Built on the shoulders of giants, literally and figuratively, Klipsch is best known for its legendary founder, Paul Klipsch, and the speaker designs he created with the classic Klipschorn series. Eighty years later, the brand is still known primarily for its “horn-loaded” DNA, and its newest soundbar range has traces of this famed technology. The Flexus Core 300 sits atop a three-strong range of soundbars, which can be expanded into complete surround systems with the optional Flexus wireless subwoofers and surround speakers.
Table of Contents
Design: easy on the eyes (9.5/10)
A perfect aesthetic fit for a 65in TV, the Core 300 is a large and substantial soundbar measuring an expansive 54 inches across, but with a flat-ish profile, it’s easy to place under most TVs on tabletop stands. There are some caveats you’ll have to be aware of, though. As a complete 5.1.2 system, the Flexus Core 300 is Dolby Atmos-enabled, and its side- and top-firing drivers at either end of the chassis will need room to breathe. This isn’t a soundbar you can tuck away in a cabinet to make things look neat. On the contrary, in fact, since it’s beautifully finished in high-quality walnut wood veneer in the centre, aluminium grilles for the top-firing drivers and a fabric front. The blend of materials and craftsmanship will allow it to seamlessly adapt to virtually any kind of decor without sticking out like a sore thumb, despite its sizable width. A wall mounting bracket is available too, should your room decor demand a zero-footprint install.
Tech: speakers galore (8.7/10)
Of course, the primary reason for its generous proportions is the ample driver array and Onkyo electronics stuffed into its innards. A total of 13 drivers positioned in various angles handle the distribution and dispersion of sound required to create a believable immersive surround experience. Even a pair of 4in subwoofers for each left and right is part of the package, so technically, you could get away without a subwoofer unless your alarm is Bloodywood turned up to eleven. The rest of the drivers are all 2.5in full-range units that handle left, right, side and top channels. Klipsch uses a 0.75in horn-loaded tweeter for the high frequencies in the all-important centre-channel portion of the Core 300, which helps enhance its overall clarity and dynamics. It’s no secret that a package such as this, with so many active drivers working in unison in a single chassis, has to be heavily governed by DSP, and that is also where the inclusion of Dirac Live (limited bandwidth) comes in.
Dirac Live: tune your room (8.5/10)
Usually found in stand-alone AV receivers and surround processors, the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 is the world’s first soundbar with built-in Dirac. Typically, AV components are built to be “Dirac-ready”, meaning you’d still have to buy a Dirac license to actually run the program. But the Core 300 includes the license for the basic version, which works on frequencies from 20Hz-500Hz, and while this may seem like a compromise, in reality, 80% of the problems in room acoustics occur in this bandwidth, and that’s what the Core 300 aims to fix.
Sound: entertaining the masses (8/10)
Given the number of drivers firing in different directions, I would implore everyone with Dirac access to try it at least once before announcing your verdict on the sound quality. On the Flexus Core 300, it cleans up the inherent thickness in the midbass and restores that feeling of “air” and spaciousness that you get from traditional stereo speakers spaced 6ft apart. The bass instantly gets more defined and structured, even though at first it may seem lean, spend more time listening to music and watching movies and you realise that it sounds more “correct” with the Dirac filter engaged. Klipsch Connect is a cleanly designed app that lets you switch between Dirac on/off, use custom EQ presets to further fine-tune the sound and choose between Music and Movie modes that alter the DSP processing between a more focused or diffused soundfield. Easy access to side and vertical fill via hot keys is a great addition and allows you to quickly garnish the final sound presentation to your taste, or indeed the program material’s requirement.
In terms of pure sonics, the Flexus Core 300 can easily pass off without the addition of a subwoofer for all but the most demanding of movie passages or heavy metal binges. Especially with Dirac Live on, it offers a clean, musical low-end that is devoid of any boom, albeit with limited SPL below 60Hz. In fact, the overall dynamics of the Flexus Core 300 are a bit tame for what you’d expect from Klipsch, and it’s most likely due to the active nature and abundance of DSP that the small drivers are always kept in check to avoid overdriving them. At everyday volumes, it provides a clean, full-bodied experience irrespective of your viewing or listening habits and is the best gift you could give your TV. With its high-quality finish and aesthetics, it won’t face any resistance from other family members either! The believability factor of virtual height speakers will honestly depend on how high your ceilings are and where the soundbar is placed relative to the room boundaries, but get it all right, and it creates a great illusion of a larger soundscape than its slim profile would suggest. It won’t rival a true multi-speaker multichannel system, but it also sounds way more immersive than a soundbar with just forward-facing drivers.
I/O: covers all bases (8.3/10)
Connectivity is well taken care of in both wired and wireless forms. Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, AirPlay and Q Play offer easy streaming from any mobile device while HDMI 2.1 passthrough, HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, Optical digital and USB-C ensure most other sources, barring vinyl, are covered. The large front panel display is bright and easily legible from across the length of the room, and with a CAPS lock feel, makes it extremely easy for any member in the household to come to terms with handling the Flexus Core 300. It’s a plug-and-play sort of soundbar, with even something as sophisticated as Dirac Live simplified for the least technical family member.
Its remote is basic but gets the job done, with hot keys for most of the oft-used functions like tone controls, surround levels and toggling between modes. The one feature I really missed on the remote was a Dirac on/off button for instant comparisons. Picking up the phone and launching the Klipsch Connect app every time for EQ and Dirac changes can be a bit much, but on the flipside, these are controls that you’d usually set once and forget about, so no love lost. It’s just that they’re the only two features conspicuous by their absence on the otherwise excellent remote. A back light would be appreciated, but again, I’m nitpicking.
Verdict
It may land in a very crowded mine of soundbars, but at Rs. 1,84,800, the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 holds its own against the competition with some very potent strengths. Its ability to blend into the surroundings and even add a sense of gravitas to your room, the spacious, authoritative sound even without the absolute need for a subwoofer and its ease of use are reasons enough you should be considering it. The upgrade path is dead simple too, with wireless subwoofer and surround options, whenever the cinephile itch comes back.
Editor’s rating: 8.7/10
Pros
- Beautiful finish adapts to any decor
- Spacious, authoritative, clean sound
- Built-in Dirac Live
- Ease of use and connectivity
Cons
- Substantial width and weight
- Dynamics are a bit tame
- Remote lacks Dirac on/off
