I have been married to my set of Klipsch speakers for several months now, so I am beyond first impressions. Like spouses, even the best of hardware reveals its idiosyncrasies over time, and anyone who is in the market for a new PC sound system should be aware of what it is like to live with this $249 investment day in and day out.
But there is a considerable Wow factor to overcome first. Out of the box, these things are as impressive to look at as to watch. The four satellite units are 8.5" high, half as wide and a little more than 5 inches deep. All plastic, each weighs 2.1 lbs. and accommodates the sturdy metal feet packed in with the unit. Removable cloth faceplates reveal a two-way speaker unit with .75" polymer dome tweeters "mated to Micro Tractric Horn," according to the official specs. The midbass has a 3" long throw. The 9.25" x 10.25" x 13" subwoofer pushes out the bass from three sides - the usual flared output at one end plus two side drivers. It also weighs a hefty 17.5 lbs. The set is THX certified, a bit of a nebulous standard, which seems to mean simply that the folks at LucasFilms' THX Labs have agreed the Klipsch speakers provide "theater quality" sound for film or DVDs.
Total System Frequency: 29-20,000Hz
Max. Acoustic Output: 110dB SPL at listening position
Amplifier Headroom: 4 x 60 watts, Satellites,1 x 160 watts, Subwoofer
Satellite Impedance: 4 ohms minimum