Brilliant, Relatively Portable Sound
Eric Dahl
Klipsch's ProMedia Ultra 2.0 speakers are portable, though just barely.
Mobile computing and portable music are a huge deal these days, and Klipsch is launching a set of speakers as big as the trend. Designed to match up with mobile CD and DVD players, laptops, and IPods and MP3 players, the $100 ProMedia Ultra 2.0 system focuses on offering dynamic sound in a portable package.
Of course, "portable" is a relative term. Think of the Ultra 2.0 units as the loaded 17-inch laptops of mobile speakers. You won't want to carry them around all day, but you can take them from place to place easily, and once you set them up, you will have a nearly desktop-quality experience.
I tested a set of preproduction speakers and found them surprisingly light, though a little bulky for your average laptop bag. In fact, the power brick that comes with them is the heaviest part of the package (you can't run them off batteries).
The ProMedia Ultra 2.0 system sounds wonderful. Compared with other portable speakers, the 10-inch-high satellites have superior imaging, crisp and detailed high-to-midrange response, and surprisingly good bass. They faithfully reproduced the airiness of Jeff Buckley's haunting "Hallelujah" and the complex sound effects of DVDs such as The Fifth Element.
These speakers can bring the noise too, thanks to 15 watts of power per channel. That's impressive for a portable setup, and even better than some desktop systems. But they aren't magic. Compare them with any decent 2.1 desktop speaker system, and you'll notice the lack of a subwoofer. If you don't need speakers you can carry, spend a bit more and get a good desktop system instead.
If, however, you are assembling the ultimate transportable computing setup, the ProMedia Ultra 2.0 pair may be just the speakers you need.
Klipsch ProMedia Ultra 2.0
Great-sounding portable speakers, but a bit bulky for light travelers.Price when reviewed: $100Current prices (if available)