Klipsch Bar 40 soundbar review

Klipsch Bar 40 sound bar

Retail price $299.99

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“Klipsch’s Bar 40 looks as good as it sounds and that says a lot.”

Advantage

• Impressive clarity and detail

• Fashion Designer

• Real MDF cabinet

• Simple setup and usability

• Installation kit and all cables included

Defect

• There are no additional HDMI ports or DTS decoding

• Lack of EQ options can lead to balance issues

• Surround sound mode makes the sound too sharp

Klipsch has launched its soundbar lineup this year, introducing five new soundbar models for 2019, along with a new WiSA wireless surround sound setup and even a pair of completely wireless headphones (no No wonder from Klipsch) for great sound.

The first of the new bars to arrive on our doorstep is also the most affordable, the $300 Bar 40. Despite the lack of extras, the Bar 40 offers a sexy new look, impressively detailed sound and a slim and decorative wood frame. The frame gives a luxurious feel while still appealing to those looking to save money when purchasing a soundbar.

Dehorn

Right out of the box, the Bar 40 makes a splash, with a pair of muscular Tractrix Horns (a signature Klipsch design highlight) surrounding a sleek fabric-covered center piece made of MDF. instead of plastic. Polished aluminum panels at the top complete the package for a striking look that remains unimpressive in most settings. In a segment where every new model seems to be racing towards design anonymity, it’s a refreshing change.

The cube-shaped wireless subwoofer is less noisy from an aesthetic standpoint, but I was happy to see that its 6.5-inch sound-dampening driver is also housed in an MDF cabinet in place of the usual plastic enclosure. . In fact, the last time I remember seeing a soundbar in this price range that wasn’t almost entirely covered in plastic was Pioneer’s SP-SB23W from 2013. I was just a kid at the time. But I digress.

Dan Baker/Digital Trends

You know, the sparkling crystal white LED up front provides a basic display, although we can’t help but wonder if the bar’s top display – which provides more detailed signals like indicates when Surround or Dialogue mode is activated – will be better directed or not, somewhere you can see it.

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Also along the top panel are basic controls to complement the slim infrared remote control. Said remote (which looks a lot like the one included with KEF’s LS50 Wireless speakers) offers intuitive access to the subwoofer and volume controls, Bluetooth pairing and playback, even a Dedicated key to dim those white-hot LEDs up front.

(Quick note: Along with the aesthetic similarities, in a much weirder coincidence, I noticed that switching the power on the Bar 40 also somehow caused the KEF LS50 speakers to turn on and off. It’s a wild world out there.)

As mentioned, the excellently designed Bar 40 has fewer features than I expected at its price. The system offers a rich collection of inputs, including HDMI ARC, Optical, 3.5mm and Bluetooth streaming, and even a subwoofer output so you can vary your choices. about wired accessories. But unlike some of our favorite bars in its class, including Yamaha’s aging YAS-207, there’s no separate HDMI input. That means not only will you be completely reliant on your TV to decode audio for gaming, Blu-ray, and streaming devices, but you’ll also lose the precious HDMI input on your TV if you connect via HDMI ARC.

Speaking of audio decoding, the Bar 40 only supports basic Dolby and Dolby Digital Plus, no DTS decoding at all. That’s another surprise, especially considering that the aforementioned YAS-207 offers both Dolby and DTS decoding, and even adds DTS Virtual:X for a wider soundstage across both the vertical and horizontal planes. horizontal. In fact, even Vizio’s $160 SB3621n soundbar comes with the latter features, though to be fair, we’ve never been crazy about the level that DTS Virtual:X brings to the sound. high solution.

Right out of the box, the Bar 40 oozes style.

Klipsch’s Bar 48, also newly released, comes with Dolby decoding as well as DTS, DTS-HD and DTS Virtual:X, which gives me the feeling that Klipsch is reserving some pretty big VIP extras for the system. dominate his $500.

For its part, the Bar 40 has a basic surround mode that widens the stereo soundstage, as well as a Dialogue mode for some extra midrange sounds and a Night mode to cool down the bass when young. I collide. However, it’s about adjusting the sound, there’s no EQ or default sound modes like Music or Movie. I liked the ease of adjusting the subwoofer level for balance, but I found myself having to rely on it quite a bit when switching between sources.

Recapturing that luxurious feel, within the bar’s wooden shell are dual fiber woofers along with dual tweeters on either side powered via Klipsch’s signature Tractrix Horn, which helps shape the frequencies for impressive accuracy.

Easy setup

I was pleased to discover the Bar 40 comes with everything needed for easy setup, including a mounting kit and a high-speed HDMI cable to connect to the TV’s HDMI ARC input – the latter even also missing LG’s $1,000 SL9YG. After connecting the bar to your TV’s HDMI ARC port and plugging in the power cord, the bar is ready to go.

ARC is the preferred connection, allowing you to control basic soundbar functions like volume and power with your TV’s remote (as long as you’ve enabled CEC in your TV settings). That means I couldn’t turn the Bar 40 on or off with the TCL 6-series TV remote used in testing. I contacted Klipsch, which offers a simple fix in the form of a firmware update, but since the stick doesn’t provide an Internet connection, you have to do this manually using the drive flash. Newer units will ship with the update.

The bar also worked fine for volume and power with the Sony TV remote in our office test room without an update, so this could just be a TCL issue. Communication between the TV and soundbar can often be difficult, and as a backup, Klipsch also offers a way to manually program most TV remotes to control the basics.

Efficiency

Named for its 40-inch size, the long Bar 40 impresses as soon as you turn it on, delivering a wide soundstage and rich, detailed sound in the midrange and treble. In fact, I found myself marveling at the bar’s keen attention to the most subtle moments, from the Dora Milaje’s shining spears in Black Panther to gentle lip movements in dialogue in sitcoms such as Office And Parks and recreation. To be sure, this system is an immediate step up from your TV, delivering crisp and clear dialogue in almost every scene.

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The meticulous handling of the upper frequencies also responds well to music, especially the trumpets, which are expressed with a sweetness that seems to vibrate gently in your ears with a smooth resonance. The guitars and synths are also quite well done, with clarity that elevates the sound on your average soundbar at this price. Chemical Brothers’ Escape speed gave a particularly striking example of the Bar 40’s clear and precise upper register.

Surround sound mode adds a cold tone to effects like explosions and gunshots.

Performance-wise, it’s not entirely compelling, with my main gripes stemming from basic balance issues when trying to wring more power from cinematic moments. Sound has tended to get sharper in the higher ranges, and in action movies it’s immediately apparent that Surround mode produces upper midrange effects, especially explosions and gunfire. , with an added layer of icy sound without. suits my ears. Like most 2.1 soundbars, it doesn’t feel much more immersive.

The return to stereo made for a much smoother experience, but I still wished for more emphasis in the midrange during climactic scenes, which became a tug-of-war between low frequencies is somewhat limited from the mini subwoofer and the brighter moments come to the fore. Again, a little basic balance can go a long way across the board, both in terms of musical and cinematic content.

However, finding the right location for the subwoofer ironed out the kinks, and I was able to get some excellent (if somewhat limited) sound for all sources with just a little effort.

Guarantee

Klipsch warranties its soundbar for one year on electronics and three years on the subwoofer, cabinet, and non-electrical mechanics. You can learn more at the company’s website.

ours

Like a Lexus from a rental shop, Klipsch’s Bar 40 doesn’t have many extras but does look and feel luxurious, offering good performance and a sleek design that’s worth considering for those who want to enhance their TV sound in style.

Is there a better option?

At $300, Yamaha’s YAS-207 remains our favorite soundbar when it comes to stretching your money. It offers a welcome combination of solid performance, simple design and loads of features, albeit in a much less stylish package. Then again, it’s a soundbar.

At $350, Yamaha’s YAS-209 (review coming soon) also adds Alexa to the loaded package to take things even further. You can also find many other affordable soundbars that deliver solid performance for under $300, including Vizio’s new SB3621n-GB soundbar. Honestly, the mid-range to mid-range soundbar market is full of options, so the Bar 40 was left out.

How long will it last?

With a well-built MDF cabinet and relatively modern features like HDMI ARC connectivity, the Klipsch Bar 40 will last as long as you need it to.

Should you buy it?

If you’re looking for taught detail and a little more style than your average bar – and you don’t mind dropping features like an extra HDMI port and DTS decoding – then Klipsch’s Bar 40 is definitely worth it. consider.

Editor’s recommendation

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Category: Optical Illusion