The satellites' exclusive Klipsch MicroTractrix horn maximizes clarity and high-frequency dispersion from CDs, MP3s, streaming radio programs, and other audio. The high-output, digital-hybrid-amplifier-driven ProMedia 2.1 offers a convenient headphone jack and dual stereo analog inputs, one for a more or less hard-wired connection from your computer's line or headphone output jack, the second to accommodate a portable audio device such as an MP3 or minidisc player/recorder.

Klipsch operates with a philosophy that demands accuracy in every aspect of sound reproduction, which--in the case of the ProMedia 2.1--has resulted in THX Certification. THX is an exclusive set of standards established by the world-renowned film production company, Lucasfilm Ltd., and products undergo rigorous quality and performance tests in order to receive this certification.

What's in the Box
Two satellite speakers, one subwoofer, two 9.5-foot lengths of speaker cable (22 gauge), a user's manual, and warranty information.

PROS:
- Amazing sound: clear highs, full mid-range and rich tight bass.
- Power that rivals many home systems (200w-total)- Satellites (35w ea) - Subwoofer (130W)
- Convenient headphone and auxiliary input jacks.
- Convenient and separate controls for volume and bass.
- Very attractive casing.
- Very easy setup
- THX certified (which means you will hear things you won't hear on other speakers).

CONS:
* I cannot think of anything major, but a few drawbacks might be...
- Speaker system does not have a power switch on the satellite, it is located on the sub-woofer, which is not easy to get to (as it is typically tucked out of sight). However, the problem of shutdown is easily addressed with a power strip.
- [Costly,] compared to other systems (...though they are WELL worth the difference).
- Has horn tweeters, which are too "bright" for some folks... though I LOVE them.

Everything I play through these speakers sound great (DVD's, MP3's, Digital Camcorder movies, tape player etc.)I do not believe a better 3-piece system exists on the planet.
If you are a gamer or home theater enthusiast, I would encourage you to look at this systems "big brothers" (the 4.1 & 5.1 Promedia systems) as they are even more amazing (and pricier) for games and movies.

If you are in the market for a great speaker system I HIGHLY recommend Klipsch to you.


If you are allowed one little luxury in life.....   January 18, 2003
 52 out of 54 found this review helpful

Since I bought my first stereo system in the late 1970s, most component purchase decisions have been about looking for the right compromise between performance and price. In this case, the combinations of Klipsch's tradition of great speakers and an in-store audition made me disregard the price point, and --after months of monk-like-denial of other little wants-- plunk down the significant $ these requre. If price is your ONLY consideration, then hese speakers have some excellent competition from Logitech (and soon, from their own company, when the GMX D-5.1 are released in Feb 2003). But: These are equal to --or better-- than best home stereo speakers I've ever owned. And at that level of performance (even with adding of a 5.1 capable sound card if you don't already have one), then these are at a modest price point. Like loud??? Crank 'em up. Not only will you risk your hearing, but you'll be amazed at out damned crisp the sound was just before deafness set in. Issues: The subwoofer is not for confined spaces. The "control tower" user interface has some issues (the power button is inexplicably located on its side, and the smaller center/rear/sub adjustment knobs would be improved by either some backlit labels and or a configuration that visually establishes their relationship): these are minor points, but surprising oversights in a speaker system that wil require most of four hundred dollars to buy. But: put in your favorite tunes (interesting note for P2P lovers whose music may be mostly downloaded: Klipsch indicates in their manual that these speakers will reveal the loss of fidelity in the MP3 format. Be prepared!), turn up the volume and all is forgiven. These rock. Period.


Incredible Sound, Unbeatable Value   October 30, 2006
 47 out of 50 found this review helpful

Once THE speaker of choice for every hard rockin' audiophile with a big enough garage, Klipsch fell off the landscape for a while after being sold to a corporate conglomerate that didn't know the real value of what they'd bought. But after another buyout by a small group of genuine audiophiles, Klipsch is back on top, from a sound quality standpoint -- and it shows in the ProMedia 2.1 THX.

I have my trio connected to a new Mac Pro desktop unit and the sound is absolutely magical. Yes, there are more complex set-ups, with 5 or 7 speakers spread out across the room, but if you just want the magic without the madness, the Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX is an incredible (and very affordable) solution that's quick and easy to configure in about 5 minutes.

Of course, there are other 3-speaker desktop systems by makers like Logitech, Cyber Acoustics, and Intec, but here's the difference: Klipsch is a true speaker company that connects great speakers to your computer, while those others are computer peripherals companies that one day decided to make speakers. NOT the same thing. The only brands that are true competitors to Klipsch in this area are Bose, Harman Kardon, JBL, and Altec Lansing. I find that the Altec Lansing and JBL 3-speaker sets both sound nasal and "tinny" on the high end, while the Bose and Harman Kardon sets sound great, but are more expensive. So, after a good look (and listen) around, I went with Klipsch.

In any case, this is an incredible sound set-up for your computer-based music player and should not be overlooked. Enjoy.


KLIPSCH HAS RUINED THEIR REPUTATION WITH PROMEDIA SPEAKERS!!   March 17, 2004
 27 out of 30 found this review helpful

Within the last two years I have bought two sets of the Promedia 2.1 speakers based on the reputation of the company, and several excellent reviews on the web. They remind me of my old VW rabbit. When it worked it was an awesome car, but it had one problem after another. The same can be said for these speakers. The subs on both sets failed, and got severely distorted sound. The quality of these speakers has spoken for themselves. ****CHEAP**** They obviously have a serious reliability problem, as suggested by many other customer's reviews, but what is worse, after spending $350 on the two sets, Klipsch will not recall them, and wants me to spend another $40 each to fix the subwoofers. That's great customer service. Don't buy this junk. I have since bought a set of Logitech z-2200 speakers (THX rated) for about $100 and could not be happier. They are built much better, and sound fantastic.


Best 2.1 computer speakers out there.   December 31, 2005
 26 out of 28 found this review helpful

Since I moved I've had to suffer...and that's not an exaggeration, listening to my CDs through a Sony Discman and Altec Lansing ACS44 2.1 speakers.

It was torture listening to the horn section on Rickie Lee Jones' Pirates CD. It was like nails on a blackboard. Very harsh sounding. I never remembered it sounding like that on my audio system I left back home. But, when I plugged the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 into the Discman and played Rickie Lee Jones...oh my! The horns were smooth, not harsh. Rickie's voice was mellow. I could discern individual voices and instruments on the loud passages. These loud passages sounded like mush on the Altecs.

I have a broad range in musical taste. So, next I put in some Classical. Beethoven's String Quartets performed by Quartetto Italiano. I could really hear those rosin laden bows grabbing at those strings. On good recordings you can hear this with decent audio gear. This is one of the criteria besides horns I use when listening for how well the speakers can resolve audio detail in the mid and upper ranges. Other criteria are cymbals; they should sound smooth, not tinny...sort of a "psh psh" as opposed to a "tzz tzz". On the Klipsch cymbals sound like "psh psh" like they're supposed to. Cymbals linger and float in the air now. That's something that never happened with the Altecs.

These are quite revealing and detailed speakers. Hook in a different CD player and you'll really hear a noticeable difference. The quality of the recordings will come through on these speakers. Good recordings will sound good and mediocre records will sound mediocre. These speakers will not make John Fogerty's voice on CCR's Cronicle 20 Greatest Hits CD any more tolerable unfortunately, but neither will just about any other good set of speakers. Instruments and notes that I didn't notice before on my old system or totally missing on the Altecs are revealing themselves again and anew. Some say the tweeters are overly bright. Perhaps. These speakers are on the bright side but not overly so in my opinion. And if they are bright it's not harsh. I can listen to these speakers all day at moderately loud levels. Can't say the same for some other hi-fi speakers I've heard before. I could only listen to 1 or 2 CDs on the Altecs before I gave up.

The Klipsch Promedias do a great job on vocals too. Raiatea Helm's voice sounded more "Sweet and Lovely" (the title of her latest Hawaiian CD) on the Klipsch than on the Altecs. If you love listening to female vocals you HAVE to get Raiatea's CD!

***Since 1/10/06 I've learned that Raiatea's CD has been nominated for a Grammy in Category 70, Best Hawaiian Music Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)!***

Bass is good too. Good detail and extension, though a bit vague. This trait, I've found, is common with small diameter, ported woofers. It's also a bit weighty. I keep the bass adjustment for the subwoofer all the way down. Any setting higher than that and it overpowers the mids and highs. Placing the subwoofer outside and away from corners and walls and slightly to the left of your listening position is probably best. You will have to experiment on placement and level settings to find what works best in your environment and for your taste. Everyone's room and ears are different. Just walking around the room or moving slightly toward or away from the subwoofer unit will change the sound of it. After fiddling with my subwoofer placement I found having it about two feet out from the back wall and two feet out from the side wall, but just inside the left satellite is ideal for me. Placing it more toward the center of the satellites caused a lack of lower mids and upper bass. Cellos sounded anemic when the sub was placed in the center. Just off to the left and cellos sound much much better.

The stereo imaging and soundstage is head and shoulders above the Altecs! When I put on Laurie Anderson's "Home of the Brave" live CD and turned up the volume I really felt like I was in the concert hall. And how's this? The Klipsch's imaging is so good it fooled my cat's sensitive ears! I was listening to Eagles' Greatest Hits Vol. 2 and 'Heartache Tonight' ends with a series of drum beats. My cat was sitting in my lap, facing me and these drum beats caused him to turn his head back in the direction he thought they came from. He directed his head and ears to the outside of the right speaker where even I thought they were coming from! With the Altecs I could always pinpoint that the instruments were coming from the satellites.

Now for the negatives. First off the Tractrix tweeters are taken from the high end models which are priced in the $1000s which is a plus, and although they have very good lateral dispersion they have a real lack of vertical dispersion. This being the case it's very important to set the satellites at ear level for the best treble detail and sound. The speakers are normally tilted up on their stands. The thinking is they'll be placed on the computer desk below ear level. But it would've been nice if Klipsch had designed adjustable stands that could be tilted up or down. The Altec satellites can be tilted up or down. You could remove the stands and bend them so the speakers are more vertical and I may have to do this with my set up. I have the speakers set up on a counter between my kitchen and living area of my apartment and when I sit to listen the tweeters and mid range drivers are pointing up slightly. This is enough to cause a lack of clarity in the upper ranges. When I stand up from my seated position I notice a definite change...and it's better. However, like most people I like to sit while I listen to music, not stand!

It would be best to use stands to adjust the height of the speakers, but don't get the ones they sell on Klipsch's website. Instead get a pair of Sanus EFSatb (black) or EFSats (silver) and bolt the Klipsch stock stands to them using one of the Sanus' brackets. The Sanus stands are better than the ones Klipsch sells because the tubes are bigger and the base is cast iron. The Sanus is more sturdy than the Omnimounts that Klipsch sells. On Amazon's website the Sanus' are cheaper than the Klipsch stands too...by almost half!

While you can order a Monster Cable speaker cable kit from Klipsch (something I highly recommend). It would've been really nice if Klipsch designed the satellites with regular speaker cable connections rather than mini jacks. This way you could upgrade the stock speaker cables with any brand speaker cables you want. And it would've been really really cool if Klipsch incorporated binding posts to connect the speaker cables instead of the usual cheap clips.

While you can connect your CD or MP3 source through the mini jack on the control preamp you need to use adapters if you want to use your favorite interconnect cables. Again, it would've been really cool if Klipsch designed the control preamp with a pair of RCA jacks.

These are all nit picks of course as these are designed and marketed for use with computers. Still, it would've been nice if Klipsch designed these with the audiophile in mind. And I'll tell you why. While an audiophile has his/her main audio equipment in the living room this setup would be great in a den, bedroom, rec room or garage.

Want to have a cheap, but truly good if not great sounding little hi-fi system? Hook up a nice, yet inexpensive CD player from NAD, Adcom, etc. with good interconnect cables from Kimber Kable, Rega, Tara Labs or Synergistic Research using adapters...get the Monster Cable kit from Klipsch (wish they had better) and you'll have one nice little sound system.

This is what I'm planning to do exactly. I need to build my sound system from scratch again and this is a good starting point as I can't get all the components all at once...I'm not rich after all. I'm planning on getting a Jolida JD100 vacuum tube CD player and hooking it up to these Klipsch with good interconnects for the time being. This combination will work just fine as I feel these little "computer" speakers are up the to task and worthy of something like the Jolida CDP. Then, I'll get Jolida's 1501RC tube/solid state hybrid integrated amp...and then a pair of Magnepan MG12s...then I'll really be in music heaven! Until then the Klipsch Promedia 2.1 will satisfy me.

***Since writing this review I've found out that Kimber Kable makes cables with a pair of RCA connectors on one end and a mini plug on the other...or, if you want to hook up your iPod or portable CD player they make a cable with mini plugs on both ends. And, Synergistic Research will be coming out with cables for iPod (I'm guessing mini to mini and mini to RCA cables). So NO ADAPTERS NEEDED! These cables will be a huge step up, from top to bottom, in musical detail and extension over the built in cable or anything you can get from Radio Shack or similar store.***

***Okay, another addition to my already long review, but this is very noteworthy. If you really want to hear what these speakers can do you HAVE TO get the Monster Cable kit. Not having the patience to wait for the Monster Cable 2.1 set to be in stock on Klipsch's website I went ahead and ordered the set for the Promedia 4.1s and installed the shorter 15ft. pair to my Promedia 2.1s.

Well, as expected upper end detail improved greatly. With the stock speaker cables the speakers could barely resolve the cymbal beats on Pink Floyd's 'Comfortably Numb'. They're very subtle, but they are there. But, with the Monster Cables the cymbals are resolved very well. Nora Jones' voice really opened up on her 'Come Away With Me' CD. Before it was good, but always seemed constrained, boxed in even. I thought it was the recording, but the Monster Cables really helped her voice on this CD. But the last thing I thought the Monster Cables would do is IMPROVE BASS DETAIL. After all the cables feed the satellites and the sub is on its own needing no cable hook ups aside from the power and DIN from the control preamp right? As I sat there dumbfounded but enjoying the increased detail in bass I thought, the mid range drivers on the satellites are responsible for the lower mid-range and the upper bass...and this is where the increased detail is, but this also helps define the lower bass too. Also, from what I've read elsewhere another way to increase bass detail is to raise the subwoofer off the floor. I would recommend something inexpensive like Herbie's Isolation feet at:

http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/footers.htm

This will be my next upgrade for these great sounding little speakers.***