Klipsch THX Ultra2 Loudspeaker System Review

[gene]

<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN class=style191><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><A href="http://www.audioholics.com/productreviews/loudspeakers/KlipschUltra2Systemp1.php"><IMG style="WIDTH: 125px; HEIGHT: 125px" alt=[klipsch2] hspace=10 src="http://www.audioholics.com/news/thumbs/klipsch2_th.jpg" align=left border=0></A>The Klipsch THX Ultra2 loudspeaker system is simply amazing in terms of sheer musicalness, its ability to deliver exceptional dynamics and clean, unadulterated detail. It’s a system that proves once and for all you </SPAN></SPAN><EM><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">can</SPAN></EM><SPAN class=style191><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial"> bring, in an authentic way, the big-screen cinema sound experience to your home. It will again and again surprise you in ways that define the exceptional listening experience. The Klipsch Ultra2 THX 7.1 home theater system gives the consumer the opportunity to reap the benefits of a product built on 60 years of engineering expertise and technological refinement, all in a package that can fit into your home theater. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /></SPAN></SPAN></P>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial">[Read the Review]<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>[Measurements &amp; Analysis]</SPAN></P>

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

Heres a quick question:

How large was the reviewer's listening room, and what is the minimum room size required to do this system justice? (As this is in my "top-3" of potential 7.1 systems, I'd like to know some numbers before I get to buying a house).

I've heard this system before, it truley is awesome.

 

[jagercola]

Do these sell at retail or is there a discount? 10k is like a car and stuff.

 

[MAX661]

They can be had for a bit of a deal, but not that much. These were among my Top picks and they truly are excellent. In the end I chose the PSB CHS line because I found them slightly better but they are also higher priced so that's the trade off. I would have been very happy with the Klipsch aswell.

 

[Guavamanh]

I would love to buy these used off someone in a year or two so that i can save up money ^_^ I looked on audiogon but didnt find any used prices

 

[Rock&Roll Ninja]

I would love to buy these used off someone in a year or two so that i can save up money ^_^ I looked on audiogon but didnt find any used prices

Sadly you'll be waiting awhile. I listened to them when DD 5.1 was big poo, and the speakers haven't really changed much since then (besides now having the 6th and 7th speakers).

 

[RLA]

Sadly you'll be waiting awhile. I listened to them when DD 5.1 was big poo, and the speakers haven't really changed much since then (besides now having the 6th and 7th speakers).

The Klipsch THX Ultra II speakers just started shipping last year. These are not the same as the old Klipsch THX speakers based on the pro audio models.
IMOHO the Klipsch THX Ultra II speakers are the best THX speakers on the market. If you are looking for a speaker system and your listening habits lean more towards home theater, this system should be on your very short list.

I have installed this system in various configurations over the last year or so
The system sounds awesome in just about any room you install it in regardless of size and acoustical characteristics. The Klipsch THX Ultra II system is an over achiever that will blow you mind

 

[Guavamanh]

i remember your post for the LCR for only $750 each... it was really tempting!

 

[westcott]

I really liked the review. It is hard to get published test data results (very impressive). Great job.

I really liked the example of how a poor recording like Rush R30 can really be embarrassed by a speaker system of this caliber. I have rented this DVD and was really disappointed, as well.

I may have to buy the 'Enjoy the Rails!" CD. I have been using the Polar Express DVD as one of my test soundtracks for subs up to now.

 

[MarkS]

Room Size

Hello RnR

The listening room used during the course of the review is 12.5' wide, 8' high, and just over 18' in depth. The main listening posistion was centered on the room's long axis and varied from 2/3rds to 3/4ths of the way back, for experimental purposes.

Given the room's acoustics, careful speaker placement and a great product,
at no point during during either the recreational or critical listening segments of the review was equalization (MultEQ or manual) needed. Seperate from the review process, I did experiment with the MultEQ system, but found (as has been my experience with other exceptionally good HT systems) it did next to nothing for the basic system performance.

As for room size, I don't think I'd place a system like the Klipsch in a room smaller than the room used for the review.

Heres a quick question:

How large was the reviewer's listening room, and what is the minimum room size required to do this system justice? (As this is in my "top-3" of potential 7.1 systems, I'd like to know some numbers before I get to buying a house).

I've heard this system before, it truley is awesome.

 

[RLA]

How large was the reviewer's listening room, and what is the minimum room size required to do this system justice?

Hello
For smaller sized rooms you can use the smaller variation of the system consisting of KL525THX LCR and KS525THX surrounds

Hope this helps

 

[Rex]

When he said 'the system could be pushed to hard', I wondered just how loud the system would get before distortion would be a problem? The sensitivity for the KL-650 is 97 dB. Is that the point which beyond distortion becomes apparent?

 

[indcrimdefense]

i heard this system late last summer at the klipsch facility in indy, & was very impressed, w/ both music & movies. cannot exactly remember the room dimensions, but it was wider than my living room (16 x 25) & perhaps slightly longer. did play the system at fairly high listening levels on a couple of tracks & noticed no distortion. as a klipsch owner for over a year until i recently purchased the paradigm S8 for my fronts, i can say you can push a klipsch to very, very high levels w/ little or no distortion whatsoever, to the point of rock concert levels. only exception would be for certain movie lfe effects, & i only heard my rf-7 speakers distort once, perhaps twice at very high levels when showing off for friends (spl hit 103 w/ no distortion during depth charge scene in u-571). only time i remember distortion was at beginning of star wars 2 when silver spaceship is flying & coming in for landing, & this is an unfair situation to put a loudspeaker in as i don't have a sub & was running the fronts set to large.

spent some time listening to the thx system after several hours of listening to rf-7 in a seperate listening room w/ some accoustic treatments. if i remember correctly, all the walls in the thx listening room were covered w/ some sort of fabric or accoustic treatment. if your looking for a complete speaker system for a dedicated home theater room (particularly if the room will include "hiding" the speakers this is one system to take a serious look at. the only downside, at least for me, is they are not the most attractive things to look at.

 

[Craig234]

Smaller rooms

"For smaller sized rooms you can use the smaller variation of the system consisting of KL525THX LCR and KS525THX surrounds "

For a 15 by 15 room, with a 9x7 area also in the back -

I'm seeing a possibly great deal on a pair of the KS525THX, and pondering buying them, either for this 'smaller room' or even, maybe, the full package.

I asked a local dealer today, and he explained the normal 'discount package' price for them all is $10,750; the $1,250 for this pair can be taken off if I buy them through this other good deal, and he'll take another $500 off if I pay with cash/check.

I'm not quite serious about the larger purchase yet, but any input on whether to snag a good deal on a pair of KS525THX's...

And I'm not quite familiar with their role - can they serve as stereo speakers for the time being, and other speakers chosen later to complete for movies?

 

[3db]

Just curious, what other THX speakers have you reviewed

The Klipsch THX Ultra II speakers just started shipping last year. These are not the same as the old Klipsch THX speakers based on the pro audio models.
IMOHO the Klipsch THX Ultra II speakers are the best THX speakers on the market. If you are looking for a speaker system and your listening habits lean more towards home theater, this system should be on your very short list.

I have installed this system in various configurations over the last year or so
The system sounds awesome in just about any room you install it in regardless of size and acoustical characteristics. The Klipsch THX Ultra II system is an over achiever that will blow you mind

recently that you can draw this kind of conclusion?

 

[RLA]

recently that you can draw this kind of conclusion

Lets see, I think it would be easier if I said in the last 18 years installing both commercial and residential systems I cant think of a THX system I haven't installed. One of the first THX systems I can remember selling and installing residentially was the Boston Acoustics 575 THX back in 1994 or 1995 with a Pioneer Laser disk player and Technics THX receiver.

As for brands I have installed both in home and in commercial applications

M&K,Jamo,Atlantic Tech( The system 200 in 1995 the first) Snell,JBL,Sonance,
Triad,Altec Lancing,Boston,Genelec and B&W.

 

[Guavamanh]

Finally!

Sadly you'll be waiting awhile. I listened to them when DD 5.1 was big poo, and the speakers haven't really changed much since then (besides now having the 6th and 7th speakers).

Yes I did end up waiting a while... these posts were in 2006... its 5 years later and I just got my Ultra2 speakers 3 months ago, and they ROCK! =)

 

[dapack69]

Congrats on the purchase.

 

[Guavamanh]

Diana Krall - Live in Paris DVD

Just watched/listened to the Diana Krall DVD today... video was meh, but I think I just had my first OMG music moment with these speakers/setup. I've been previously blown away with the sound from BR movies, and pretty happy with music, but this DVD really showcased the speakers really well. I can actually hear a lot of the textures of the instruments/sound. I can hear her breathing and the band saying stuff in the background... feels like I'm in the middle of it all! amazing!!!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Yes I did end up waiting a while... these posts were in 2006... its 5 years later and I just got my Ultra2 speakers 3 months ago, and they ROCK! =)

This is what I call time proven excellence