Klipsch The Three - Review 2022

Sometimes we encounter wireless speakers that try to practice besides much—and the awkwardly named Klipsch The Three, at first glance, seems similar it could fit that description. At $399, the speaker isn't cheap, but for the price, it streams audio via Bluetooth or your Wi-Fi network, and information technology tin can connect to any RCA sound source or a regular 3.5mm output device like your telephone. It's as well a multi-room system that can access internet radio and streaming services like Tidal and Spotify via a free app. We expected this jack-of-all-trades to be a pain to operate and gear up, merely it'due south actually i of the more than user-friendly multi-room speakers we've tested. Better notwithstanding, it sounds excellent, with powerful bass response, clear highs, and an impressive maximum volume, earning information technology our Editors' Choice award.

Design

Available in ebony or walnut forest finishes, The Iii's handsome exterior measures 7.0 past 13.seven past 8.0 inches (HWD) and features some retro pattern flourishes, like copper knobs and an former-school Klipsch logo on the front grille. The system is non portable, and its 10-pound weight rests on rubber-covered wooden feet to prevent movement due to vibration.

The grille itself is black woven fabric, and wraps around the front and side panels of the speaker. Behind the grille there are dual two.3-inch full-range drivers and a single 5.3-inch long-throw woofer, which are bi-amplified. The woofer also gets help from dual side-firing 5.iii-inch passive radiators.

There's a power switch and ii knobs on the superlative panel. The superlative knob switches between sound sources—aux (at that place'southward a 3.5mm input on the dorsum panel), Bluetooth, USB, Wi-Fi, and phono. Yes, phono—The Three is designed to accept point from your turntable, which is something nosotros don't see likewise often. The second knob controls volume, and works independently of your mobile device's main book, but in concert with the internal volume on the Klipsch Stream app.

The back panel houses all of the connection points: a USB port marked Service, another USB port for playing digital audio from your computer (a lengthy cable is included), RCA inputs for the phono connection (at that place'south likewise a switch here, marked Phono for turntables, or Line for any other RCA sound source), and a 3.5mm aux input. Next to this console, at that place's a Wi-Fi Setup button, and a piffling farther off to the side, a ground connectedness for phono cables and a connectedness for the iii-prong power cable.

Klipsch includes a remote command with a power button, a mute push, controls for play/pause, rail forward/backward, book up/downwards, dedicated source buttons for all of the aforementioned inputs, and a button marked LED that turns all of the LED lights on the speaker on or off. It's notable that the remote, which runs on two AAA batteries (included), has some options that aren't on the speaker itself (rail navigation, playback, mute, and LED). Of course, many users volition exist able to control these functions directly from their paired phones, tablets, or computers.

Similar most wireless speakers that use both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (and can be expanded to multi-room setups, similar the Sonos Play:i), The Three utilizes an app for the Wi-Fi setup process. The Klipsch Stream app is free for Android and iOS devices, and in one case you're connected to your wireless network, you lot can stream from services like Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, Amazon Prime Music, iHeart Radio, Sirius XM, and Deezer (assuming you have accounts with them), as well every bit diverse internet radio stations. Inside the app, you tin can likewise switch between and assign audio to multiple Klipsch speakers or speaker groups. There is no speakerphone functionality—a common omission in speakers that are intended to work in multi-room setups.

Performance

On tracks with intense sub-bass content, similar The Pocketknife's "Silent Shout," The Three delivers intense low frequency response. Depending on your sound source, distortion tin creep in at very high volumes, but it should be noted that speaker can get exceptionally loud, so this shouldn't be a major deterrent. For case, at maximum volume on the speaker and half book on an iPhone 6s streaming via Bluetooth, the drivers are plenty loud and testify no signs of distortion. Pump the iPhone volume up all the manner, and you lot'll get information technology on this track, though that's not true of every rails with deep bass—Kendrick Lamar's "DNA" is delivered in all its sub-bass glory with lilliputian in the way of distortion. At peak volumes, this is one of the louder speakers nosotros've tested in the price range. At moderate volumes, the bass response is impressive, yet the sound signature is pleasantly balanced.

Pecker Callahan's "Drover," a track with little in the way of deep bass in its mix, sounds rich and full here, simply y'all don't get mega-bass exaggeration on the drums, something that can easily happen on bass-forward sound systems. Instead, you lot become some extra low-mid richness on Callahan's baritone vocals, but likewise enough of high-mid crispness and clarity. The vocals become a little added treble border, and the guitar strums have a bright assail to them. And then while in that location is plenty of depression frequency presence hither, things don't e'er sound dirty or lean too far toward the lows.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop gets the ideal corporeality of high-mid presence, accentuating its precipitous attack and allowing it to slice through the layers of the mix. The sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the vanquish are delivered with gusto, but not additional to an insanely high level—true bass fiends might wish the bass presence had a little more sub to information technology here, but most listeners will discover this sound signature to be full, counterbalanced, and well-baked. The vocals on this rail get a solid high-mid and loftier frequency presence that allows them to float over the instrumentation cleanly and clearly, just never with any hint of added sibilance or harshness.

Orchestral tracks, similar the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel Co-ordinate to the Other Mary, get an added dose of low frequency presence, bringing out the lower annals instrumentation somewhat, just not to a level that throws off the rest of the mix. The higher register strings, contumely, and vocals pace forward most, with the lower register instruments playing a supporting role—admitting one that is additional. Purists seeking a flat response may not love The Three's sound signature, but it works beyond genres to bring out rich bass without overwhelming the highs.

Conclusions

Klipsch's The Three sounds fantastic, and while it isn't cheap, it certainly performs to our expectations for this price range. Its retro design is matched with a thoroughly modernistic, multi-room-capable wireless streaming app that'south piece of cake to utilise. Throw in RCA connections for turntables and stereo gear, and you take a versatile, excellent-sounding organisation. Nearly speakers nosotros run into that attempt to exercise this much stop up being a pain to operate, but nothing about The 3's functioning is annoying, and its audio performance is impressive.

In this price range, we're as well fans of the Urbanears Baggen, the Sonos Play:5, and the Sonos Play:ane—like The Three, these are multi-room wireless options. If you're looking to spend less, the JLab Block Party is a solid wireless multi-room system worth checking out. Only in this price range, Klipsch has delivered a winner. The Three earns our Editors' Choice award for its handsome design, ease of utilize, versatility, and compelling audio performance.

Source: https://sea.pcmag.com/review/16702/klipsch-the-three

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