Rating: 
Summary: Everything you want to know about the 5.1 Ultras
Review: Everything you want to know about the 5.1 Ultras
First of all, Klipsch is THE high end speaker company in the world. They have been around for more than 50 years. When you go to see a concert or go to the movies chances are high that you're listening to Klipsch Speakers. The Klipsch Promedia 5.1s are THE best computer speakers in the history of existence (provided, of course, aliens do not exist). You can ask around, but everyone will tell you the same thing. What's their only draw back? - price. Think about it this way: how much time will you spend on your computer listening to sounds - if you use your computer for e-mail and word processing, these are not the speakers for you; just stick with the ones that came bundled with your dell. But, if you are an avid gamer or listen to many hours of music, you will appreciate both the clarity and power these speakers provide. What's new:
The new sub IS freaking awesome-- it's twice as big as the previous version's. A true story:
One of my friends uses this line of speakers for his DJ-ing and he only has the 2.1 of this line of speakers. Even with only two speakers the sound they generate is very large. This comes from the special design of the Klipsch horn. As a general rule, everyone looks at wattage for total output when it comes to speakers: oh this is a 100 watt system or a 200 watt system. The bigger the watt the more sound outputted by the speakers. But, because the Klipsch speakers use a specially patented horn-loaded design they are able to put out more than twice the sound per watt when compared to non-horn-loaded speakers. So even though my friends 2.1s are 150 watts they sound as loud as 300. To give you an idea of just how loud it is just look in your local paper for car stereos-the biggest you'll see is about 300 watts (and those are certainly not going to be Klipsch speakers hooked up to that system). What does that have to do with the 5.1s?
Just as a point of reference: the Klipsch 5.1 Ultra system is a 400 watt system (horn-loaded-speakers). Just do the math, these things are probably too powerful for anyone to even need. Why does Klipsch give you that kind of power-just for the sake of making your eardrums bleed. Another great selling point of the Klipsch speakers is that they don't distort sound even at high volumes. Even cranked up to the max they are just as accurate in reproducing sounds as at lower volumes. Like I said, these are the same brand of speakers you hear in the movie theaters and at concerts. Simply, this is really high end stuff. If anyone doubts what I say about the "awesomeness-factor" of these speakers, I dare-- no I double dare you, you guys to go to some store like Best Buy and listen to these mofos. They will blow you away. Don't trust me, check out some of the external reviews or go to www.klipsch.com for more: http://www.gdxbox.com/hardware/revs/hwrevdisplay.asp?hwrevid=41&hwid=40 http://gear.ign.com/articles/435/435271p1.html?fromint=1 Just as a side note, I would like to discredit the myth that Klipsch have a high tendency to "go bad" or fail - I was concerned about this and did quite a bit of research before purchasing these speakers for myself and let me tell you the whole story. The tendency of the old 5.1s to become defective has been admitted by Klipsch, but it was a because of some unforeseen flaws in production. It was a fluke problem, which has been corrected. I would like to point out that Klipsch has extensive warranties on their equipment and the worst case scenario is that you have to wait for replacement equipment. If you go on eBay right now, you can find five to ten year old Klipsch equipment being sold for top dollar. Why? Because Klipsch makes only high end, quality equipment Hope that helps you to make up your mind. P.S. -- I am not paid by Klipsch
Rating:
Summary: Everything you want to know about the 5.1 Ultras
Review: Everything you want to know about the 5.1 Ultras
First of all, Klipsch is THE high end speaker company in the world. They have been around for more than 50 years. When you go to see a concert or go to the movies chances are high that you're listening to Klipsch Speakers. The Klipsch Promedia 5.1s are THE best computer speakers in the history of existence (provided, of course, aliens do not exist). You can ask around, but everyone will tell you the same thing. What's their only draw back? - price. Think about it this way: how much time will you spend on your computer listening to sounds - if you use your computer for e-mail and word processing, these are not the speakers for you; just stick with the ones that came bundled with your dell. But, if you are an avid gamer or listen to many hours of music, you will appreciate both the clarity and power these speakers provide. What's new:
The new sub IS freaking awesome-- it's twice as big as the previous version's. A true story:
One of my friends uses this line of speakers for his DJ-ing and he only has the 2.1 of this line of speakers. Even with only two speakers the sound they generate is very large. This comes from the special design of the Klipsch horn. As a general rule, everyone looks at wattage for total output when it comes to speakers: oh this is a 100 watt system or a 200 watt system. The bigger the watt the more sound outputted by the speakers. But, because the Klipsch speakers use a specially patented horn-loaded design they are able to put out more than twice the sound per watt when compared to non-horn-loaded speakers. So even though my friends 2.1s are 150 watts they sound as loud as 300. To give you an idea of just how loud it is just look in your local paper for car stereos-the biggest you'll see is about 300 watts (and those are certainly not going to be Klipsch speakers hooked up to that system). What does that have to do with the 5.1s?
Just as a point of reference: the Klipsch 5.1 Ultra system is a 400 watt system (horn-loaded-speakers). Just do the math, these things are probably too powerful for anyone to even need. Why does Klipsch give you that kind of power-just for the sake of making your eardrums bleed. Another great selling point of the Klipsch speakers is that they don't distort sound even at high volumes. Even cranked up to the max they are just as accurate in reproducing sounds as at lower volumes. Like I said, these are the same brand of speakers you hear in the movie theaters and at concerts. Simply, this is really high end stuff. If anyone doubts what I say about the "awesomeness-factor" of these speakers, I dare-- no I double dare you, you guys to go to some store like Best Buy and listen to these mofos. They will blow you away. Don't trust me, check out some of the external reviews or go to www.klipsch.com for more: http://www.gdxbox.com/hardware/revs/hwrevdisplay.asp?hwrevid=41&hwid=40 http://gear.ign.com/articles/435/435271p1.html?fromint=1 Just as a side note, I would like to discredit the myth that Klipsch have a high tendency to "go bad" or fail - I was concerned about this and did quite a bit of research before purchasing these speakers for myself and let me tell you the whole story. The tendency of the old 5.1s to become defective has been admitted by Klipsch, but it was a because of some unforeseen flaws in production. It was a fluke problem, which has been corrected. I would like to point out that Klipsch has extensive warranties on their equipment and the worst case scenario is that you have to wait for replacement equipment. If you go on eBay right now, you can find five to ten year old Klipsch equipment being sold for top dollar. Why? Because Klipsch makes only high end, quality equipment Hope that helps you to make up your mind. P.S. -- I am not paid by Klipsch
Rating: 
Summary: Buyer beware! Klipsch Promedias have a high failure rate!
Review: I bought my set of Promedias with my new computer. The sound was indeed exceptional. But, after a year of use, they failed. I went to use them and got nothing but muffled bass and clicking. Then, I went to their forums. Seems everyone has been having the exact same problems. Some are lucky enough to get a year or two, and some measured the lifespan of their promedias in minutes. To top it off, they want $60 to fix a defective product since the warranty lasts only one year. Then, after paying the $60 to fix Klipsch's own problem, many have reported that the SECOND set failed. Buyer beware. These speakers are about as shoddy as they come and Klipsch is one shady company.
Rating:
Summary: Love it
Review: I bought these a few months ago, and I've been happy with them. My computer has an Audigy 2 ZS, and combined with the Ultras, everything sounds amazing. I occassionally play computer games and it makes the experience that much better. But I mostly listen to music on my computer...and that is where I love the speakers the most. If you have the cash, treat yourself to something nice and get these. They're pretty, loud, and other people drool when they see them. ;)
One thing I've noticed about the speakers is that the sub generates a whole bunch of heat. In the winter, I don't need to turn on the heater...just turn on the speaker system and I'm nice and toasty. =) Well...not exactly, but you get the point. I wouldn't recommend these speakers in a small room.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful.!
Review: I had a set of Promedia 5.1 speakers for a little over a year before they went out. The problem was in the amplifier, which would malfunction after a time for many users. When Klipsch became aware of this problem, they actually extended the warranty on the 5.1's to ensure that if people had this problem, their speakers would be replaced. So, let that stand as a testament to Klipsch's resolve to satisfy the customer. Now, for the performance of the actual speakers: in summation, they are fabulous. I tested a lot of different products and read a lot of reviews before going with the 5.1's (and now the 5.1 ultra set my original speakers were replaced with). I use my speakers for music, games, and movies, with excellent results in each case. With music, I often upmix the signal to 5.1 surround, which provides a very immersive audio experience. The speakers themselves deliver very smooth, rich lows with equally impressive mid- and high-frequency response. The control panel allows the user to adjust the center, rear and subwoofer levels individually from 8 decibels less than default output to 15 decibels more than default, which is especially helpful for getting sufficient bass response at low volumes. The imaging of the speakers is excellent, with sound locations in games with EAX (or equivalent) four or five channel surround sound being accurately reproduced.
As others have said, the only drawback to these speakers is money. However, when compared to home theater systems, these speakers are a true bargain. They require no external amplification, a necessity of almost all home theater setups, and the subwoofer included is phenominal for this price range. One would be very hard-pressed to find a 200 watt subwoofer with dual 8-inch drivers for less than $400 just by itself, and this set of speakers includes just such a subwoofer along with 5 high quality satellites. Whatever your use of these speakers will entail, if you require years of satisfying audio reproduction, be it in a home office, appartment, bedroom, dorm, or otherwise, these speakers will not only meet your needs, but exceed them.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent speaker system, but consider an extended warranty
Review: I received my ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system as an exchange from Klipsch when my old ProMedia 5.1 system died. The old ProMedia 5.1 system had a design flaw that resulted in a lot of systems with a dead subwoofer and is no longer being produced. The Ultra 5.1 is a replacement and Klipsch has listened carefully to a lot of complaints about the old system and made improvements. I have had the system up and running for a little over a month now and here are my thoughts: The sound quality is amazing. Just like the original ProMedia 5.1 system, I have yet to hear a PC speaker system that has the same clarity and life-like sound. The sub-woofer is far more powerful and will rattle loose objects off shelves. I love my bass and have found that the subwoofer in this system gives me more than I can handle. The control unit for the system has been re-designed. It is now wide rather than tall and as a consequence is a lot easier to control. The volume knob is a lot less twitchy than the old unit and I can actually get the headphone socket to work, something I never could do with my old ProMedia 5.1 system. So why does the title of my review ask you to consider an extended warranty? Based on my experience (and the experience of many other people who had their ProMedia 5.1 system die on them), I would suggest that you get an extended warranty so that, if anything does go wrong, you can get a replacement from the store without having to spend 2 months working with Klipsch to get a replacement. I have no evidence to say that this system is going to fail on you, but for the money you will be paying for this system, a few extra dollars for peace of mind seems like a bargain.
Rating:
Summary: Words can't describe this system
Review: I thought my Dell 5650 5.1 system was good until I bit the bullet and got the ProMedia Ultra 5.1 system. Everything I heard about these speakers are true. They sound amazing. The bass is tight, the mids and highs are exceptional. You can actually hear things on tracks you wouldn't normally hear.
Man, I never knew how much detail I was missing until I got these.
One thing to note, the sub is freaking HUGE!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Take me back, I'm sorry...
Review: I want to confess a painful episode in my relationship with my Klipsch computer speakers, a relationship I've monogamously maintained since the 2 series. I should admit first to being a computer gaming psycho. I have a system that's been featured in 2 gaming magazines in their "totally sick computer we'd all kill for" sections. The last profile showed my Harmon Kardon receiver and a JBL 6 speaker surround configuration. For that I'm eternally sorry. I don't know what came over me. I guess I figured that spending 5 times as much as the 5.1 system would deliver better sound, ingender deeper jealosy, command just that much more salivation when I cranked the volume. How wrong could one man be. I don't know about the special horn positioning in the Klipsch, I'm not even too sure I understand what 400 watts really means in the grand scheme of things; I'm just that guy who walks into the store, says "gimme the dream system", goes home, plugs it in and expects it to be better than what it replaced. Well, in this scenario, when I cranked up the replacement to the 5.1, I was like "What the F@#$!!!". It paled in comparison. The highs weren't the shrill "crack your eardrums" highs of the 5.1, the lows weren't the "neighbor's have been complaining, they say they hear gunfire coming from inside your home" type lows... Needless to say, I went back to the 5.1. If you're in the market for "the best", for gaming, for MP3 listening, then you can't beat this system for the money.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic media speakers
Review: These are the best computer speakers I have heard, ever. I was so impressed that when I upgraded my home theater I used Klipsch for it as well. One note, it's worth getting a good sound card, like the Audigy2 zs, to take full advantage of the phenomenal sound these speakers can output.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Speakers for A Computer-ever
Review: These speakers are so mind-blowingly good i cant even think what to say about them. First off, they're wicked powerful. At 60 dB, (just over half their max output, which, by the way is 115dB) things are falling off the walls, the neighbors are calling the cops, parents are screaming at you, etc. I have never gotten the speakers up to their max, but i can say that a 60db, there is no distortion. Second, although they are expensive, think about what you get for your four benjamins- 5 speakers, and a sub, an amp, and a control tower. You would be extremely hard pressed to find a good home audio sub for 400 dollars- then you'd still need an amp, and other speakers, etc. So, considering what you get, the 400 dollar cost isn't really that much. The sub, conincidentally, is nice and powerful. It is also expandable. For a little more money, you can double your bass output, by buying a Klipsch SWS. There is even a port on the back of the sub to plug it into. The control tower is well designed, and gives you almost complete control over the system. The additional media plug in the control tower is nice (a standard mini-plug stereo input). It also has a headphone jack. My only problem with the control unit is that the knob sticks out like 2", which is kind of far for my tastes. The satellite speakers are well designed, and actually look pretty good. To sum things up, this system looks good, performs well, and the price is right. My only criticisms are small. It would be awesome if the speakers came with a wireless remote control. Also, at no fault of the speakers, if the speaker are still on after your computer is off, they buzz at a low volume. Now, neither of these reasons are reasons to buy anything else. Just one example of these speakers greatness before i go. Everyone has seen the scene in the "Matrix", where Neo bends backward to dodge Smith's bullet? Watching the Matrix with these speakers is the first time i have ever instinctively ducked while watching that scene. It sounded like the bullet was passing over you. Amazing. If you love good computer sound, these speakers are worth every penny.
| 
