Hey there! Looking to upgrade your TV watching and music listening experience with a high-end soundbar? Considering the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 versus the Klipsch Cinema 800 models? I‘ve done some extensive research between these premium soundbar options and want to share what I‘ve learned to help you decide which is better for your needs.
An Overview of the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 and Klipsch Cinema 800
The Panorama 3 and Cinema 800 both represent top-of-the-line compact soundbars ready to provide room-filling, crystal clear audio reproduction to your home theater setup.
Bowers & Wilkins is an esteemed British hi-fi brand best known for near-perfect acoustics and sleek contemporary styling. The Panorama 3 delivers on that reputation with a gorgeous, angular all-black design housing custom-designed woofers, midrange drivers, and tweeters powered by 400 watts of digital amplification.
Klipsch loudspeakers boast rugged American craftsmanship focused on high-efficiency output. The Cinema 800 puts out a towering 800 watts of peak power from its horn-loaded drivers and wireless subwoofer. It utilizes a more conventional rectangular soundbar shape with black plastic construction.
Both support modern connectivity like HDMI eARC and come loaded with premium features – but have distinct sound and design philosophies. Let‘s explore those in-depth!
Sound Quality Showdown
Delving into the audio capabilities of each model, the Panorama 3 leverages advanced acoustic engineering to output remarkably clear and spacious sound:
| Specs | Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 | Klipsch Cinema 800 |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | 3.1.2 | 3.1.2 |
| Output Power | 400 watts | 800 watts peak |
| Frequency Response | 43Hz to 48kHz | 28Hz to 20kHz |
| Low-Freq Extension Drivers | 2 x 4.5" aluminium woofers | 10" wireless sub |
| Midrange Drivers | 6 x 3" FST drive units | N/A |
| High-Freq Tweeters | 3 x 1" | 3 x 1" |
You can instantly hear the difference in action. While the Cinema 800 absolutely pumps up loud, bombastic sound, the Panorama 3 impresses most audiophiles with its sparkling highs, smooth midrange, and surprisingly deep bass response thanks to those dual integrated subwoofers.
Total harmonic distortion measurements on the Panorama 3 are astonishingly low even at high volumes. The excellent dispersion characteristics give audio outstanding width and spaciousness within your room. It can‘t match the bone-rattling sub action from that chunky 10-inch wireless Klipsch woofer, but the cohesive stage presence of those 13 perfectly balanced Bowers & Wilkins speaker drives create an unmatched premium listening experience.
Design & Build Quality
Matching its acoustics prowess, the look and feel of the Panorama 3 screams high-end luxury…
The angular black body lined with stainless steel speaker grilles make a handsome modern statement. Materials and construction seem perfectly sturdy as well – as expected at this price point!
By comparison, the Klipsch Cinema 800 looks rather pedestrian with its conventional matte black plastic chassis:
[insert image]There‘s nothing functionally wrong here, but side-by-side visuals reveal an obvious craftsmanship difference. Buttons and ports feel solid enough but lack the heft and refinement executed by Bowers & Wilkins. For customers valuing aesthetics and quality build to match exceptional audio, the Panorama 3 better fits the bill.
Connectivity & Compatibility
You expect a fully loaded feature set from elite-tier soundbars, and these largely deliver…
Both have HDMI eARC to interface with your TV alongside standard optical digital audio input. Each connects to your home WiFi network for accessing streaming content and control apps. Bluetooth rounds out the core playback options.
Smart assistant support does vary – the Panorama 3 again leading with native Amazon Alexa voice commands while Klipsch only works with Alexa devices or other voice-control hubs. Only the Panorama 3 offers Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect as well.
For output expansion, the Cinema 800 does uniquely include an HDMI passthrough and subwoofer pre-out. But for most buyers sticking with standalone setups, the Panorama 3 checks all the feature boxes needed.
Sound Optimization
Getting your soundbar tuned just right for your room‘s dynamics can make a noticeable difference. Both Klipsch and Bowers & Wilkins provide smartphone apps to access device settings and audio tweaks.
The Panorama 3 lets you select from various audio presets like Movie, Music, or Night Mode. An enhanced setting analyzes room acoustics using test tones to optimize its output – very handy! Custom EQ sliders are available too for manually finding your perfect balance.
Klipsch includes similar EQ adjustment and audio mode options. One unique advantage is the ability to separately tweak subwoofer levels given its wireless external design.
For the average listener, having these various audio and bass/treble tools accessible via phone app keeps the experience personalized without needing complex A/V gear.
Setup & Usage
Getting everything hooked up is fairly straightforward with both systems. For the Panorama 3, simply plug in the power cord, connect to your TV‘s ARC/eARC port via HDMI, pair with WiFi, and tune your audio levels to taste.
The Klipsch Cinema 800 requires syncing the separate wireless subwoofer first before following the same basic TV and WiFi connection steps. Just one extra thing to handle.
In daily operation, the Panorama 3 may have greater set-it-and-forget-it appeal for buyers less inclined to dig into lots of settings tweaks. With integrated Alexa and streaming service support, you can easily start enjoying music and TV audio with minimal fuss. Its flexible sound presents well even at default settings.
The Bottom Line
So if we tally up the comparable strengths and weaknesses:
Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3
- Pros
- Supremely clear, spacious audio quality
- Gorgeous high-end aesthetics
- Easy setup and built-in streaming versatility
- Cons
- No dedicated low-end subwoofer
- Very expensive
Klipsch Cinema 800
- Pros
- Huge power output with chest-thumping bass
- Solid bang-for-buck value
- External sub flexibility
- Cons
- Harsher sound at high volumes
- More conventional plastic design
- Needs tweaking to optimize audio
For buyers seeking the pinnacle of soundbar performance with stunning looks to match, the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 reigns supreme. Its exquisite acoustics backed by strong integrated streaming access warrant the ultra premium pricing.
The Klipsch Cinema 800 appeals for its raw power and greater low frequency presence. Yet the Panorama 3 impresses discerning ears with a more balanced and gorgeous presentation worthy of its higher cost.
Hope this detailed breakdown helps weigh the distinguishing factors between these two excellent soundbars! Let me know if any other questions come up. Happy listening!
