KLH HTA-9006 Home-Theater Speaker System

KLH HTA-9006 Home-Theater Speaker System
Manufacturer: KLH
Product Type: CE

Editorial Review:
Product Description
KLH is the market leader in the home entertainment speaker business. For over four decades it has been the benchmark in superb sound performance.
Amazon.com Review
Just as a keyboard needs a mouse and peanut butter needs jelly, a home theater system needs a subwoofer. KLH realized this when it designed the HTA- 9006, an affordable six-piece home theater speaker package which can purr as well as roar.

A powered subwoofer anchors the HTA-9006. Its down-firing 8-inch driver kicks with lightning-like speed and garners terrific visceral impact from a muscular 100-watt amplifier. The cabinet is ported to increase sensitivity and frequency extension, yet it's still small enough for you to tuck into a corner or under an end table.

But we're most impressed by the subwoofer features we usually only see on far costlier models: a crossover that's continuously variable from 50 to 150 Hz (letting you adjust the upper end of the sub's range); a 0-to-180-degree phase switch (which can compensate for distances between your sub and your front speakers); a continuously variable volume control (essential for easy fine tuning); an auto on/off sensor (you never have to think about turning it on or off), and speaker-level as well as line-level inputs (granting flexible setup options.

Four identical two-way satellite speakers handle front- and rear-channel duties. Each small black cabinet features a 4-inch fiber-cone woofer and a 0.63-inch tweeter. The horizontal center channel employs exactly the same drivers, but here twin woofers are placed to the outside of the tweeter for a little extra body (most film sound comes from the center channel). Duplicating the drivers for all- around timbre matching is one of the keys to superior surround sound--again, kudos to KLH.

The center channel does a great job of fixing dialogue at the screen and blends beautifully with the front and surround speakers to create a surprisingly expansive and three-dimensional soundscape.

With stereo CDs as well as 5.1-channel DVDs, this system's midrange is articulate and natural. It may not be as detailed as the very best and it does have a touch of box coloration, but that's acceptable in this price range. What's really important is overall balance, and in that regard this system excels.

And that subwoofer works like a champ! It's never obvious or heavy-handed but, when called upon, it delivers the explosive thrills that make home theater so much fun.

Got the picture? KLH's HTA-9006 is one heck of a good little home theater package and a truly great value. --Wayne Garcia

Pros:

Very good, well-balanced sound
Subwoofer has excellent features
Superb value

Cons:

Satellites lack high-frequency detail

Amazon.com Product Description
The impressive KLH HTA-9006 home theater speaker system has features usually seen only on far costlier models: a crossover that's continuously variable from 50 to 150 Hz for letting you adjust the upper end of the subwooofer's range, a 0-to-180-degree phase switch that can compensate for distances between your subwoofer and your front speakers, a continuously variable volume control, an auto on/off sensor, and speaker-level as well as line-level inputs for flexible setup options.