Klipsch's Onkyo-powered Flexus Core 200 is a $500 powerhouse Dolby Atmos soundbar.
Klipsch Flexus Core 200 MSRP $499.00 Score Details DT Editors' Choice “The Klipsch Flexus Core 200 packs awesome power and bass in a single speaker.” Pros Cons In 2021, Klipsch ’s corporate parent, Premium Audio Company , acquired Onkyo , a Japanese electronics maker with a cult-like following that’s revered for its line of AV receivers. When the deal was announced, observers agreed it likely wouldn’t be long before PAC leveraged the brain trust of both brands to produce a new product line.
To find out, we spent several days with a Flexus Core 200 , one of two soundbar models on which you can build your Flexus system . We also received two of the optional wireless expansion sets: the Flexus Sub 100 subwoofer and Flexus Surr 100 surround speakers, to experience how a full, $1,047 Flexus system sounds.
Looks can be deceiving Maybe it’s just me, but when I first saw Klipsch’s marketing photos for the Flexus Core 200 , I expected it to be similar in size and shape to other $500 soundbars like the Sonos Beam Gen 2 or the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. Everything included In the box, which is almost entirely made from easily recycled material, Klipsch includes a backlit Bluetooth remote, a set of AAA batteries, an HDMI cable, a power cord, and two metal wall-mount brackets.
Digital-only ports Around the back of the Core 200, you’ll find a single HDMI ARC/eARC port, an optical input, and a USB-C input. Each can be connected to a different device, giving you greater flexibility over sound sources. However, the lack of a separate HDMI input means your TV must be able to passthrough Dolby Atmos content via HDMI ARC/eARC, otherwise the Core 200 will be limited to Dolby Digital 5.1.
One quick note about that USB-C input: It can access music stored on an external drive as long as all tracks are saved to the root folder . However, you won’t be able to switch to the USB-C input using the remote or the bar’s top controls — only the Klipsch Connect Plus app lets you do that. Decent app Still, as I mentioned earlier, you’ll want to download the Klipsch Connect Plus app. It will get you connected to the Core 200 over Bluetooth LE , which isn’t the same as the Bluetooth connection you need to stream audio. That’s a good thing. It means that even when you’re watching TV or using that USB port, the app can still control the soundbar’s settings.
No Wi-Fi means no Apple AirPlay, no Chromecast, no direct music app access like Spotify Connect or Tidal Connect, no smart home or voice assistant integration, and no multiroom compatibility. There’s a well-known scene from the 2014 movie Unbroken where U.S. bombers begin a bombing run over Japan. It’s an excellent test of any sound system thanks to its intense mix of engine whine, wind noise, machine-gun fire, shouted dialogue, and midair flak explosions.
If this is the result of combining Onkyo’s amplification know-how and with Klipsch’s acoustics, I only have one question: What took you guys so long? Apart from the app-only EQ presets, there are two sound modes — Movie and Music. As their names imply, each is arguably better for its intended purpose. Movie mode provides a more expansive sound field, along with boosted highs and lows, while Music mode seems to preserve more detail and provides a focused, forward-facing presentation.
It’s still there — and using the remote to push the front height levels to their maximum helps — but it’s not quite as convincing as the performance you’ll get from signal processing leaders like Sony, Bose, or Sennheiser. A great example is the Aston Martin chase and shootout scene from No Time To Die. Without the surrounds, the action takes place in front of you, near the screen. With the surrounds, you’re in the middle, with bullets whizzing and ricocheting around you as though you were sitting right beside everyone’s favorite British superspy.
I’m impressed with the Sub 100’s styling. Klipsch previously equipped its soundbars with gigantic, hulking subs that aren’t exactly easy to disguise or even minimize. The Sub 100, on the other hand, is relatively compact at about a cubic foot, and its rounded, wood-like body is attractive enough that you may not even mind if it’s out in the open.
Dolby Atmos Soundbars Expandable Soundbars Klipsch Klipsch Flexus Onkyo Soundbars
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