Home > Consumer Reviews > KLH HTA-809 6-Pc. Home Theater Speaker System with Twisty Satellites & 8", 100W Powered Subwoofer

In the four months I've owned my KLH HTA-809 Home Theater system, it has proven to be an excellent improvement to my home electronics collection. The system arrived at my door well protected in its own special packaging, which wouldn't have been better designed even if the equipment had cost ten times more.

The individual components are also extremely clean...no ill-fitting pieces, bad edges, grilles that don't fit properly, etc. Again, all was found to be as good as one would expect of far costlier systems.

The instructions are a bit sparse and confusing, but the need to refer to them is quite minimal as hookup is straightforward. The factory packaging includes precut 24-gauge wire, and hanging brackets for the four twisty satellites.

I found prior reviewers of KLH subwoofers to be correct in their observation that the "Auto" power setting is not sensitve enough to be useful, unless you routinely listen to media at moderate sound levels and which has pronounced bass content. I just leave my subwoofer on all the time, though it could probably be plugged into the "Switched" outlet found on the backplane of many receivers.

Some other reviewers have also cited problems with complete failure of the subwoofer. These complaints have me looking over my shoulder a bit, though I can report that my own unit is functioning fine.

My KLH system is driven by a Sony STR-635 receiver. I have a Sony 32" Trinitron and a Toshiba 6-head Hi-Fi stereo VCR. The system is used in a 12x12 foot family room with standard 8 foot ceiling, though it will occasionally also be used in a 12x20 room with a 20 foot vaulted ceiling when I want to do "Theater" for a larger home audience. The KLH system is competent in this larger environment.

I typically listen to "dramatic" instrumental music (e.g. Jerry Read Smiths's hammered dulcimer) at moderate levels, and generally older videos such as Alfred Hitchcock. I have however tried the system with more recent material (The Bear, Paulie, letterbox Ben Hur, Sound of Music with THX) and the KLH system delivers a very impressive experience. I think readers who prefer modern action videos with advanced soundtracks, would also find the KLH package a worthwhile investment.

Last night I went to a neighbor's home, taking my copy of "Mrs. Miniver" (a British WWII movie) with me. I found the neighbor had a small Sony home theater package custom-installed in his family room. We started the video. On the neighbor's Sony system, my video didn't sound as good as I thought I remembered it to be.

After ten minutes, I talked the neighbor into coming to watch the remainder of that video on my system. My KLH speakers outperformed his Sony stuff without even breathing hard! The sound during the bombing scenes couldn't have been better if we'd been in a commercial theater.

I not only can recommend the HTA-809 to others as a quality investment, but I'm planning to take my own advice and buy a second KLH HTA-809 package for my own home!

I give four stars only because of the insensitive Auto power setting on the subwoofer.

If you are wanting a surround system on a budget, I would recommend this system...it is packaged with a 100 watt sub. I have heard better with more expensive systems (the reason for 4 stars, not 5) but for the price, I have yet to hear a speaker system that has the same depth of sound and quality. If these speakers are in the price range you are looking, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.

I bought the HTA-809 system ...recently and found that it gives decent performance for the price. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a 100W subwoofer is included in the system....

overall this is a pretty good system. If your looking for bass though don't look at this.