Klipsch intros three home theater speaker systems

Klipsch Audio has announced the upcoming launch of three new, entry-level 5.1-channel surround-sound speaker systems. The HD Theater 1000 is the headliner, sporting five identical speakers for its five channels. Each houses two 2.5-inch fiber composite drivers and a 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeter with a MicroTractrix Horn. The bass is reproduced by a 10-inch subwoofer with a fiber composite cone. All speakers are driven by a hybrid class D amplifier.

The mid-range offering is the HD Theater 500, which has 2.5-inch IMG drivers and a smaller 8-inch subwoofer powered by a conventional class D amplifier. The center channel speaker is unique from the four other speakers as it has a dual-woofer driver.

The HD Theater 300 shares the speakers of the 500 system, but shrinks the subwoofer further, to a 6.5-inch driver. Another difference is its magnetically shielded center channel, meant to protect CRT monitors or TVs from being distorted. All three systems can be wired into PC set-ups or can act as entry level TV entertainment additions, though they do not have a receiver that allows for the quick and easy switching of multiple sources.

The HD Theater 1000 will ship in February, while the 500 and 300 will be available some time in March. The systems will be priced at nearly $900, $600 and $400, respectively.