Customer Reviews

Klipsch KMC 3 Music Center - White

I'd noticed this appear on Amazon and the positive internet reviews a while ago whilst browsing for another speaker. I was on my sunbed on holiday and noticed it was on offer at �199 (�150 off the previous price). I thought I'd take a punt and I am well impressed. I already have a Sonos Play 5 so I am familiar with what a quality portable speaker can offer. I'm listening to the Klipsch now as I type and can thoroughly recommend it. I'm throwing the music from an Xperia Z and I've also used the cable connection and there is no discernible difference. Great sound with all types of music, use your music source to control the equalisation settings. Wait for it to come down in price again and grab a bargain. I'm going to buy some rechargeable batteries so I can use in the garden with the barbecue.

We wanted something portable to take on a trip - music wherever we go. So we took the Klipsch KMC 3 Music Center and we were THRILLED.

It comes in a really nifty flight case. One of us (not me!) seemed to enjoy the case almost as much as the music centre. The case is necessary, I'm sure, when you're travelling and it is superbly protective, but it is quite big, double the size if an average briefcase, which reduces portability somewhat. Of course, you can always ditch the case and carry it naked, so it is portable - after a fashion: I was glad we had the car with us, because it's pretty heavy: I wouldn't have wanted to carry it too far. The speaker unit itself is pleasingly small: in the house, it sits anonymously on a small shelf, you wouldn't even know it was there, until you turn it on...

The main and *only* thing of note about the Klipsch is the sound, which is PHENOMENAL. We ran it off an ipod and a hard drive, on a cable and on Bluetooth, and the cable gives a better sound quality, but both are excellent. The volume and sound quality is truly amazing, with a festival-style, thundering, pounding base that gives a deep and satisfying bone-rattling sensation in the chest and no discernible distortion. Just incredible sound quality. The controls are basic and easy - just off, on and volume. There's a small, easy-to-lose remote which we mostly used for changing the track order. Battery life is average - I'd guess about a fortnight of regular use, we rarely used it on batteries.

And that's it. I feel I should say more but there's little more to say. It looks nice enough: a small and simple speaker unit in plain matt black. It looks like a thousand others of its ilk. Its looks belie its true quality, which is all in the performance, which I cannot rate highly enough.

It arrived today.

I carefully unwrapped the outer cardboard packaging and came to the Klipsch box. Wow, the packaging this arrives in is to die for. It is as heavy as the speaker, like a sound technicians chest. I have posted a couple of pictures. Quality!

Unwrapping the speaker was even better, it's heavy, but not too heavy and has a great textural feel when you pick it up, sort of soft and rubberised with a correctly positioned carry handle that is built in. It will more than likely stand up to knocks and bumps when used as a portable speaker. Add in the batteries and it will feel pretty weighty if you are running around with it.

Set up took three minutes, plug it in the mains, switch it on, switch on the ipod, touch the bluetooth connection and pair. In fact it took less than 3 minutes to get up and running.

There are no buttons, only touch controls on the top of the speaker. One word of warning, the volume is factory set to full `blast your ears to pieces'. Turn it down before you switch it on or you may give yourself palpitations. It can shock the system. You can connect an AUX in and flip between that and bluetooth but eh USB socket at the back is for the charging lead of your music player not an input socket.

The real question is how it performs, great packaging and easy set up do not always translate into a great product. I've been fooled by packaging before.

This time it does get better. Yes I know that listening to music is very personal, what one person hears as perfection is anothers disaster. For me, I like sound with good clarity and a natural bass that does not overwhelm what I am listening to. A previous Klipsch dock I have used had too much bass and did in fact overwhelm some of what I listened to.

I have tried this out with a variety of music, Spiderbait, The Heavy, Bob Dylan, Coldplay, Fallout Boy, Super Tramp, ELO, Flo Rida, Johnny Cash, various classical pieces, the BBC iPayer radio and a couple of talking books. I know it says something about my music tastes, snigger if you will but I like to think there is nothing that I won't try out, once.

On all but the highest volume setting the performance is very good, flat out it gets a little breathless. It does have a very natural bass sound that does not tend to overpower the mid-range tones, in fact I like the clarity it produces underneath the bass tones.
Just listen to Johnny Cashs Hurt, you can hear the moisture in his mouth, seriously!

However, it appears that if you want to reduce the bass the only way to do it is by the setting on your iPod or music device, and only if you are using iTunes. The bass is set in stone on this speaker. It may not appeal to some.

Across the range of music it performed impeccably, but I still feel I'd like some control over the bass output.

The other small niggle I have is the remote control supplied with the unit. It looks and feels cheap and I wonder whether they put much effort into its design or whether this is where they saved money to keep it below a price point. It just does not match the quality of the speaker. Klipsch could do better.

In conclusion, the speaker is very good but might not suit those who do not like too much bass. For those of you that do like bass, it will vibrate the very foundations of your house, if you live in a flat or semi-detached you will probably get complaints. Full blast volume is great but it performs better with less.

The question is really, is it worth the cost? I think yes, it is a quality product, it performs and fills a room with music, but it loses one star for the cheap as chips remote and lack of tone control.

This is a serious sound box and it comes with a serious price. I have used a bose ipod dock (Sound Dock �199) for a long time which has served very well, is more portable and has a built in rechargeable battery that lasts several hours. The KMC3 however does surpass the sound quality particularly in detail but only just about matches the volume, which if you are outside is important. It is far larger and significantly less portable than the Bose however and requires 8 D batteries which have to be removed to be recharged.

However, the bluetooth capability moves this to another level and the unit has connected effortlessly to my iPhone and iMac. I have also now connected it by cable to my TV from the headphone socket. The sound is not so good on TV and i have left the main speakers on the get a fuller and wider sound, but this could be because I dont have the cable to connect to the phono out on the TV

At the price I would have expected a cable for such connections, even just a jack to jack to connect ipods etc which arent bluetooth.

I doubt I will use this unit in its "portable" mode as the bluetooth logitech (UE Boombox �199) unit I have is rechargeable and much more portable, giving a more than adequate sound for outdoors even with 20 people talking. The Bose is not wireless in any way.

For those who like to know this unit has the following:
Sound output peak of 130W
2x15W RMS Main drivers
1x35W subwoofer
Battery life on max volume is 8 hours
Max size 43cm x 18cm x 18cm (it tapers backwards)
Bluetooth
3.5mm jack aux input
USB - for charging units only
Weight 3.5kgs

The first thing you will note when you get the Klipsch kmc3 music centre is it is sumptuously packaged. Now, OK, you are probably going to be throwing the box away and in recycling terms it's a pain as the foam is glued to the rigid box, but it screams quality at you - which is reassuring when you've spend your hard earned cash in what is not a cheap item.

The second thing you will notice is that's it's quite big - and this is the one area I have a reservation about the product. To be fair, the box promotes it as a wireless system (using the bluetooth function of your player, although you can of course connect it via wires) rather than a mobile/portable unit, but look at the back and it calls it a "mobile music system" that gives you "music on the go all day". Hmmm. Not so sure. It's just too big and heavy to lug around - you could move it from room to room without incurring a hernia but if "portable" means to you what it means to me, then it really isn't quite that. The most direct comparison it probably with the Bose � SoundLink � Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II - Matte finish with dark grey nylon cover and in terms of portability, it's a clear win for Bose - and it is around two thirds of the price at the time of writing.

The other issue to note is that the Bose runs off a rechargeable lithium battery - the Klipsch's battery power requires 8 D Cell batteries - those are the big, heavy, chunky ones if you want to go truly mobile. Incidentally despite the chunky price (and top tip here, I have found some great Klipsch prices on their discontinued lines, so paying full whack for the latest is not always the best idea), batteries are not included. Now, there are pros and cons to the lithium/alkali battery debate. If and when the lithium cell dies, you find yourself up a well known creek without a paddle - albeit that it will still function from mains. Less of an issue with the alkali battery option but you still need regular investment in batteries and as I mentioned, these are the big batteries - carrying around a spare set is not ideal. Another qualified score for the Bose.

In terms of ease of syncing with your mobile device - it's a draw - both are easy.

Sound quality is a contentious issue when comparing the two. There are fans of each system - it's rather like the Nikon vs Canon debate with SLR cameras - both make damn fine units but it's as much down to personal taste which you prefer. Me? I prefer the Klipsch sound - I just think it is more appealing and luxurious, but you will never convince a dedicated Bose fan that it is better - probably because it isn't better - it's just different. For me though, the Klipsch scores a point here. The sound is remarkable, and you will hardly believe it is coming from a bluetooth connection.

Where the Klipsch also scores is in the little extra bits. For a start you can charge your unit through your USB wire (not supplied but you must have one to charge your phone!) It's not a docking station as such, but it effectively can be used in that way. You cannot do this with the Bose SoundLink. Klipsch also give you a small remote device which Bose don't. Bose argue that your mobile device has that function anyway, and that's true, but it's nice to have and I have used it.

So which to chose? Well that comes down to how much you need portability and how much you like the sound of the two different systems (they are noticeably different - I suggest trying to hear both before you pull out the credit card). As a static unit - mine now lives in the living room permanently plugged in to the mains - I love the Klipsch more than the Bose. Is it worth the price premium above the Bose who, let's face it aren't known for cheap units, well, maybe not. And if you are going to use it as a static speaker, you could argue that the bluetooth element is a waste - you might as well just get a docking station and the discontinued Klipsch ones are terrific value. But boy is it a good sound.

UN-BOXING A LOVELY PIECE OF KIT
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The Klipsch KMC 3 Music Center is quite a surprise. Looks nice. Actually it looks better than nice, it looks impressive. Not quite the look and feel of a Bose. But certainly up there. (I think the white one looks slightly better in the flesh Klipsch KMC 3 Music Center - White)

PORTABLE
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It comes with its own flight case. It's not exactly light but is ideal for picnics, festivals, going to the park or simply BBQ musicing.

ISN'T THAT ANNOYING?
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Well, it depends on what you are playing. But if you are playing annoying music, at annoying levels in public spaces, please remember that you may be annoying.

COMPACT, SMART AND SOUNDS GOOD?
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Yes, it sounds remarkably good. It says, "AptX� technology allows for audiophile quality streaming" which translates to sounds good. Really good.

REMOTE CONTROL?
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Of course, and it pairs like a dream with your blue-tooth media player. (In my case an iPhone 4)

PORTABILITY WITH BATTERIES
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It can take 8 D batteries (they are the larger ones.) I used rechargeable 7dayshop Rechargeable Ni-Mh Batteries - D Cell Size (3000mAh) - Pack of 2 and they hadn't been exhausted after a few hours playing.

COMPETITORS
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The Bose Bose � SoundLink � Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II - Matte finish with dark grey nylon cover is slightly cheaper and but quite a lot smaller. The Bose is more like a radio size and this is a ghetto blaster size. Both have a similar sound. (in terms of quality and loudness)
Although the Bose speaker doesn't have external batteries to fiddle and change. The Bose is also around �100 cheaper.

At around the same price there is the portable Sound dock Bose � SoundDock � Portable Digital Music System This is very portable, sleek and has superb sound quality like the Klipsch. However, it doesn't have bluetooth. There is a more expensive bluetooth Bose speaker but it's not integrated and looks, hmmm, it looks awful. Bose � SoundDock � 10 Bluetooth Digital Music System

CONCLUSION
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It's really pleasing on the eye. Really pleasing on the ear. But. But. BUT.
I don't like having to take the batteries out to recharge them. Not the worst thing about a gadget, but I find it more than a tad annoying. If you can live with that, then I can wholeheartedly recommend the Klipsch KMC 3.

This is really a good boombox when you want to have deep rich sound. I am using it at the office all day playing deephouse tunes and even on low volume you can hear the quality. Don't hesitate just buy it!

Everything about the Klipsh KMC 3 screams class. From the solid construction, the depth of sound right down to the heft foam-lined plywood box it arrives in.

It is worth noting that the device is significantly larger than the pictures suggest which may affect it's suitability for some people.

On unpacking you get a power cable (3-pin and 2-pin) and adaptor, 3.5mm audio in/out cable, remote control and instructions.

Connecting is a breeze, just touch the bluetooth symbol until it flashes and then connect on your phone/tablet/PC. After that the unit will automatically connect if it is within range when turned on. If you need to plug it into a mp3 player or such like, put the 3.4mm cable into the headphone socket of you player and into the audio socket on the back of the KMC3

The sound was rich and full and packed quite a punch so could easily be used outdoors. The unit felt solid and well made with a non-slip casing (it felt a bit like silicone rubber) so it's easy to hold and doesn't show the finger marks and even has a little non-slip tray on top to hold your phone and a USB port for charging your gadgets.

Now the key question, at the current �350 price tag, is it worth the money. To be honest, I'd say it probably is in most cases. The sound matched very closely to my Bose Wave stereo. In fact the only difference I could hear was the vocals on the Bose were clearer on tracks with a lot of bass, whilst the bass on the KMC did tend to slightly over-power the vocals at times.

That's not to say the KMC3 doesn't have it's issues, it does. It's quite big and too heavy to be truly portable. It's something you'd be moving from the house into the garden for the one nice day a year you want to have a barbecue. There's also the issue of batteries. The unit is mains powered or can be run from 8 D size batteries (the big awkward ones) and the instructions give no indication what sort of usage expectancy you'd get on battery power. For the price I'd have expected a rechargeable Lithium battery. They could have spent less on packaging and put in a removable (and therefore replaceable) Lithium battery to increase it's functionality.

If I were being especially picky, I'd also have liked to have some kind of control over the treble and bass for �350, rather than having to install something on the phone/tablet/PC to try to adjust the sound to personal tastes.

I also found it a little awkward that the USB charging port is located underneath the power port on the back of the unit. It would be more practical to have it as the top most socket so you can reach over, or better yet, placed on the top of the unit for easy access.

The remote was a nice feature as it allowed me to adjust volume, move forward or back a track and turn the KMC3 off. There were two small issues with the remote, if I paused music I had to manually start it again from my phone or tablet, although it's not clear if this was a problem with the remote, the KMC3 or Android. I also found that the receiver on the unit must be located at the top of the machine as it worked better pointing down from above than pointing up to it which may influence practical placement.

You're certainly going to get plenty of tech for your cash and suitability will really depend on your needs, but you'd certainly be getting a high quality piece of kit.

When I unboxed it and so the size of this speaker, my expectations were lowered a bit. I was thinking it may not be possible to have the advertised party-level sound! It may be an understatement to say I was surprised! The Subwoofer delivers really deep bass, but it does not drown the two integrated stereo speakers, so I am getting a balanced Punchy sound. It sounds really good, and coped well with my HP Laptop with Beats Audio, which usually comes out as too much for many speakers this size. I listened to country (Chapman & Parton) the guitar was coming out crystal clear, then I switched to reggae and RnB to test the bass. Well it spits out serious non-overpowering bass and clear sound. You will still get some distortion at very high volume, it's better to keep it around 80%. If you want more, below is my full experience:

DESIGN:
It's beautiful and looks expensive, even the box is unique (it may encourage hording!), it's surface is very soft to touch. It has illuminated controls. The controls are not raised, rather they are illuminated when the unit is on so are very easy to see and operate. The controls are grayed out when the unit is off, or a particular control is off (only for the bluetooth and volume strip). The front part has a strong wire mesh that protects the speakers and the whole front part so this just wont tear even if rubbed against during everyday use. Then we have an inbuilt handle that makes it truely portable. It just allows you to deep your fingers in and lift the unit. It's nice in that the surface under the inbult handle is extra soft, different from the rest of the unit, with a rubber feel (actually it's rubber) that caresses the back of your fingers as you push them in and out of the inbuilt handle. This makes confortable as you move it around since the back of the finders that comes in to contact with the surface is very soft and prone to bruising if the design has not be well thought! Then comes the straight-forward USB port, that allows you to charge the unit as you party.

PERFORMANCE:
Playback with the provided audio cable is straight-forward. I just powered it on, and connected it to my smartphone and started playing music. You toggle between bluetooth and aux in put by pressing and holding the bluetooth control (horizontal eight-shaped control) on the unit or on the remote control for around 2 to 3 seconds and the bluetooth control will begin flushing. I turned bluetooth ON, on my phone and it found the Clipsch KMC speaker and paired with it, then the bluetooth control stopped flushing and remained steady on, in blue. My phone (Xperia Z) has a feature called 'Throw', so I just tapped that and chose the speaker and viola, I was playing my music wirelessly and powerfully! clear sound with a punchy bass. I left it in one room and went to a different room and closed the door and the wireless still worked, no glitch!

I am playing with this during the day. I think in the night the lights from the illuminated controls may not be very cool at bed side when lights are off, I wish there was a way to dim them in the night. Well this is a minor thing, this is still a 5 STAR machine.

To sum it up, it's confortably portable, relatively small in size, authentically pleasing with touch sensitive controls with a punchy sound and pulsating bass and oh dear a �349.99 price tag, almost forgot, also wireless! Decide mates, I love it.

QUICK UPDATE (18-05-13)
I was struggling to make use of the remote. Apart from the mute, volume, source and OFF buttons, the pause, Forward and Reverse did not seem to work! Then, I thought perhaps I needed to point either at the phone since it's the one that is sending the music via bluetooth. That did not work at all, affer all it sounds ridiculous in retrospect. So I pointed at the speaker and still the three buttons did not seem to work. So I aimed right at the front of the speaker and all the buttons were working, I could select the next track and the previous track on the Smartphone's playlist! This felt really cool considering the music is being streamed wirelessly from a mobile phone that is not near the speaker. It seems the sensor is located at the front. So it did not work because I was pointing willy nilly. Now these buttonsonly work when you are in bluetooth mode.

I have been using a Bose Music Wave portable CD system for over 10 years now for presentations, playing music outside at parties and functions. With the active bass unit attached the sound is incredible for the size of the unit and it can fill a large room. This product which is simply a small speaker unit with a handle is ultra portable and much smaller than the Bose unit, which has 4 speakers stacked in a rectangular type of housing. When I saw the unit I doubted that it would be a match for the �1000 Bose unit, but how wrong I was on all counts. For me this is superior in virtually every way.

Firstly, this speaker is truly fully portable, its small and can sit on a small counter top.

Secondly, it sends out the most amazingly loud sound, beyond what you could wish given its size. At full power there has never been any distortion.

Thirdly, it can run off batteries, which are housed in the base of the unit. It takes 8 D batteries, which can last for upto 26 hours.

Fourthly, the BlueTooth technology works so well and pairing the speaker to the computer or phone is so very easy.

Fifth, it has a remote control that alters the volume of the sound, but can also alter the track play order by somehow controlling the sound source itself. Very clever.

I can find no downside to this incredible unit, if you buy it as a speaker for outdoor parties or a great computer speaker. It also makes an incredibly loud PA speaker and can easily be hooked up to a wireless microphone. At the back it has a USB and a microphone socket.

This is simply an amazing small speaker that packs one of the biggest punches in terms of sound, I have ever heard from a unit that is so small.

Highly recommended.