When you look at the Klipsch Bar 48 and the Klipsch Cinema 600 side by side, it will be very difficult to distinguish them. They both have the same color, the similar wood construction adorned with fabric grille over the surface. And of course- Klipsch’s signature Tractrix horns should be the first thing that catches the eye!
So what really is the difference? On the surface, they may look very similar but when it comes to audio performance they are miles apart. This article discusses the differences between the two well-known soundbars and makes an attempt to pick a winner out of the two.
Differences between Klipsch Bar 48 and Klipsch Cinema 600
To understand the difference between the two soundbars, let us first dive into the details of their specifications:
| Feature | Klipsch Bar 48 | Cinema 600 |
|---|---|---|
| Channel Configuration | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Enclosure Type | Bass reflex, sealed enclosure with ported sub | Bass reflex, sealed enclosure with ported sub |
| Material of Construction | Wood | Wood |
| Color | Black | Black |
| Dimensions (Soundbar) | 47.7 x 2.9 x 3.4" / 121.1 x 7.3 x 8.6 cm | 45 x 2.9 x 3.4" / 114.3 x 7.3 x 8.6 cm |
| Dimensions (Subwoofer) | 11.9 x 16.1 x 16.1" / 30.2 x 41 x 41 cm | 11.9 x 16.1 x 16.1" / 30.2 x 41 x 41 cm (Subwoofer) |
| Weight | 13.97 kg | 14 kg |
| Tweeter | Three 1-inch soft-dome tweeters mated to Tractrix® horn | Three 1-inch soft-dome tweeters mated to Tractrix® horn |
| Woofer | Four 3 inch oval fiber composite cone woofers | Four 3 inch oval fiber composite cone woofers |
| Frequency Response | 40-20 kHz | 35-20 kHz |
| Maximum SPL | 103 dB | 103 dB |
| System Power | 440W | 600W |
| Subwoofer Driver | 8 inch | 10 inch |
| Subwoofer Size | 16-1/8H x 11-15/16W x 12-3/4D | 18-1/2H x 14-1/4W x 15-3/4D |
| Input connections | 1 x HDMI - ARC 1 x Optical TOSLINK - Audio 1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm - Audio | 1 x HDMI - ARC 1 x Optical TOSLINK - Audio 1 x 1/8" / 3.5 mm - Audio |
| Output connections | 1 x RCA - Subwoofer | 1 x RCA - Subwoofer |
| Controls | Remote Control | Remote Control, Control by app: Apple IOS, Andriod |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Surround sound | Dolby Digital DTS | Dolby Digital |
| Price | Check price on Amazon | Check price on Amazon |
The two soundbars can be compared under three important categories: design, sound performance, and additional features.
Design and Build: Klipsch Bar 48 vs Cinema 600
As mentioned earlier, both the soundbars are quite similar in their design and build. They are both built of wood finished with a smooth black exterior with the Tractrix horn tweeters positioned at the two ends. The two soundbars only have a two-inch difference in length, with the Bar 48 being a little larger than the Cinema 600. Nevertheless, the subwoofer that comes with the Klipsch bar 48 is two inches smaller than the subwoofer coming with the cinema 600.
Overall, both the soundbars are made of premium finishing, with similar design and build features. They can easily be mounted into the wall and their setup is extremely convenient and hassle-free. Since the cinema 600 is a more upgraded version of the bar 48. The finishing and build quality on it seemed much better.
Winner: Cinema 600
Sound Performance: Klipsch Cinema 600 vs Klipsch Bar 48
Before examining the performance, let the specifications speak for themselves. Both the soundbars each have three one-inch tweeters with Tractrix horn technology. There are also four three-inch woofers incorporated in the body of each of the soundbars. While these features are common to both, the cinema 600 has an overall system power of 600 W which is much higher than that of the bar 48, which can pump upto 400W of power. Moreover, because of the larger subwoofer that cinema 600 has, it can pump a wider range of frequency compared to bar 48.
The Klipsch cinema 600 has an impressive stereo sound compared to the bar 48. It really makes up for the lack of thump in music played on the bar 48. The spacious soundstage really makes the whole cinema experience enjoyable with the cinema 600. However, the Klipsch Bar 48 supports DTS surround which the cinema 600 lacks. Nevertheless, if you are looking for a powerful and punchy audio performance, the Klipsch Cinema 600 comes out as the better soundbar.
Winner: Cinema 600
Additional Features: Klipsch Bar 48 vsKlipsch Cinema 600
There are some differences between the soundbars when it comes to additional features. Since the Klipsch cinema 600 is a more upgraded version of bar 48, it has a few features added to it. One of these features is the control of the soundbar by the app Klipsch Connect which is supported by both ios and android.
Winner: Cinema 600
Klipsch Bar 48 Review:
The Klipsch Bar 48 is a 3.1 channel soundbar that offers excellent audio quality and bass integration. It features a beautiful appearance with a high-quality wood finish and is very easy to assemble. Its Dialogue Enhancement function provides excellent audio clarity and enhances the listening experience. Overall, if you’re tired of your standard TV sound and want a significant improvement to bring your movies to life, these soundbars are an excellent buy. The table below shows the important specifications for the soundbar:
| Table: Klipsch Bar 48 specifications | |
|---|---|
| Speaker system | 48 inch 3.1 soundbar with 8 inch wireless subwoofer |
| Enclosure type | Wooden soundbar and wooden subwoofer |
| Color | Black finishing |
| Weight | 13.97 kg |
| Dimensions | 47 11/16” (121.1cm) W x 2 7/8” (7.3cm) H x 3 3/8 (8.6cm) D |
| Tweeter type | 1-inch soft-dome tweeters mated to Tractrix® horn |
| Woofer type | 3-inch oval fiber composite cone woofers |
| System power | 440W |
| Frequency response | 40-20 kHz |
| Maximum acoustic output | 103 dB |
| Voltage | 100-240V 50/60Hz internal power supply |
Design
The Klipsch bar 48 serves a retro outlook with its unique style. At first glance, the soundbar looks like a plain black rectangular block with Klipsch’s signature Tractrix horn loading tweeters at the two ends stealing all the attention.
The wooden top and front part of the soundbar are adorned with a black mesh fabric whilst the speakers at two ends are composed of plastic. The horn-loaded tweeters not only give these soundbars a retro look but are also effective. This design helps to correct the difference in air pressure between the tweeter and the air before it which in turn improves sensitivity and allows for better dispersion.
The setting up of the soundbar is very quick and convenient. Given its length and stylish exterior, it can easily blend in with your TV.
There aren’t any LED lights on the surface of the soundbar, but on the right side just above the woofer are the power, volume and input controls. The inputs include an HDMI-ARC port, optical digital audio input and a 3.5 mm analog input. A USB port, a connector for an IR extender and a subwoofer output is also included.
However, if you want to connect a wireless subwoofer to a soundbar, then you can check it out.
Besides these controls, the soundbar also comes with a backlit wireless remote to operate it. The remote control includes all the buttons such as power, volume, input, mute and LED indicator light buttons for the complete functioning of the soundbar. There is also a backlight and special features that allow the adjustment of dialogue, surround and night modes.
However, Samsung and Polk provide some amazing soundbars, that you can check out.
The soundbar includes a wireless subwoofer which is also built of wood and has a matte black texture to it. The subwoofer has an 8 inch downward-firing driver with a pass port that provides a lot of bass to the audio.
Features
The Klipsch Bar 48 has the following features which make it stand out from the other soundbars:
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True Two-way Bi-Amplified Design
The soundbar has a 3.1 channel configuration. This means that there is a separate speaker at the middle of the soundbar in addition to the left and right speakers. The three front-firing channels include a one-inch dome tweeter complemented with the Tractrix horn along with two three-inch cone woofers. The drivers are separately amplified to ensure that the audio response is dynamic and because of the speaker in the center, the dialogue clarity if enhanced.
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Dolby Audio and DTS Decoding
The soundbar model comes with built-in Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD processing. These special features ensure immersive audio which allows for the perfect cinema experience sitting from home. Klipsch also plans to add DTX Virtual:X through the update of USB firmware.
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Dialogue, Night and Surround Modes
The Klipsch bar 48 soundbar includes three different modes: dialogue, surround and night mode for your convenient and effective listening. The dialogue mode is used to increase dialogue volume, thus providing enhanced dialogue clarity. As suggested by the name, the night mode can be used in the night for a dynamic range in a quieter environment. Lastly, the surround mode gives you the enhanced virtual sound, bringing the audio to life.
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8-inch Wireless Subwoofer
The marvelous soundbar comes with an eight-inch wireless subwoofer with a wooden texture. The subwoofer uses wireless 2.4 GHz technology which allows it to automatically connect to the subwoofer after it has been switched on. It also includes a subwoofer output so that a second subwoofer can be added or the one being used can be replaced.
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Bluetooth Technology
There is a Bluetooth connectivity option for the soundbar. It can be wirelessly connected to all Bluetooth-enabled smartphones, tablets and computers.
Audio Performance
The Klipsch Bar 48 really emphasizes on sound quality with depth and power and that is evident when the soundbar is operated. The three front-firing drivers in the soundbar are perfectly balanced and with the eight-inch subwoofer combined it presents a natural and detailed audio response. This combination of horn-loaded tweeters and woofers ensures a spacious soundstage for exceptionally detailed sound. The width of the soundbar results in excellent stereo separation, filling up the room with precise and colorful sound.
First let’s talk about the midrange because it certainly is the highlight of this system. The midrange offers a lot of depth and clarity to the sound. Because of the center speaker in the soundbar, the audio being produced is crystal clear. The soundbar has been designed in such a way that whether you watching sports or listening to the daily news you will not miss a single detail of speech. Thanks to the addition of the powerful subwoofer, the low end offers a heart-thumping bass response. The higher frequencies, on the other hand, are very well defined- a result of the Tractrix technology incorporated in the tweeter.
Overall, with the Klipsch bar 48, you will certainly enjoy an engaging movie experience at home.
Pros and Cons of Klipsch bar 48:
So with all that has been said, should you get the Klipsch Bar 48? Let’s weigh out the pros and cons.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ü The soundbar offers an impressive and spacious soundstage ü The audio response is clear and detailed ü There are three different modes you can switch from for your convenient listening ü The soundbar offers wireless Bluetooth technology ü The device is really easy to set up and can blend well with any home theater ü You can easily use optional surround speakers with the system | û The soundbar has a unique design which is an acquired taste û There is a limited set of features. The features are only focused on the audio û The soundbar is a little expensive if you are on budget û There is no HDMI inputs incorporated in the soundbar û The soundbar has no eARC options |
Klipsch Cinema 600 Review:
The Cinema 600 are dynamic soundbars that deliver a theater-like listening experience with their impressive built-in features. These stylish soundbars are very convenient to set up and operate. Paired up with a 10 inch booming subwoofer, the klipsch cinema 600 soundbar offers powerful audio with detailed clarity. The soundbar’s name speaks for itself- this simple rectangular box can bring your movies to life, giving you the ultimate cinematic adventure. Listed in the table below are some features that you should know before purchasing these soundbars:
| Table: Klipsch Bar 48 specifications | |
|---|---|
| Speaker system | 45 inch 3.1 soundbar with 10 inch wireless subwoofer |
| Enclosure type | Wooden soundbar and wooden subwoofer |
| Color | Black finishing |
| Weight | 14 kg |
| Dimensions | 45 x 2.9 x 3.4" / 114.3 x 7.3 x 8.6 cm |
| Tweeter type | 1 inch soft dome tweeters mated to Tractrix® horn |
| Woofer type | 3 inch oval fiber composite cone woofers |
| System power | 600W |
| Frequency response | 35-20 kHz |
| Maximum acoustic output | 103 dB |
| Voltage | 100-240V 50/60Hz internal power supply |
Design
The Klipsch Cinema 600 soundbar is composed mainly of wood with plastic speakers attached at two ends of the rectangular bar measuring 45 inches in length. The wooden enclosure is meticulously wrapped with cloth-lined grille, giving the entire soundbar a smooth black texture.
Beneath the surface, the real masters are at play. The construction of the wooden bar includes a total of seven drivers: three one-inch soft dome tweeter and four three inch fiber composite cone woofers.
It seems that Klipsch really likes clinging onto the Tractrix technology signature “loaded-horn” tweeters. A linear travel suspension tweeter is also located in the middle of the soundbar. The satellite speakers have an IMG driver measuring 2.5 inches and aluminum dome tweeters at a quarter inch.
Setting up the soundbar is relatively easy. You have the option of putting the soundbar on a shelf beneath the TV or it can also be mounted on the wall. The packaging includes two wall mount screws and brackets in case you wish to put your soundbar on the wall. Plus, if you are looking for a combination of a wireless rear speaker and soundbar, then this might help.
Now let’s look at the controls. Although the soundbar seems to have a smooth plain surface, at the top you will discover the control buttons for power, volume and other adjustments. Apart from these controls, there is a remote which can be used to make adjustments to your soundbar.
On the remote control there are the usual buttons: power button, LED on/off button, volume up or down button, play or pause button, Bluetooth options, analog or digital inputs etc. Other important options include the three modes: dialogue, night and surround modes each suited to your convenient listening. It also includes a motion-sensing LED button which is useful in the dark.
The massive 10-inch subwoofer that comes with the soundbar just completes the package. It can be automatically paired up with the cinema 600 soundbar when the power is on. The subwoofer also includes a wooden enclosure with a down-firing port.
Features
Let’s look at some of the striking features of the Klipsch cinema 600 which makes it unique.
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A Sophisticated Home Cinema Experience
The Klipsch Cinema 600 is a 3.1 surround system with a center speaker and horn loaded tweeter with discernible dialogue clarity. The 10-inch subwoofer just adds to the entire system, providing detailed bass for an ever-exciting musical experience.
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Ease of Setup
The entire sound system requires less effort to set up. The soundbar can be mounted on the wall with the help of components that come with the packaging. If the TV has HDMI or optic cable options, all that needs to be done is to plug in the cable to the TV. The wireless bluetooth subwoofer is automatically connected with the cinema 600 when it is powered on. For updates and further setup information, the user can download the application for Klipsch.
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Clear Dialogue for Uninterrupted Listening
The cinema 600 comes with three different modes, one of which is the custom-tuned dialogue mode. This mode is a highlight features because it helps to not only increase the volume of the dialogue in the movies or TV shows but also it optimizes the EQ setting. This optimization makes sure that the dialogue is very clear and uninterrupted. There are three levels in the dialogue mode as per your setting requirements.
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Dolby Audio Built-in
The audio system supports Dolby Audio. It has a built-in Dolby Digital and Dolby Digital Plus for impeccable surround sound.
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10-inch Wireless Subwoofer
The 2.4 GHz wireless ten-inch subwoofer is massive and is exactly what pumps up the entire audio system. Effortlessly easy to set up, these subwoofers can automatically connect to the soundbar when powered on. They also support any Bluetooth-enabled device- smartphones, tablets and so on.
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Motion Sensing Remote
The remote control that is included with the cinema 600 soundbar has motion-sensing LED buttons. This is really convenient when you are watching a movie in the dark, since the buttons that you are looking for will light up. The remote control has many options that you can choose to make your home theater experience pleasurable.
Audio Performance
Perhaps one word that can sum up the entire listening experience with the cinema 600 soundbar is powerful.
The soundbar has an impressive frequency response. Thanks to the 10 inch subwoofer, the sound profile has an extended low-bass, making it wonderful to listen to the heavy details in music. The mids and highs are enhanced with just the right amount of clarity and details.
The wide and spacious soundstage makes it seem like the music is floating in the air. Because of its 3.1 channel configuration, the soundbar includes a center speaker which enhances dialogue clarity and offers accurate audio reproduction. The soundbar includes three modes just like the bar 48, and the dialogue mode can be really useful when you are listening to sports commentary or just watching the daily news on the television.
When the surround mode is switched on, the digital sound would become more open and natural; making you feel like the sound is coming from every direction. Overall, the audio performance on this soundbar is meticulous and impressive, and certainly lives up to the cinematic experience it wishes to offer.
Pros and Cons of Klipsch Cinema 600
The pros and cons of the Klipsch cinema 600 soundbar are as follows:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Klipsch uses premium wood to make a well built soundbar that leaves a lasting impression The soundbar is extremely easy to set up and it also comes with mounting options Klipsch cinema 600 offers dynamic and powerful sound for a cinema home experience The dialogue mode is a clear winner- with the crisp and detailed dialogue for uninterrupted listening | The soundbar does not decode Dolby Atmos Extra speakers might be required with the system for better surround sound |
What to consider when getting a soundbar for your TV
So you want to get a soundbar to connect with your TV to enjoy a cinema experience at home, but do not know where to start? Here are some factors that you should consider for getting the perfect soundbar for your TV.
Placement
Before getting a soundbar you have to keep in mind the positioning of it in your room. A soundbar is not a device which you can put anywhere you want, it needs to be placed right above or below the TV for the best possible results. It is a pro tip to always take measurements of the TV and the soundbar before getting one so that the soundbar does not block the TV. If you want to mount your soundbar on the wall, make sure that it comes with the necessary components such i.e. brackets.
Number of Channels
The number of channels that a soundbar has will determine its audio performance. A 2 channel soundbar will offer two speakers and in a 3 channel soundbar, you will have a speaker added to the center. There are up to 7 channels available. It is usually advised to go for a 3 channel soundbar if you are on budget. Nevertheless, a 5 or 7 channel soundbar would ensure a cinematic home theater experience.
Is Subwoofer Necessary?
Most of the time a soundbar might not produce enough low frequencies for your audio to have the perfect bass. If you want to feel the thumping bass in your favorite movies or music, it is suggested that you go for a soundbar that comes with a subwoofer or one that allows you to add an optional subwoofer with it.
Active or Passive Soundbar
There are two kinds of soundbar: an active soundbar and a passive one. Whilst the active soundbar includes internal power amplifiers, you would require adding a separate receiver to your passive soundbar. Passive soundbars are a little expensive but the audio quality makes up for it. To avoid the hassle of getting a separate receiver, you should opt for active soundbars with internal amplifiers.
What kind of connections should you consider?
It is also better to choose a model that supports a variety of connectivity options. When looking for a soundbar, look for the ones that support Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, HDMI ARC for flexibility. The more connectivity options the soundbar has, the better it is.
The Final Verdict
Although both the soundbars are quite similar in appearance, they are very different in terms of functioning.
With all the new and useful features, the Klipsch Cinema 600 feels like a more upgraded version of Bar 48. The Bar 48 is great in terms of design and performance. However, the cinema 600 has much more to offer. The only downside for the cinema 600 in comparison with the bar 48 is the DTS sound compatibility. Other than that, this soundbar offers marvelous surround sound at a reasonable rate. Hence, the Cinema 600 certainly should be prioritized among the two.
Freelance tech journalist & author soundboxlab.com Read More