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Klipsch Cinema 700 Soundbar Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Jan 11, 2022 at 10:00 am
Klipsch Cinema 700 Picture
7.7
Mixed Usage
8.2
Dialogue/TV Shows
8.0
Music
7.3
Movies

The Klipsch Cinema 700 is a 3.1 setup that's available at Costco. It's similar to the Klipsch Cinema 800, but it has a slightly different design with fabric that covers the plastic horns on the front of the bar. Also, it comes with a few additional EQ presets. It has a pretty neutral sound profile with a little extra brightness that's suitable for lots of different audio content, and it has a deep and extended low-bass. While it can decode Atmos content, it has to downmix it to stereo to play it, which doesn't sound as immersive.

Note: The results in this review represent the second model that we purchased from the manufacturer. For the first bar we tested, the tweeter blew during our sound testing, though this shouldn't affect most users since these tests are designed to stress the bar.

Our Verdict

7.7 Mixed Usage

The Klipsch 700 is good for mixed usage. Its sound profile is neutral with a touch of extra brightness, and it's suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. Voices are clearly and accurately reproduced, and its unique adjustable dialogue enhancement feature lets you control how loud they are in your audio. While it supports surround sound and Atmos content, unfortunately, it has to downmix it into stereo to play it.

Pros
  • Extended low-bass.
  • Adjustable dialogue enhancement mode.
Cons
  • Downmixes Atmos into stereo.
8.2 Dialogue/TV Shows

The Klipsch 700 is great for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Its discrete center channel helps anchor voices to a pinpoint location in the soundstage. Dialogue is reproduced clearly and accurately, with a touch of extra brightness. There's also an adjustable dialogue enhancement feature that lets you control how loud the voices are in your audio, as well as an auto-volume mode.

Pros
  • Adjustable dialogue enhancement mode.
  • Auto-volume mode.
Cons
  • Struggles to get loud.
8.0 Music

The Klipsch 700 is very good for music. Out-of-the-box, its sound profile is pretty neutral, making it suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. Its dedicated subwoofer can accurately reproduce the deep thump and rumble in the low-bass, and there's a touch of extra brightness in the treble. You can even customize its sound with its 3-band graphic EQ and presets.

Pros
  • 3-band graphic EQ.
  • Extended low-bass.
Cons
  • Struggles to get loud.
7.3 Movies

The Klipsch 700 is decent for movies. This 3.1 setup has a deep, extended low-bass that helps you feel the rumble in action-packed scenes. It can reproduce dialogue clearly, too. However, to play Atmos and surround sound, it has to downmix it into stereo. Unfortunately, sound objects like voices don't sound as clear or as real as a result.

Pros
  • Extended low-bass.
  • Adjustable dialogue enhancement mode.
Cons
  • Struggles to get loud.
  • Downmixes Atmos into stereo.
  • 7.7 Mixed Usage
  • 8.2 Dialogue/TV Shows
  • 8.0 Music
  • 7.3 Movies
  1. Updated Jan 11, 2022: Review published.
  2. Updated Jan 06, 2022: Early access published.
  3. Updated Nov 16, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Nov 15, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated Nov 03, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The Klipsch 700 is available in 'Black', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.

If you come across another version of this soundbar, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.

Compared To Other Soundbars

The Klipsch Cinema 700 is very similar to the Klipsch Cinema 800, but it has fabric covering the distinctive plastic horns in the front of the bar. It's available at Costco. Like other Klipsch Cinema bars, it can reproduce a deep and extended low-bass that's ideal for listening to bass-heavy music and action-packed movies. However, it struggles to get very loud.

See also our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars with subwoofer, and the best Dolby Atmos soundbars.

Klipsch Cinema 800

The Klipsch Cinema 800 and the Klipsch Cinema 700 are very similar soundbars. The 800 has a slightly more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and it can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass, which some users may prefer. Also, its plastic horns are visible, whereas they're covered by fabric on the 700. Also, the 700 has a few more EQ presets.

Sonos Arc

Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc or the Klipsch Cinema 700. The Sonos is a premium standalone 5.0.2 soundbar. It's better built and has better surround and Atmos performances. However, it doesn't reproduce as extended of a low-bass as the Klipsch. Also, the Klipsch supports more wireless playback options.

Klipsch Cinema 600

The Klipsch Cinema 700 is better than the Klipsch Cinema 600. The 700 supports Dolby Atmos content. It offers more wireless playback options, and it has more sound enhancement features, including a 3-band graphic EQ. However, the 600 gets louder.

Samsung HW-Q800A

The Samsung HW-Q800A is better than the Klipsch Cinema 700 for most uses. The Samsung is a better-built 3.1.2 setup with a better Dolby Atmos performance. It also supports DTS content, unlike the Klipsch. Ultimately, it's a better choice for movies. If you mostly listen to music and dialogue-centric content, the Klipsch is still a good choice.

Sony HT-G700

The Klipsch Cinema 700 is better than the Sony HT-G700. The Klipsch reproduces a more extended low-bass, so you feel more thump and rumble in your audio. It also has a better soundstage as well as more wireless playback options. However, the Sony is better built, and it supports DTS content.

Samsung HW-Q950A

The Samsung HW-Q950A is much better than the Klipsch Cinema 700. The Samsung is a very premium 11.1.4 setup with discrete satellites. It's better-built, with better surround and Atmos performances. Unlike the Klipsch, it also supports DTS content. There are even more sound enhancement features, like room correction. If you want a simple 3.1 setup for music and dialogue-heavy content, the Klipsch is still a good choice.

LG S65Q

The Klipsch Cinema 700 is a better 3.1 setup than the LG S65Q. The Klipsch supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the LG, and it has a better stereo soundstage. Also, it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. That said, it's not as well-built as the LG.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style - Bar

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a similar design to the Klipsch Cinema 800. It's mostly made of plastic, and the top and front sides of the bar are covered in fabric. The control buttons are on the top right side of the bar. However, unlike the Cinema 800, the horns on the ends of the bar are hidden behind the fabric.

Design
Style - Subwoofer

The sub is mostly made of wood. It sits on four wooden pegs that keep the base off the ground, and the port is located underneath.

Design
Style - Satellites

You can purchase compatible satellites from Klipsch separately.

Design
Dimensions - Bar
Width 47.8" (121.5 cm)
Height 2.8" (7.0 cm)
Depth 3.3" (8.5 cm)

The Klipsch Cinema 700 is the same size as the Klipsch Cinema 800. Since it's fairly wide, it probably won't fit between the legs of a 55" TV. That said, it's not very tall, so it shouldn't block your TV screen unless your TV sits flush on your table.

Design
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Width 14.3" (36.3 cm)
Height 18.4" (46.8 cm)
Depth 14.3" (36.3 cm)

The sub also has the same dimensions as the sub for the Klipsch Cinema 800. It connects to the bar wirelessly, so you only need to plug it into a power outlet to get it to work.

Design
Dimensions - Satellites
Width N/A
Height N/A
Depth N/A
Design
Back - Bar
Bar Mounting
Proprietary

The back of the bar has some openings for the power cable and other inputs. There are also some proprietary holes so you can mount the bar to the wall. The mounting brackets and screws are included, which is handy.

Design
Back - Subwoofer
Enclosure
Ported

The back of the sub is very plain. You can find the input for the power cable and the button to pair it to the bar. The port is located underneath.

Design
Back - Satellites
Mounting
No
6.5
Design
Build Quality

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a fair build quality. The bar is mostly plastic, but it doesn't feel very premium. Also, the fabric covering the front and the top of the bar seems like it could rip or get dirty easily. The sub feels a bit more premium, as it's mostly solid wood.

Note: The results in this review represent the second model that we purchased from the manufacturer. For the first bar we tested, the tweeter blew during our sound testing, though this shouldn't affect most users since these tests are designed to stress the bar.

Design
In The Box
HDMI Cable Length
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Digital Optical Cable Length
N/A

  • Manual
  • Remote with batteries (2x AA)
  • Wall mount brackets with screws and 3M tape
  • 2x soundbar side panel replacements
  • 2x power cord
  • Mounting template
  • HDMI cable

Sound
8.5
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
Tested Preset
Direct
Slope
-0.51
Std. Err.
2.89 dB
Channels
3.1
Low-Frequency Extension
25.6 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
17.7 kHz

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a great stereo frequency response. It has a pretty neutral sound profile suitable for listening to many different types of audio content. Its dedicated subwoofer helps reproduce a deep, extended low-bass, so you feel the rumble and thump in action-packed movie scenes. In our subjective listening tests, we noticed that the bar sounded slightly bright. If you prefer a different sound, there are lots of customization features available, including a graphic EQ.

8.5
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
Suggested Preset
Direct
Suggested Bass Setting
-1
Suggested Treble Setting
3
Slope
-0.28
Std. Err.
2.71 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
25.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.6 kHz

With calibration, the Klipsch Cinema 700 has an impressive stereo frequency response. You can set its bass to '-1' and its treble to '3' to get a more neutral, balanced sound profile. There's a little less emphasis in the bass range. As a result, it's suitable for listening to many different types of content.

7.5
Sound
Stereo Soundstage
Crosstalk Error
2.04 dB

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a good stereo soundstage. Its soundstage is perceived to be about the size of the bar, but it doesn't have any tricks to make it seem wider than that. The focus is good, so sound objects like voices seem to come from an accurate location in the soundstage.

7.3
Sound
Stereo Dynamics
SPL @ Max Volume
84.5 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
0.49 dB

The first model of this soundbar that we purchased had its tweeter blow out during our sound testing. For the second model that we purchased, we tested this soundbar at 95% of its volume instead of at 100%. While the Klipsch Cinema 700 can get loud enough for most users, it's not really suitable for cranking up the volume to fill large rooms or crowded parties.

7.6
Sound
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.54
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.36

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a good stereo THD performance. Distortion falls within good limits when listening to audio at a normal volume, so audio reproduction is clean and pure. There's a slight jump when you push the bar closer to max volume, but this likely isn't noticeable when listening to real-life content.

8.0
Sound
Center
Localization
Discrete
Slope
-0.14
Std. Err.
2.87 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
82.7 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.51
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.28

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a great center channel performance. This 3.1 setup has a discrete center, which helps anchor voices to a pinpoint location in the soundstage. Also, its frequency response is quite neutral, so vocals are reproduced quite accurately. There's some unevenness in the treble, though, which can make voices and dialogue sound alternately a bit bright or dull.

Note: Since the first model's tweeter blew out during our sound testing, we decided not to push the bar to max volume when we purchased a second model. Instead, we tested the bar at 95% of its max volume.

4.1
Sound
Surround 5.1
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-0.42
Std. Err.
3.13 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
87.4 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.66
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.51
7.1 Rears
No

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a poor surrounds performance. Due to its 3.1 setup, it has to downmix surround content into stereo to play it. Unfortunately, sound objects like voices don't seem as clear or real as they would with a discrete setup. Sound seems like it's coming from speakers placed in front of you, rather than sounding like it's coming from all around you. You can purchase separate satellites from Klipsch if you want to improve the bar's surround performance.

Note: Since the first model's tweeter blew out during our sound testing, we decided not to push the bar to max volume when we purchased a second model. Instead, we tested the bar at 95% of its max volume.

3.6
Sound
Height (Atmos)
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-0.64
Std. Err.
3.23 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
73.0 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.53
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
0.34

While the Klipsch Cinema 700 can decode Dolby Atmos content, its performance isn't the most impressive. It has to downmix Atmos content into stereo to play it, but this isn't very immersive-sounding. Its soundstage is wide, but there isn't a lot of height. Audio extends a little bit over the bar; however, there's no feeling of sound coming from overhead. That said, the Klipsch 700's subwoofer offers an impressive performance, and the bass is present and controlled, especially with action-heavy scenes.

Note: Since the first model's tweeter blew out during our sound testing, we decided not to push the bar to max volume when we purchased a second model. Instead, we tested the bar at 95% of its max volume.

6.5
Sound
Sound Enhancement Features
Room Correction
No
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
Yes
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
EQ
Graphic + Presets
Surround Level Adjustment
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
Virtual Surround
No

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has a solid selection of sound enhancement features. There are lots of sound customization features available, including a 3-band graphic EQ and several presets: 'Direct', 'Standard', 'Movie', 'Music', 'Party', and 'Game'. Its dialogue enhancement feature lets you cycle through three different levels so you can control how loud the dialogue sounds in your audio. Also, the night mode feature comes with two different levels to help you control the volume when listening at night. However, there's no room correction, so it can sound a bit different depending on the room you're in.

Connectivity
Connectivity
Physical Inputs - Bar
Optical Audio In
1
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
HDMI Out
1 (shared)
Full HDMI In
2
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
1
RCA In
No
USB for Files
No
Ethernet
1

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has lots of physical inputs. You can connect it to your TV with its HDMI ARC and Optical In ports, and there are also two Full HDMI In ports that let you use it as a hub between different devices. The Sub Out port lets you wire the sub to the bar if you want, though you can also use it wirelessly.

8.8
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - ARC
eARC
Yes
Dolby Atmos
Yes
Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
DTS
No
DTS:X (eARC only)
No
Dolby TrueHD (eARC only)
Yes
DTS-HD MA (eARC only)
No
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
Yes

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has great audio format support via ARC. There's Dolby Digital support, and this is the most common surround sound format, which you can often find on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms. There's also support for some lossless and object-based formats like Dolby Atmos, though it has to downmix it to stereo to play it. However, there's no support for DTS or DTS:X.

8.7
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In
Dolby Atmos
Yes
DTS:X
No
Dolby Digital
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
Yes
DTS
No
Dolby TrueHD
Yes
DTS-HD MA
No
5.1 PCM
Yes

There's also excellent audio format support via Full HDMI In. The Klipsch Cinema 700 supports Dolby Digital. Also, it supports some lossless and object-based formats like Dolby Atmos, though it has to downmix it to play it.

6.0
Connectivity
Audio Format Support - Optical
Dolby Digital
Yes
DTS
No

The Klipsch Cinema 700 supports Dolby Digital via Optical, which you can find on many Blu-rays and streaming platforms. Unfortunately, this bar doesn't support DTS content.

8.8
Connectivity
Latency
ARC
27 ms
Optical
28 ms
Full HDMI In
61 ms

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has an amazing latency performance. It has fairly low latency, so there isn't a noticeable delay between the audio you hear and the video you see. This makes it suitable for watching videos and movies. However, some apps and TVs can compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience can vary.

9.0
Connectivity
Wireless Playback
Bluetooth
Yes
Wi-Fi
Yes
Chromecast built-in
Yes
Apple AirPlay
No

The Klipsch Cinema 700 lets you wirelessly stream audio to your devices over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and it's also advertised to support Spotify Connect. You can also use it with Chromecast built-in. However, you have to update the bar and connect it to the Google Home app to use it.

Connectivity
Other Input Specifications
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
Yes
HDR10 Passthrough
Yes

The Klipsch Cinema 700 can passthrough some of the highest bandwidth signals when connected between your TV and your PC. There's Dolby Vision Passthrough support, and the manufacturer also advertises that it features 8K video passthrough.

Connectivity
Connectivity - Subwoofer
Sub Wireless
Yes

The Klipsch Cinema 700's sub connects to the bar wirelessly, so you only need to plug it into a power outlet to use it. You can also use the Sub In port to wire it to the bar if you prefer.

Connectivity
Connectivity - Satellites
Sat Wireless
No
Additional Features
Additional Features
Interface
Display
Yes

There's a simple interface on the bar that shows you the input you're using and the volume level you're at. Also, you can hold down the LED button on the remote to check which audio format is playing.

Additional Features
Bar Controls

On top of the bar, there are some physical controls. You can use them to turn the bar on/off, change the input, and adjust the volume.

Additional Features
Remote
Universal Remote
No

There's a simple remote that lets you adjust most of its features. You can change the volume and the input and access some of the different sound customization features.

Additional Features
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
Google Assistant
No
Apple Siri
No

The Klipsch Cinema 700 doesn't have built-in voice assistant capabilities. You can get a third-party voice assistant device separately and connect it to the bar to use Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Additional Features
App
App Name Klipsch Connect
iOS Yes
Android Yes
Acts As A Remote
Yes
Controls Soundbar's Settings
Some
Casts Device Files
No

The Klipsch Connect app acts as a remote and lets you control some of the bar's features. Once you update the bar's firmware, you can access features like its 3-band graphic EQ, preset modes, and night mode. You can also switch inputs and use a virtual remote to control the bar. We noticed that the app can be buggy, though. For example, when we tried to change the input or mode, it wouldn't work unless we reset the bar a few times.

Additional Features
Other Features
Power Saving
No
HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control)
Yes

The Klipsch Cinema 700 has HDMI CEC support that lets you use your TV remote to control the bar's volume. There's no power-saving function, though, so you need to remember to turn the bar off manually if you want to save power.