Klipsch Flexus CORE 200 3.1.2 System

Firsthand listening impressions

I've been a fan of Klipsch's classic sound for years — we made frequent use of one of their tabletop speakers back when I was a trainer in our call center. So I was excited to snag a sample of the Flexus CORE 200 sound bar and "test-drive" it before its release.

Even cooler, I also got a hold of the matching SUB 100 wireless subwoofer and SURR 100 rear speakers. I tested the system by progressively adding more components as I went. Perhaps not surprisingly, my favorite experience was the full system — bar, sub, and surrounds — playing together. But the CORE 200 rocked hard all by itself, offering expansive sound, clear detail, and solid bass for such a slim bar.

Delicious dungeon sounds and '90s nostalgia

I started my test with my current binge-watching favorite: contemporary Japanese anime series Delicious in Dungeon. I found I could track all the dialogue with ease, even without activating the bar's voice enhancement feature. That clarity persisted even as the episode got chaotic and the show's misfit heroes battled for survival against a mad mage. The bar perfectly captured the sizzle of spells and monster food cooking on a pan.

For the next phase, I hooked up the SUB 100 by plugging its included USB transmitter into the back of the sound bar. Then I switched over to X-Men '97, an update to an old favorite from my childhood. The subwoofer's extra bass added tactile vibrations to the action, thumping with each impact as my favorite mutants smashed into sentinels left and right. The bar's bass was good, but nothing beats the rumble of a dedicated subwoofer.

Swords, spears, and legendary heroes

For my final test, I hooked up the SURR 100 rear speakers and fired up my PS5. I jumped into Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, a dark fantasy game version of the Chinese literary classic Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Where else could I hear the singing steel of twin blades carving through demon shrimp pirates?

As I charged through a level of burning ships lashed together, I could track the sounds of battle in the distance, hear the creak of wood under strain all around me, and follow the dialogue of my allied NPCs as they trailed behind in my wake. Each well-timed sword parry offered up a satisfying clang before the thunder of my cinematic finishing moves. The combination of bar + sub + surrounds filled my room with crisp, detailed sound and made me feel like I was being transported right into the action.