Name: Klipsch Flexus Core 300
Brand: Klipsch

A room can turn one bass note into a boom while the next almost disappears. The Flexus Core 300 gives you a microphone and Dirac Live to measure what happens around your seats. It’s an unusually practical feature for someone who wants to improve a TV room without rearranging all the furniture. Start by measuring the cabinet, though. The finished bar is 54 inches wide.

Sound Quality & Bass

5.1.2-channel bar
Up-firing drivers
Built-in bass drivers

RTINGS tested the Core 300 on its own. It found dialogue well anchored and bass with impact for one enclosure, though the bar could rattle on loud bass. Behind-the-sofa effects and the lowest rumble are good reasons to consider the optional speakers. A review of the fully expanded system answers a different buying question from the one facing a person starting with the bar. ¹

Room Correction

Dirac Live Limited Bandwidth
Included calibration microphone
Correction to 500Hz

The included license concentrates on the lower frequencies, where seat position and room dimensions can make bass uneven. Measure several positions around the seats you use and keep the room quiet during the procedure. RTINGS found that calibration reduced the output level on its unit. Try a familiar scene before and after at matched listening levels, especially if loud playback matters to you. ¹

Installation & Connections

54 inches wide
HDMI input with 4K/120Hz passthrough
HDMI eARC

The width can be an advantage under a large screen, but the cabinet needs enough usable surface and the bar should clear the TV’s lower edge. The HDMI input can also save a socket on the TV if a compatible game system needs a path through the bar. If your powered subwoofer has an RCA line input, you can reuse it by connecting that input to the bar’s RCA subwoofer output. ²

Surround Formats

Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
Upward- and side-firing drivers
TrueHD & DTS-HD over HDMI

The Core 300 decodes Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Its upward- and side-firing drivers give effects a route above and beside the screen, but every driver in the base package still sits at the front. For a Blu-ray with lossless Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD audio, use the HDMI input or an eARC television that passes that format. Optical is useful for an older TV but cannot carry those lossless tracks.

Music & Streaming

AirPlay & Google Cast
Spotify Connect
TIDAL Connect

Music can go straight to the soundbar over Wi-Fi using AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect or TIDAL Connect. That lets the Klipsch serve as the living room’s music system without turning on the screen. Bluetooth is available for simpler pairing. For a mixed music and movie setup, check the bass at your listening chair after calibration, especially if you later connect a separate powered sub.

Alternatives

For a viewer mainly bothered by muddy bass, try moving an existing subwoofer before buying another system. If sound arriving from behind is the missing effect, a package with rear speakers included gives a clearer idea of the total spend.

Verdict

I’d choose the Core 300 for a room that can accommodate its width and an owner willing to run the calibration. Budget for optional speakers only after deciding what the standalone bar is missing at your own seat.

Klipsch Flexus Core 300 review

Pros

Cons