Klipsch Cinema 400 vs 600 (2021): 2.1 vs 3.1 Soundbar Comparison

The Klipsch Cinema 400 and 600 are part of the brand’s 2020 soundbar lineup. As the entry-level model in the lineup, the Klipsch Cinema 400 specs are pretty standard for a basic soundbar, featuring a 2.1 configuration. The Klipsch Cinema 600, on the other hand, is a mid-range soundbar that comes with a 3.1 configuration. Which of these two soundbars is right for you? Below is our Klipsch Cinema 600 and Klipsch Cinema 400 review and comparison.

Klipsch Cinema 400 vs 600 Comparison Chart

Design

The Klipsch Cinema 400 soundbar has a 2.1 configuration, while the Klipsch Cinema 600 is a 3.1 soundbar.

In terms of overall look, the two soundbars are similar. The soundbars themselves have an identical design that features a fabric covering and exposed horns at the edges. The only difference between the two is that the Klipsch Cinema 600 is five inches longer to accommodate its center channel. The Klipsch Cinema 400 measures 39.9 x 2.9 x 3.4 inches while the Cinema 600 is measured at 45 x 2.9 x 3.4 inches. There are control buttons at the top right of both soundbars if you need to control them manually. They also have a small screen that shows the current mode that is enabled.

The two aren’t that wide and they are short enough that they won’t obstruct your view of the TV. For those that have a wall mounted TV, the two soundbars come with complete wall mounting kits if that’s the setup that you prefer.

As for the subwoofers, the one that comes with the Klipsch Cinema 400 has an 8-inch driver, while the Cinema 600 comes with a 10-inch driver. They both connect wirelessly to the bars. The Klipsch Cinema 400 subwoofer is smaller, measuring 11.9 x 16.1 x 11.9 inches, while the subwoofer of the Cinema 600 measures 14.3 x 18.4 x 14.3 inches. They both have four legs, but the legs of the Cinema 600 subwoofer are positioned so that the subwoofer has a floating look.

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Setup and Controls

The Klipsch Cinema 400 and 600 have the same controls and connectivity.

You can set these soundbars fairly easily since they are as straightforward as they come. They both have one HDMI ARC output port that you connect to your TV. The two soundbars also have a 3.5mm analog audio input and an optical input. Unfortunately, they don’t have HDMI input ports so you can’t use the soundbars as a central hub if you need to connect multiple devices to it, such as game consoles, Blu-Ray players and more.

As far as controls go, the two soundbars have four physical buttons and a small screen at the top right. The control buttons are for power, input source and volume up and down. The small screen shows the current mode that is in use. They also come with standard remotes that let you control the volume, subwoofer level, change EQ and more.

When it comes to wireless streaming, the two soundbars are Bluetooth enabled. You can stream music using your favorite apps over Bluetooth.

As for their companion apps, the Klipsch Cinema 400 has none, while the Cinema 600 is compatible with Klipsch Connect. However, the Klipsch Connect app is a pretty barebones app that doesn’t really bring anything to the table. It allows you to update the firmware, watch instructions, view the manual and check product information. That’s it. It doesn’t even give you control over the soundbar, so it’s pretty useless.

Audio Quality

The Klipsch Cinema 600 sounds better than the Cinema 400.

While the two are similar in design and controls, they are different when it comes to sound quality. The Klipsch Cinema 400 is a 2.1 channel soundbar while the Cinema 600 is 3.1. They both have a fairly neutral sound profile, so they are excellent when listening to all types of music.

However, when it comes to movies, the dedicated center channel of the Klipsch Cinema 600 is definitely an advantage. The Klipsch Cinema 400 uses a phantom center channel when watching movies, and while this is good, it doesn’t sound as clear and accurate as the dedicated center channel of the Klipsch Cinema 600. They both have dialogue enhancement features to further improve speech and dialogue output when watching movies.

The two of them can get loud, so they are suitable for small parties or gatherings, but the Klipsch Cinema 600 can get louder without introducing sound distortion. You can increase the volume of the Cinema 600 without any degradation in audio quality.

Verdict

While the Klipsch Cinema 600 is the overall better soundbar set, the Klipsch Cinema 400 offers better value for the money.

If you are looking to get a good quality soundbar without having to spend too much money, the Klipsch Cinema 400 is one of the best that you can buy today. It’s a 2.1 soundbar that’s excellent for music, and even though it lacks a dedicated center channel, it still outputs clear dialogue and speech when watching movies. When compared to the Klipsch Cinema 600 side-by-side, you’ll notice the difference in sound quality, but we don’t think that the difference in quality is worth the significant difference in price between the two.

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