Today, we’re revealing the biggest complaints about the Klipsch Cinema 1200.
The Klipsch Cinema 1200 is a high-end soundbar that delivers an immersive and detailed audio experience to your home media setup. Thanks to its 5.1.4-channel setup and a dedicated subwoofer with a thumping bass-heavy sound profile, it’s a great TV soundbar for both movies and gaming.
However, as with any A/V product, there are some drawbacks to consider before purchasing. In this article, we’ll be going over a brief review of the Klipsch Cinema 1200 and cover its biggest issues, including the relatively high price-to-performance ratio, limited audio format support, and limited connectivity options.
Let’s break it down.
What is the Klipsch Cinema 1200?
- 54-inch soundbar
- Full 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos decoding
- Wireless rear surround speakers included (Klipsch RSS3)
- HDMI-eARC
- 1200W peak power
Before we get into the biggest complaints about the Klipsch Cinema 1200, let’s talk about what this system actually is.
The Klipsch Cinema 1200 is not the smallest soundbar system; its dimensions prove that. It is a 53” wide, 2.8” tall, and 5.8” deep soundbar with an elegant brushed black metal finish.
It also includes a well-designed wireless subwoofer, 13.5” tall, 10.5” wide, and 16” deep, and wireless surround speakers.
This 5.1.4-channel configuration soundbar system, equipped with proprietary horn-loaded tweeters and Tractrix ports, offers ample volume for demanding audio sources, delivering accurate, nuanced sound with minimal distortion. All from a power output of 1200 watts.
Its design makes it a tempting choice for a home theater setup. You get a lot of power and a decent set of features. Not to mention the subwoofer is wireless, so you can place it anywhere in your room.
Still, not every home theater system is perfect. Let’s see what buyers have been complaining about the most.
Complaint #1: Lack of DTS and Other Audio Format Support
Most notably, the soundbar lacks support from certain audio formats, such as DTS-HD Master Audio (MA) and Dolby TrueHD, limiting the soundbar’s compatibility with some audio sources.
Additionally, there are limited room correction features in the Cinema 1200, meaning your performance may vary depending on the acoustics of the room you’re using it in.
DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD are popular high-definition audio codecs that are commonly found on Blu-ray discs and some streaming platforms such as the Criterion Channel. They provide lossless audio compression to deliver the best possible sound quality and an immersive listening experience when watching movies.
The lack of comprehensive audio format support limits the sound system’s compatibility with various audio sources and doesn’t allow you to experience the full audio fidelity of their movies or content that utilizes the missing audio codecs.
Without DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD, the Cinema 1200 isn’t up to the competition at this price point.
Competing sound bars in this same price range often employ broader audio format support than what we found with the Klipsch Cinema 1200, and while it may not be a deal-breaker for all users, it was too much for us to recommend at the asking price of the Cinema 1200.
Complaint #2: Connectivity Issues
Unfortunately, the Klipsch Cinema 1200 has a limited number of connectivity ports. It comes with only one HDMI input and a single HDMI eARC output. This might be a concern for users who have multiple HDMI sources that would want to connect to the system.
Additionally, the soundbar lacks support for HDR / 4K pass-through. This is a drawback for anyone with a newer TV or the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X consoles.
This means that even if you have an HDR-compatible TV or console, you won’t be able to fully utilize the advanced visual capabilities offered by those devices with this soundbar.
While there’s Bluetooth connectivity available on the Cinema 1200, there are no Wi-Fi or network streaming capabilities. You won’t be able to stream audio directly from online music platforms or integrate the Klipsch Cinema 1200 into multi-room audio systems, limiting its overall versatility and compatibility with modern streaming setups.
Sure, you can still link up Spotify or Apple Music through the host device. But it’s 2023, and we expected convenience to the maximum, especially since this is a fairly new system.
There is, however, support for voice assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. So, at least it has that going for it.
Complaint #3: Price and Value
We can forgive even the most blatant issues if the price is attractive. However, this is where things start to fall apart.
One of the biggest complaints about the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is its lofty MSRP.
At an MSRP of around $1,500, the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is significantly more expensive than other soundbars of its caliber.
While the Cinema 1200 does offer impressive audio quality and a range of features, it’s hard to justify such a high price tag for all but the most dedicated audiophiles.
Even on those terms, the soundbar falls back due to its lack of DTS support and other questionable build quality issues – which we’ll get into in a second.
©OpturaDesign/Shutterstock.com
Complaint #4: Sound Quality and Speaker Volume Adjustability
One major issue raised by many buyers is related to the sound quality of the Klipsch Cinema 1200, particularly in comparison to previous systems from Klipsch. It appears that customers expected a higher quality sound, as they were used to from the brand.
The bass was reportedly overpowering and created an imbalance in sound, often overshadowing the center channel.
Another frequently cited issue was the system’s lack of speaker volume adjustability, which made it difficult for users to modulate sound output according to their preferences.
Complaint #5: Software Issues and Customer Service
Another one of the biggest complaints about the Klipsch Cinema 1200 relates to software issues, particularly with updating the system.
According to the reviews, the process is not as smooth and easy as it should be for a product in this price range. Furthermore, the included phone application offered little help in navigating the system’s functionalities.
This would be manageable if the company offered stellar support. But many buyers have other things to say about the service offered by Klipsch.
The lack of timely and effective customer service responses added to users’ frustrations, leaving them feeling neglected and unsatisfied with their purchases. Some users experienced delays when they reached out for support, whereas others claimed they never received a response at all.
Everyone hates waiting on hold when you’re trying to get help with something you paid good money for.
Now, it won’t be like this all the time. Many buyers did, in fact, experience decent customer support. But, the point is, the company isn’t covering all its bases.
©ronstik/Shutterstock.com
Complaint #6: Performance Instability and Signal Issues
Many users report performance stability issues, including unexpected interruptions in the system’s operation.
For instance, some customers experienced the soundbar abruptly emitting strange, low-volume sounds, requiring them to unplug the system and restart it. In some cases, this issue returned, even after the initial fix.
The soundbar also had problems recognizing signals from connected devices, such as televisions, leading to more restarts. In addition, users mentioned challenges with Bluetooth connectivity, rendering it ineffective for wireless streaming.
Complaint #7: Subpar Build Quality
Despite Klipsch’s reputation for quality and craftsmanship, users expressed dissatisfaction with the build quality of the Cinema 1200.
Specific concerns related to the soundbar’s aesthetic elements, like the rings, coming off easily and the subwoofer cutting out unexpectedly.
Users felt that the sound system didn’t reflect the quality they associate with the Klipsch name. They were left disillusioned by the perceived lack of quality control in this product’s manufacturing process.
Complaint #8: Firmware Update and General User Experience
The frequency of problems resulting in the need for multiple product replacements was a common theme. It appears Klipsch attempted to rectify these issues through firmware updates.
However, these issues were significant enough to sour the general user experience and opinion of the product. Despite some improvement after updates, some users expressed regret over their purchase due to the amount of time spent troubleshooting and seeking resolutions from customer service.
The overall sentiment seems to be that for a product at this price point, customers expected a far more seamless user experience and a sound system that delivered top-quality performance right out of the box.
The Klipsch Cinema 1200: Is It Worth It?
While the Klipsch Cinema 1200 offers impressive features and audio performance, it ultimately falls short of justifying its high price tag.
Despite its sleek design, powerful sound reproduction, and immersive capabilities, the Cinema 1200 has too many notable drawbacks that make it difficult for us to recommend as a worthy investment for most people.
One of our biggest issues with the Cinema 1200 was its steep price. With an MSRP of around $1,5000, this soundbar system enters the price realm of premium offerings.
However, those offerings fall short in relation to the other Klipsch soundbars. While the audio quality is undoubtedly satisfactory, several other more reasonably priced soundbar systems on the market deliver comparable performance and user experience at a similar price.
It might be worth snatching up if you can find the Klipsch Cinema 1200 for less than MSRP. Just make sure you’re ready to deal with potential setbacks.
- 54-inch soundbar
- Full 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos decoding
- Wireless rear surround speakers included (Klipsch RSS3)
- HDMI-eARC
- 1200W peak power
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Inked Pixels/Shutterstock.com.
