Klipsch has been engineering horn-loaded speakers for decades. The Reference Cinema 9.2-Channel System takes that heritage and points it straight at your ceiling. This is a 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos setup, meaning four of the satellite speakers fire sound upward to bounce off your ceiling and create the illusion of audio coming from above. Most Atmos systems only do this with the front speakers. Klipsch puts Atmos drivers in the rear satellites too, so helicopters actually fly over your head instead of just starting in front and disappearing.

The system weighs nearly 117 pounds, which tells you these aren’t hollow plastic boxes. The satellites use the same Tractrix horn technology found in Klipsch’s standalone Reference speakers. Dialogue stays crisp and centered even during chaotic action scenes. The subwoofer is a down-firing 10-inch driver that delivers tight, controlled bass rather than muddy rumble. You will want a room with standard 8-foot ceilings to get the full effect of the height channels. Rooms with vaulted ceilings or acoustic panels will scatter the reflected sound and reduce the immersion.

Setup requires running speaker wire to all five satellites and the subwoofer. There is no wireless option for the rear channels. The system does not include a receiver, so you need to supply your own 9.2-channel AV receiver with Dolby Atmos processing. That adds cost and complexity, but it also means you can pair this with a receiver that matches your specific needs. For the price, this is a serious step up from soundbars and all-in-one systems. It delivers true object-based audio without requiring in-ceiling installation.