Klipsch HD Theater 500 (Black)

5.1-channel black home theater speaker system

544187918

Complete your home theater experience with full 5.1-channel surround sound from the Klipsch HD Theater 500 home theater speaker package. Five satellite speakers deliver clear, detailed dialogue and effects thanks to 0.75" tweeters with Micro Tractrix horns and 2.5" mid-range drivers. The 8" front-firing 100W subwoofer with bass-reflex enclosure serves up bass audio you can both hear and feel. This Klipsch system is ideal for medium-sized rooms with flat panel HDTVs.

Black, shown without speaker grilles

The other half

Hearing a movie's audio might be optional when we're talking about an in-flight movie, but when it comes to movies at home, the home theater experience is equal parts video and audio. Now that you've invested in a new flat-panel HDTV, it's time to complement your advanced viewing experience with rich, full, detailed audio. The HD Theater 500 home theater speaker system combines five two-way satellite speakers with a 100W powered subwoofer to fill your living room with sound-track-enhancing 5.1-channel surround sound. The formula is simple: video + audio = the complete home theater experience.

Compact body, room-filling sound

In any 5.1-channel speaker system, the center-channel and satellite speakers are responsible for delivering a movie soundtrack's dialogue and surround sound special effects. Each of the HD Theater 500's identical center-channel and satellite speakers combines a 1" aluminum-dome tweeter with two 2.5" fiber-composite mid-range drivers for surround sound effects with full, detailed high- and mid-frequency performance. Further, Micro Tractrix horn technology brings added brightness and realism to the tweeters' high-frequency reproduction.

Audio you can hear and feel

Mathematically, the little ".1" in the term "5.1-channel home speaker system" might seem insignificant. When it comes to the home theater experience, however, that little decimal makes an immeasurable difference. If you've never felt your recliner or couch shudder while watching your favorite action movie, you don't have a subwoofer. The low-frequency audio reproduced by a home theater system's subwoofer completes a home theater experience with full, deep bass audio that you can both hear and feel. Adding controlled, high-performance bass to your movie night, the HD Theater 500's subwoofer combines 100W of built-in amplification, a 8" down-firing fiber-composite driver, and a front-ported bass-reflex enclosure that is ideal for installation in cabinets.

The scoop on Tractrix

The hallmark of Klipsch speakers is their bright, realistic sound, and that can be credited to the patented Tractrix Horn. The Tractrix Horn's carefully calculated flare dramatically increases driver efficiency, allowing production of very high sound levels with minimal amplifier power and no strain or distortion. It also controls the sound's directivity, ensuring excellent coverage of the listening area while minimizing detail-obscuring reflections off of walls, floor, and ceiling. Fed by a smooth, accurate titanium-dome tweeter, the Tractrix Horn is the key to the vibrantly realistic, emotionally compelling Klipsch Sound Experience. The new 90° by 40° MicroTractrix Horn used in this HD Theater 500 speaker package incorporates the advances of Klipsch's Tractrix Horn technology in it's most compact application ever. Integrated into the front baffle to minimize diffraction, the horn delivers high output, low distortion, broad dynamics and, most importantly, true Klipsch sonic character.

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Awesome 5.1 Speakers (June 19, 2010)

Ease of Use		(4/5.0)
Value		(5/5.0)
Performance		(5/5.0)
Overall Rating		(5/5.0)

Reviewed By: Ian M. - Lexington Park, MD

I upgraded everything last January before the Super Bowl. I chose these speakers because of their reputation, the performance I heard in an electronics store, and because I have a 16-month old. I wanted speakers I could mount to the wall, out of his way. Installation was fairly easy. Though, I do wish they came with mounting screws and binding post wire connectors. Spring-clip wire connectors are used. For the price, this setup gives great sound and bass throughout the frequency ranges, and this with 16-gauge wire. I showed my father-in-law the speakers and he was rather impressed after being initially skeptical about their power and sound. He loves his electronics and is used to floor tower speakers in a 5.1. setup. I have also been rather impressed with the subs performance.

Great sound (March 17, 2010)

Ease of Use		(5/5.0)
Value		(4/5.0)
Performance		(4/5.0)
Overall Rating		(4/5.0)

Reviewed By: David C. - Vacaville, CA

Very powerful sound from such little speakers. These are definitely worth the money.

A sound purchase (February 12, 2010)

Ease of Use		(5/5.0)
Value		(4/5.0)
Performance		(4/5.0)
Overall Rating		(4/5.0)

Reviewed By: Colin M. - Snoqualmie, WA

We checked these out at a local audio store, along with a bunch of receivers.

Essentially the decision to get these was due to a better range of sound than others in a similar price. Coupled along with a decent receiver Pioneer VSX-1019AH-K these speakers give a great sound for movies, music and TV.

The supplied brackets are too basic - you can only move in one plane at a time, i.e. you can tilt them updown or leftright, but not both. Because of this we have had to get different mounts.

Comparison Specifications

Recommended amplifier power (sat/cent): Up to 100W/channel
Satellite speakers: Four identical 2-way speakers
Center speaker: One 2-way speaker / magnetically shielded
Subwoofer: 8" down-firing fiber-composite cone driver / 100W built-in Class D amplification

Additional Specifications

Satellite/center drivers (each): One 0.75" aluminum-dome tweeter with MicroTractrix horn / Two 2.5" IMG midrange drivers
Satellite enclosure: ABS plastic / closed
Satellite bandwidth: 150Hz - 20kHz
Satellite recommended amplifier power: Up to 100W each
Subwoofer enclosure: Vinyl-wrapped MDF / bass-reflex via rear-firing port
Subwoofer bandwidth: 36Hz - 200Hz
Subwoofer level control: Rear-panel-mounted potentiometer
Subwoofer crossover control: Variable / 60Hz - 200Hz
Subwoofer phase control: Switch / 0° or 180°
System: 36Hz - 20kHz frequency response / 112dB peak sensitivity

Manufacturer Specifications

Satellite mounting: Speakers include 1/4-20 inserts for stand or wall-bracket mounting
Satellite finish: High-gloss black
Subwoofer finish: Black pica vinyl
Center channel includes cradle base