klipsch Cinema 800 vs 1200: Comparative Review

The Klipsch cinema 1200 is the upgraded version of Klipsch cinema 800. It is better for movies and sports. Its 5.1.4 arrangement performs well in Atmos as well as surround sound. Interestingly, downmixing to stereo is not even required here. Plus, its stereo frequency response is excellent! The 800, however, has a better impartial sound profile right from the get-go. Still the bass heavy tones along with a great number of enhancement features of  Klipsch cinema 1200 makes the overall audio more thud and powerful.

Pros

  • Well built
  • EQ settings and presets
  • Expandable with surrounds
  • 8k passthrough
  • Multiroom audio via Chromecast

Cons

  • No up-firing drivers

Pros

  • HDMI 2.1
  • Wireless setup
  • Sturdy build
  • 8k passthrough
  • Immersive sound

Cons

  • No room calibration feature

Advance Comparison

Model

Klipsch Cinema 800 Dolby Atmos 3.1 Sound Bar

Klipsch Cinema 1200 Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 Soundbar

Brand Name

Klipsch

Klipsch

Rating
Mixed Usage
7.8
8.0
SOUND QUALITY
8.7
8.4
BASS ACCURACY :
8.5
8.5
AUDIO & VIDEO LATENCY:
8.7
9
AUDIO ENHANCEMENT FEATURES:
6.5
7.3
BUILD QUALITY :
6.5
7
GENERAL
Number of Channel
3.1 Channel
5.1.4 Channel
Placement Type
Wall-mountable
Wall-mountable
Connectivity Type
Both (Wired & Wireless)
Both (Wired & Wireless)
Subwoofer Feature
Separate Subwoofer
Built-in Subwoofer
Rear Speaker
N/A
N/A
Central Channel Speaker
N/A
Yes
Audio Enhancement Features
Yes
Yes
HDMI input/output
Yes
Yes
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
Yes
Yes
Loudness
High Volume ( > 92db )
High Volume ( > 92db )
Warranty
12 months Months
12 months Months
Connectivity:
Digital Optical Audio Input ( Toslink )
1 Optical Audio Input
1 Optical Audio Input
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
1 (shared)
HDMI Output
1 (shared)
1 (shared)
Full HDMI Input
2 HDMI Input
2 HDMI Input
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
1
1
RCA Ports
No
No
USB Port
None
None
Ethernet Jack
Yes
Yes
Audio Quality ( Tested )
Dialogue & Vocal Accuracy
Frequency deviation from target is less than standard error (3.4 dB ); which means soundbar is very good to reproduce dialog and instrumental music
Frequency deviation is more than standard deviation (3.4 dB). But fair enough for small room.)
Bass Accuracy ( for music, film scores, movies, and games)
Soundbar 's Low-Frequency-Extension is less than 35 Hz. Which means It can reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass accurately.
Soundbar 's Low-Frequency-Extension is less than 35 Hz. Which means It can reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass accurately.
3- Dimensional Sound Accuracy ( Sound Stage)
audio seems to be coming from a more accurate pinpoint location
audio seems to be coming from a more accurate pinpoint location
Total Harmonic Distortion ( Center Channel )
It has dedicated center channel speaker and Total Harmonic Distortion of center channel @80dB is less than standard value(>0.7). So soundbar produce more clear and accurate audio of the dialogue in movies.
It has dedicated center channel speaker and Total Harmonic Distortion of center channel @80dB is less than standard value(>0.7). So soundbar produce more clear and accurate audio of the dialogue in movies.
Surround Sound Imaging ( Rear Channel )
No dedicated or alternative channel for surround content. So it downmixes surround content to stereo.
No dedicated rear channel (7.1 channel) but surround content produced by side-firing speakers on the bar is quite impressive and sounds seem to be coming from above you, behind you and on the sides.
Streo Dynamics ( Loudness ):
Dynamic Range Compression @ Max Volume is less than standard deviation (<2 dB) and maximum valume is less then 92 dB SPL
Dynamic Range Compression @ Max Volume is less than standard deviation (<2 dB) and maximum valume is less then 92 dB SPL
Audio & Video Latency
Here no visible latency via ARC (ARC @ 33 ms) and Optical (5 ms) but visuals difference may found via Full HDMI Input (91 ms).
Here no visible latency via ARC (29 ms) and Optical (25 ms) but visuals difference may found via Full HDMI Input (36 ms).
Audio Enhancement Features:
Digital Room Correction:
N/A
N/A
Auto Volume Adjustment/ Night Mode:
Yes
Equilizer Options:
Graphic + Presets
Graphic + Presets
Bass Adjustment ( Thump & Punch of sound)
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustent ( Brightness and Clarity od Audio)
Yes
Yes
Surround Level Adjustment:
N/A
Yes
Virtual Surround Effect:
N/A
N/A
Supported Audio Format ( HDMI ARC)
eARC Standard
Yes
Yes
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Yes
Dolby Digital
Yes
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
Yes
DTS
N/A
N/A
DTS: X
N/A
N/A
Dolby True HD ( eARC only )
Yes
Yes
DTS- HD MA (eARC only)
N/A
N/A
5.1 PCM ( eARC only )
Yes
Yes
Supported Audio Format (Full HDMI In' port ):
Dolby Atmos :
Yes
Yes
DTS:X :
N/A
N/A
Dolby Digital :
Yes
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus:
Yes
Yes
DTS :
N/A
N/A
Dolby TrueHD :
Yes
Yes
DTS-HD MA :
N/A
N/A
5.1 PCM
Yes
Yes
Audio Format Support ( Optical Port ):
Dolby Digital :
Yes
Yes
DTS :
N/A
N/A
Build Material
Enclosure
Sealed(bar),Ported(sub)
Sealed(bar),Ported(sub)
Finish
Soundbar is mostly made of plastic and subwoofer is mostly made of wood.
The bar and the satellites is made plastic. The sub is mostly made wood.
Color
Black
Black
Soundbar Width
47.8
54.1
Soundbar Height
2.8
3.0
Soundbar Depth
3.3
6.2
Subwoofer Width
14.3
15.6
Subwoofer Depth
14.3
15.6
Drivers Specs
Tweeter Size and Type :
1
1
Midrange Size & Types:
None
2
Woofer Size & Type :
3
3
Subwoofer Driver
10
10

Comparatives Review


klipsch Cinema 800 vs 1200: Side by Side Comparison

Here,  I will compare and analyze different features of klipsch Cinema 800 and klipsch Cinema1200.

Design:

The Klipsch cinema 1200 shares a similar design with the other cinema line-up which includes the Klipsch cinema 800 as well. They are made largely of plastic and the majority of their body is draped in fabric. They also have visible horns at the edge of the bar. Moreover, their subs are made of wood and look similar.

Plus, the Klipsch cinema 1200 comes with satellites but the 800 doesn’t. The overall dimension of  1200 is wider than 800, yet both of them do not probably fit between the legs of a big TV.

Build Quality:

The build quality Klipsch 1200 is fair. Both its bar and satellites are made primarily of plastic, albeit it doesn't seem very high-end.  In contrast to the Klipsch Cinema 800, this bar feels a little bit more substantial. The device is primarily built of wood, giving it a substantial feel.

That said, despite being primarily composed of plastic, the Klipsch 800 doesn't look high-end. The cloth covering of the bar looks like it might easily rip or gather dust. Moreover, the USB ports for maintaining the bar as well as connecting more speakers are accessible through a detachable panel on the bar’s right side. The sub, however, is primarily composed of wood, which makes it very sturdy.

Nevertheless, the build quality of Klipsch cinema 1200 is better.

Sound Quality:

Sound is a very important thing to consider  while making a  purchase. So, we will be dividing their audio quality into some sectors and then find out which one is better.

Stereo Frequency Response:

As mentioned earlier, the stereo frequency response is an excellent feature of the Klipsch Cinema 1200.   In moments with a lot of action, one can experience the rumbling. The controlled mid-range, nevertheless reproduces dialogue as well as lead instruments rather effectively. However, some listeners might find the additional bass a little too much to handle. While experimenting, we also found a gap in a few frequencies. To aid with these problems, one can either drop the volume to sub level or change the mode to night, which lowers the dynamic range of the sub.

The result is also good for Klipsch 800. One can enjoy a wide variety of music, thanks to its balanced and neutral audio profile. It can precisely capture the low-deep bass's punch and thunder. A visual EQ is one of the sound improvement elements available to help the listeners alter the sound. However, the bass feels more accurate in Klipsch 1200, so it wins.

Sound Dynamics:

The Klipsch 1200 performs impressively in terms of stereo dynamics. The bar can easily fill a big area with its loud music. Since there isn't much compression at maximum volume, therefore, the sound quality shouldn't deteriorate when the volume is raised.

On the other hand, the Klipsch 800 performs stereo dynamics quite well, but it is less louder than Klipsch cinema 1200.

Soundstage:

The soundstage on Klipsch 1200 is good. The bar is fairly large, but sadly, there are no techniques to make it appear wider than that. However, because of its sharp focus, the sound of objects like vehicles appear to be moving past you quickly and precisely.

Moving on, the soundstage performance is better in Klipsch 800. Despite having no techniques to make it appear broader than that, the soundstage is regarded as being as large as the soundbar itself. Interestingly, due to its sharp focus, sounds like voices appear to originate from a precise, recognizable place in the audio image.

Connectivity:

Using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, you may wirelessly stream music to the Klipsch Cinema 1200 as well as in Klipsch 800. Even though Chromecast compatibility is built-in, it is not really immediately accessible. Plus, the users need to configure the google home app to avail the Chromecast's built-in functionality.

The Klipsch 1200 and 800 supports dolby digital. Additionally, systems like Dolby Atmos that are object-based and uncompressed are also supported by this device.

Nevertheless, Klipsch doesn't support DTS:X or DTS content, this may surprise certain consumers. So, in terms of connectivity, it's a tie.

Other Features:

There is a respectable range of sound improvement abilities on the Klipsch 1200 soundbar. Availability of several EQ presets like, 'Music', 'Game', 'Movie', 'Party', etc makes it more impressive.To adjust the volume of the speakers in your sound, you can switch between three distinct dialogue styles using the remote or its app. Additionally, one can use them to change the mode along with brightness. Isn’t it handy?

However, there is a drawback. The klipsch 1200 has no room correction option, which is why the sound of the bar may vary slightly depending on the environment.

The Klipsch cinema 800, on the other hand, also offers a decent array of sound-improving features. It  offers 3 EQ presets along with  three-band graphic EQ that one may use to alter the sound. Plus, for the movie lovers who prefer watching at night, this device shuts the woofer and lowers the dynamic range, which is very helpful.   But, if you compare, the features are lesser than Klipsch 1200.

Final verdict:

Both the devices from Klipsch come with solid structure along with detailed sound. For music, movies or modern home theater both Klipsch cinema 1200 and Klipsch cinema 800 are a good option.

We have highlighted and compared their features in the above. Ultimately, your priorities will play a big part in deciding which device is best for you.

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