The Klipsch Cinema 1200: Powerful Performance Marred by Persisting Problems
Introduction
Home theater enthusiasts seeking top-tier sound often turn to respected audio brands like Klipsch, known for delivering premium products with powerful, immersive audio. The Klipsch Cinema 1200, a high-end 5.1.4 channel soundbar system complete with a 12" wireless subwoofer and surround speakers, promises to bring professional cinema acoustics right into your living room.
With 1200W of peak power, proprietary horn-loaded tweeters, and Dolby Atmos decoding, the Cinema 1200 aims to be the ultimate luxury soundbar for movies, music, and gaming. However, despite its impressive specs on paper, this $1500 system has garnered numerous complaints from disappointed buyers. From connectivity woes to sound quality quirks to frustrating firmware updates, the Cinema 1200‘s real-world performance has proven problematic for many.
In this article, we‘ll take an in-depth look at the 8 most common complaints users have about Klipsch‘s flagship soundbar. We‘ll examine each issue in detail, assess how much it impacts the user experience, and determine whether the Cinema 1200 can justify its premium price in spite of its shortcomings.
Complaint #1: Missing support for popular audio formats
One of the most notable omissions in the Cinema 1200 is the lack of support for DTS audio formats like DTS:X and DTS-HD Master Audio. These object-based surround sound technologies, comparable to Dolby Atmos, are found on many Blu-rays and streaming platforms. By not decoding these formats, the Cinema 1200 limits its compatibility with some audio sources and doesn‘t provide the full scope of surround sound.
While the soundbar does handle standard Dolby formats like Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, the lack of DTS support puts the Cinema 1200 behind many other premium soundbars that offer more comprehensive audio format support. For a soundbar targeting audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts, this oversight is hard to overlook.
Complaint #2: Limited connectivity options
The connection ports on the Cinema 1200 are surprisingly limited for a soundbar in its class. There‘s only a single HDMI input to connect audio sources like streaming devices or game consoles. This may be adequate for simple setups, but doesn‘t provide much flexibility for systems with multiple HDMI components. You‘ll likely need to route everything through your TV and then to the soundbar via HDMI-ARC.
Another drawback is the lack of Wi-Fi and ethernet connectivity. The Cinema 1200 supports Bluetooth for wireless music streaming, but doesn‘t have Wi-Fi for connecting to your home network and streaming audio directly from online music services. Many other soundbars offer Wi-Fi and built-in support for Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, etc. The Cinema 1200‘s simple Bluetooth-only wireless puts it a step behind the competition here.
Complaint #3: Too pricey for the performance
Perhaps the biggest sticking point for many buyers is whether the Klipsch Cinema 1200 provides sufficient value to justify its hefty $1500 retail price. There‘s no denying this is a premium-tier soundbar and it offers a lot of power and features. However, many users feel it falls short of delivering the pristine, best-in-class audio one would expect at this price point.
Lackluster sound quality is one of the most common complaints, with many noting that the default tuning is bass-heavy to a fault. The subwoofer often overpowers the other channels, drowning out midrange and vocals. The soundbar lacks built-in EQ settings to adjust the balance. There are also no room correction features to optimize the sound for your space.
While the Cinema 1200 is expandable with discrete surround speakers, the lack of format support and connectivity may limit its appeal for an endgame home theater system in this price tier. There are several other high-end soundbars from brands like Samsung, LG, and Sonos that offer similar core specs and more well-rounded features for the same cost or less. The value proposition just doesn‘t quite add up for the Cinema 1200.
Complaint #4: Flawed sound quality
As touched on above, sound quality grievances are rampant for the Cinema 1200. The 12" wireless subwoofer has a thumping, bass-forward sound profile by default. For bass lovers this will be a treat, but many find it overwhelms the other frequencies, leading to a boomy, muddy sound without clear dialogue. Even reducing the subwoofer volume doesn‘t fully resolve the imbalance.
There‘s also a surprising lack of sound adjustment options for a flagship soundbar. There are no EQ presets or ways to fine-tune the channel levels individually. You‘re largely stuck with the out-of-the-box tuning. The Cinema 1200 supports Dolby Atmos surround sound, but many users feel the dynamic range and 3D immersion falls short of expectations. Overall, the sound is powerful but unrefined – lacking the nuance and clarity that audiophiles crave.
Complaint #5: Clunky setup and software
The Cinema 1200 has elicited many complaints about the initial setup process and the software powering the system. Many users had a clunky experience trying to get the soundbar, subwoofer, and surround speakers synced and calibrated properly. The included remote is basic and not always responsive.
More concerningly, the system seems quite buggy, with users reporting various glitches like losing sound, sudden volume changes, audio cutting out, and lip sync issues. Klipsch has released several firmware updates to try to address the problems. However, the update process itself is unintuitive, requiring a USB drive and manual download, with unclear instructions.
Some issues persist even after firmware updates. Connecting to certain TVs and audio sources can be hit or miss. Many complain the Cinema 1200 has trouble waking up properly and doesn‘t always automatically switch to the active input. Overall, the software doesn‘t feel rock solid, adding an element of frustration to daily use.
Complaint #6: Connection dropouts and glitches
Building off the last point, many Cinema 1200 owners have faced a myriad of connectivity and stability issues. Wireless dropouts between the subwoofer, surrounds, and soundbar are a particular nuisance. Audio will cut out randomly, requiring a manual reboot of the system. The subwoofer seems prone to losing connection and entering standby at inopportune times.
HDMI handshake issues are also quite common. The soundbar may fail to recognize input signals or pass video through properly to the TV. Changing sources can result in black screens, forcing restarts of all devices. Lip sync problems and brief audio dropouts are frequently cited too. While many of these issues can be fixed eventually through trial and error, it‘s a far cry from the seamless plug-and-play experience one should expect from a $1500 system.
Complaint #7: Disappointing durability
Klipsch has long been known for well-built, durable speakers, which makes the build quality complaints about the Cinema 1200 all the more disheartening. Several users have reported concerning manufacturing defects and quality control issues.
Some units have arrived with cosmetic damage like dented grilles, chipped corners, and scuffs on the aluminum accents right out of the box. There are reports of the LED display screens on the soundbar glitching out or failing entirely. The wireless speakers and subwoofer also don‘t feel as substantial or well-braced as one would expect at this price. A few unlucky buyers have had the subwoofer blow out within a year of normal use.
The general sentiment is that the Cinema 1200‘s build doesn‘t inspire confidence in its long-term durability, lacking the heft and reliable feel Klipsch is known for. When spending this much on a soundbar, you‘d hope it is engineered to last through years of steady use, but the Cinema 1200‘s occasional manufacturing woes leave that in doubt.
Complaint #8: Unhelpful customer support
Exacerbating all of the Cinema 1200‘s quirks and quality control woes, many buyers have had unsatisfactory experiences trying to get support from Klipsch. The company doesn‘t have the most accessible support system, with slow response times and inconsistent troubleshooting advice.
Several buyers had to deal with long delays trying to get a response from Klipsch support when reporting serious issues with their soundbar, with a few never receiving a reply at all. Many feel Klipsch is too slow to acknowledge known problems and release fixes. Even when firmware updates and replacement units are issued, the process is not as seamless as it could be.
For such a premium-priced product, you‘d hope Klipsch would offer white-glove support to address any problems quickly. However, the current support apparatus leaves many feeling frustrated and unheard, souring their long-term experience with the brand.
Conclusion: Hard to recommend at full price
After evaluating the scope and severity of the common complaints about the Klipsch Cinema 1200, it‘s difficult to give it a hearty recommendation to anyone but the most ardent Klipsch fans. There‘s no denying the raw power of the system, but the compromises and glitches detract heavily from the value proposition at its $1500 MSRP.
The lack of DTS support, limited connectivity, and paucity of audio adjustments make it less versatile than other soundbars in its class. The boomy, sometimes muddy sound doesn‘t quite live up to audiophile expectations. The clunky firmware, glitchy operation, and suspect build quality also give pause. Normally, stellar support could smooth over some flaws, but Klipsch‘s sometimes lacking customer care compounds the frustrations.
Ultimately, most buyers will be better served saving a few hundred dollars and opting for a more reliable, well-rounded alternative like the Samsung HW-Q950T, LG SN11RG, or Sonos Arc. They offer similar core specs and more refined performance for less.
That said, if you can snag the Cinema 1200 refurbished or on sale for under $1000, it may be worth a shot if you love Klipsch‘s signature sound and don‘t mind tinkering with the system to get it dialed in just right. Just be prepared to deal with potential connection quirks, bass-heavy sonics, and lackluster support if any issues arise.
As Klipsch‘s current flagship soundbar, we really wanted to love the Cinema 1200. It gets more right than it gets wrong, but the persistent complaints tarnish its reputation as a premium product. With some more robust connectivity, better sound balance, and more stable firmware, it could be a real winner. As it stands, it‘s hard to justify the $1500 splurge unless you‘re a diehard Klipsch devotee who craves a bass-heavy Dolby Atmos experience and is willing to spend time troubleshooting any issues.
