer needed less than half of its volume control’s range (with the usual default level in my receiver’s surround processor) to produce an adequate level of low bass effects. We played the music loud and heard no strain or increasing distortion, this little system's sound can loom large. The Reference Theater Pack brings Klipsch cinematic sound into your home with an incredibly minimal footprint.

Would definitely recommend this set if you’re looking for good satellites and a good sub that sound really nice. It uses a single 8in downfiring driver (still copper coloured, even though you'll never see it), adjacent to a down-firing port, and is powered by a 150W Class D amp. I don't know if that's how the effect works or its just a design but gotta watch for what can roll underneath it so you don't puncture it. After reading a bunch of surround sound installation reviews, I was a bit apprehensive about making everything work. I continued hopping among sub crossover points while listening to Simon Nicol’s Before Your Time (CD), the Fairport Convention frontman’s first solo album, replaying the opening track obsessively as I flipped between 120 and 150 Hz.