Klipsch WC24 2-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker (Espresso)

by Klipsch

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 18 x 6.5 inches ; 11 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 16 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B001C58JKK
• Item model number: WC-24 Espresso
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,087 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Klipsch Icon Series WC-24 Center Channel Speaker: Furniture-Grade Looks, Cinema-Grade Sound

XT Tractrix® Horn technology provides excellent output from a smaller speaker

As a leader in professional cinema sound, Klipsch knows that a movie falls apart if every whisper of dialogue is not heard. With its superior technology and furniture-grade design, the Icon W Series WC-24 center channel delivers all the detail and dynamics required for the ultimate home theater experience.

The WC-24 is for those who want home theater speakers that look as good as they sound. When compared to traditional center channels, the WC-24 is more refined, taking up less space while still delivering Klipsch's signature high-output, low-distortion sound.

How Klipsch Packs a Cinema-Sized Sound into a Small Package

Dramatically reducing a speaker width and depth, as seen in the WC-24, poses some engineering challenges. The larger the speaker, the more output and dynamics you get. But Klipsch's engineers found a way to generate excellent output and dispersion from this slim speaker by employing an all-new proprietary technology called the XT Tractrix® Horn.

The rear-firing sculpted ports provide improved output and lower distortion

For over 60 years, horns have been the driving force behind Klipsch speakers. The XT engineering takes this time-proven philosophy to new heights by altering the surface geometry of the horn--making the WC-24 the true conversation piece of your home theater.

The WC-24 woofer design allows for a small, attractive cabinet yet provides excellent dynamics and power-handling. The lightweight, triple-woven fiberglass woofers provide robust low frequencies with great detail. Heavy-duty ceramic motor structures power these high-tech wonders and accommodate even the most aggressive power handling requirements.

The dual ported enclosure design, with both internal and external port flares, provides improved output and lower distortion thanks to better air-flow and extremely low port turbulence. Finally, the crossover network (the speaker's "brain") consists of premium components manufactured to precise tolerances for a consistent sound from speaker to speaker and system to system.

A Truly Classic Look for a Futuristic Sound

While the WC-24 employs modern advancements on the inside, it reflects a classic approach on the outside: a timeless wood veneer cabinet with an Espresso finish. Unlike most speaker manufacturers who opt for domestic veneers such as cherry, oak, or maple, Klipsch selected an exotic, non-endangered Berlinia veneer from West Africa. Berlinia is a sister veneer to the same Zebrawood often featured on luxury goods.

The WC-24 is timelessly designed for beauty and clarity

The WC-24 cabinet is professionally sanded, sealed, and stained. Much like in high-end furniture manufacturing, the stain is then top-coated with a polyurethane finish. This spray application involves 10 coats, with sanding in-between each coat to achieve the proper thickness. The cabinet is also inspected at every sanding level to ensure clarity over the stained veneer. As beautiful as the cabinet is, it is also internally braced to reduce cabinet resonance and transmission of internal vibrations outside of the cabinet box, which makes the midrange and critical dialogue clearer.

The Klipsch WC-24 and the entire Icon Wood series is timelessly designed high-end furniture which happens to be loaded with numerous cutting-edge Klipsch speaker technologies and details, all delivering Klipsch's signature high-impact, low-distortion theater sound. No matter what movie, show or sporting event you play on it, the WC-24 will always exceed expectations while looking as good as it sounds.

What's in the Box?

One WC-24 Espresso center channel speaker, adhesive shelf bumpers, magnetic grill and owners manual / setup guide.

What Critics Are Saying About The Klipsch WC-24 Center Channel Speaker

"The center also does a great job of lifting human speech above the din of Transformers' end battle scenes, but has the necessary range to express Optimus Prime's deep, warming tones." - Danny Phillips, TrustedReviews.com, March 5, 2010

Technical Specifications

• Frequency Response: 82Hz-23kHz +/-3dB
• Low Frequency Extension: 65 Hz
• Power Handling: 90W continuous / 300W peak
• Sensitivity: 94.5 dB
• Nominal Impedance: 8 Ohms
• Crossover Frequency: 2500hz
• High Frequency Drivers: 1" (2.5cm) Titanium diaphragm compression driver mated to a 4.5" 80° x 80° round Tractrix horn
• Low Frequency Drivers: Dual 4.5" (11.4cm) high-output, fiberglass cone woofers
• Enclosure Material: MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
• Enclosure Type: Bass-reflex via rear-firing sculpted ports
• Height: 6.5" (16.5cm)
• Width: 18" (45.7cm)
• Depth: 6.5" (16.5cm)
• Weight: 11 lbs (ea.)
• Finish: Furniture-grade wood veneer in hand-finished Espresso finish (West African Berlinia wood)

Product Description

Legendary Klipsch sound in a compact, elegant high-end furniture-grade bookshelf speaker. Great for the most serious systems where quality and class matters.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceeds expectations, December 17, 2010

By 

boomboom - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Klipsch WC24 2-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker (Espresso) (Electronics)

I already owned a pair of klipsch WF(?) series towers and needed a center channel to really pull together the movie watching experience. What a huge difference this made! I am very satisfied with the crisp clean full sound that my 3-speaker klipsch setup puts out.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's like decor, that makes noise!, November 23, 2010

By 

Kenneth Koers (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Klipsch WC24 2-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker (Espresso) (Electronics)

Having never spent much money on speakers before, I was kind of hesitant dropping this kind of money on speakers. But I spent a lot of time combing through reviews, reading technical information about speaker construction and performance, and frequently visiting forums for insights. But in the end I wasn't very impressed - most "respectable" speakers came in a single variety. Piano black boxes. As someone with a great deal of natural wood and earth tones in my apartment, I was apprehensive about buying a big black shiny box that would stand out with that much contrast and draw so much attention to itself. Now, I understand that most of the impressiveness of a high-grade speaker is in the technical design. But to my logic, there are plenty of fantastic speaker manufactures out there that make great products, that I should be able to find something that I think looks good and fits my decor. These fit the bill wonderfully, providing impressive sound in a cabinet that looks gorgeous. I would have actually preferred the Cabernet finish, I think that's about the best looking finish I've seen an ANY speaker, but it just wouldn't have matched as well. The Espresso finish of the wood is a rick dark color, and is an actual wood veneer over 3/4" MDF. It feels really solid, and at this point it actually the nicest furniture I have in my living room, acoustics aside.

Now, before you get the impression that I bought these on looks alone, I want to stress that they sound even better than they look. The XT Tractrix Horn does an impressive job of diffusing the sound from the tweeter, without overly noticeable drops in sound quality. This really maximizes the effective "sweet spot" listening area. The two mid-range woofers complement well (one of which is actually only passive), delivering full spectrum sound that doesn't sound too bright or low. The dialogue during movies is unheard of! It's so clear that I don't have to turn it up uncomfortably loud just to understand it (as I did with my TV speakers), or keep having to either re-wind, ask others "What did he say", or just pretend I understood it. Even whispers are crystal clear, even at quiet volumes. Simply amazing sound!

Here is my current set-up:
LG 47LH90 47-Inch 1080p 240 Hz LED Backlit LCD HDTV, Glossy Black/Infused Blue
Pioneer VSX-1120-K 7.1 Home Theater Receiver
PlayStation 3 160 GB
2 Klipsch WF-34 Icon W Series Furniture-Grade Floorstanding Speaker (Espresso, Each)
Klipsch WC24 2-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker (Espresso)
Klipsch WB-14 Icon W Series Furniture-Grade Bookshelf Speakers (Espresso, Pair)

I bought the whole Icon W series line for a full 5.0 system, and because Klipsch is clearing these out for the next series, the prices that they're going at are unbeatable. In fact, I had intended to buy the Klipsch WF-35 Icon W Series Furniture-Grade Floorstanding Speaker (Espresso, Each), but they had sold out before I could get a pair. Get these now, before you loose your chance!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Been With Klipsch for over 10 Years! Awesome Center Channel, September 14, 2010

By 

Michael L. Petruccelli "TrentonHawk" (Shelton, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Klipsch WC24 2-Way Center Channel Loudspeaker (Espresso) (Electronics)

Well, I have owned the Klipsch Reference series 5.1 Speaker System for over 10 Years. They have sounded great from day one and still continue to impress. They are Big Black floor standing Speakers with big bulky rears and the center channel (model # RC-1) was a little bulky too. Now Slowly I am replacing them to this years Icon Series. The WF-34 Center channel looks and sound incredible. So far I have bought a RW-10d Sub, which delivers great bass and this review here for the WC24 Express Center Channel; Much smaller than my 10 year old Reference Series center channel, but looks amazing and is as heavy as my old center at twice it's size.

Now the sound is fantastic. Deep bass with tight vocals and sound effects. Really fills the room with rich sound. Voices are very clear and not drowned out by the other speakers (which at this point don't match as far as series)

Today September 14th 2010 I will have my Left and Right Front pair, the WF34 espresso speakers to finally see what they will all sound like together. Next month I will complete the upgrade with the matching WS24 Rears.

I will post reviews once the entire system is complete for each speaker.