Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 Speakers [review]

Ready to turn your computer into the centerpiece of your home audio system? The Klipsch KPMU 5.1 speaker system is a veritable 500-watt powerhouse. Each of the four identical satellites house two-way enclosures with one .75″ metal polymeter dome tweeter inside a MicroTractrix horn and a long-throw 3′” driver with a convex dust cap. The center speaker has the same, but positioned horizontally.

Klipsch says, “After setting industry standards with the acclaimed personal audio system, Klipsch Audio Technologies introduces a new and enhanced version. The Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 5.1 augments the performance and style of the award-winning ProMedia 5.1 with an even more impressive subwoofer, updated crossover networks, and new cosmetics on the satellites and control module. It is currently available in 120 volt and a 230 volt version.”

Obviously Klipsch thinks pretty highly of their own product, but what are other people saying about the ProMedia Ultra 5.1?

Barron’s: “…if the mood strikes you, you can crank up a Foo Fighters CD , stomp you feet and clear your head. In fact, you can turn your desktop computer into a full-blown concert hall with Klipsch’s ProMedia 5.1 surround-sound speaker system. The 200-watt subwoofer and five 60-watt speakers deliver sound that is clear, crisp and, when desired, astonishingly loud. In a Barron’s test, they shook the windows of a sturdy suburban home.”

Home Theater Magazine: “At low volume, the ProMedia 5.1 system can subtly imbue a workspace with the full ambiance of any elaborately mastered DVD or wrap the listener in a warm musical blanket. Cranked up, this thing simply and effortlessly rocks the house.”

Once you get a new system, the next step is to try some new music. Here’s an eclectic list of tunes that offer a great mix of lyrical artistry and outstanding sound.