Klipsch The Fives Review

The Klipsch Fives are internally powered and feature Klipsch legendary horn speaker technology. Included in the Klipsch Fives are Bluetooth technology, as well as HDMI/ACR input, and analog and digital input. The Klipsch Fives even have a built-in phono stage so that buyers can add a turntable for their LP playback.

The Klipsch Fives are a powered speaker system that will easily integrate into any environment. Features include Bluetooth technology, inputs for analog and digital, as well as a phono stage. Affordably priced, the Klipsch Fives offer more than a taste of their higher-end models.

Many decades ago, I remember waiting impatiently for the mail to bring me the latest Radio Shack catalog. The reason, I loved seeing the latest component systems they offered. Back then a complete system would include a stereo receiver, a pair of speakers, a turntable, and possibly a cassette player. A sound system package, those were the days.

Recently I received a box, and in it were the Klipsch The Fives speakers. However, they are just not speakers, they are a complete system for today’s sound enthusiast. Let me explain, The Fives are all you need to connect to most everything people have in their homes for listening to recorded music. The Klipsch Fives package includes cables for connecting to your computer, TV, and it offers Bluetooth for our mobile devices. If you have a turntable to play your vinyl, the Klipsch Fives will happily accept with the included phono input.

Of course, you are wondering how it sounds. Well, I have been listening to The Fives for a few weeks. Let me just say that you will be pleased.

The Klipsch Fives are a two-way powered loudspeaker system with built-in capabilities to connect to digital and analog sources. The Fives were designed to be an all in one solution for home audio and video sound. The Klipsch Fives are also a very attractive small bookshelf speaker that sports a nice finish (available in Matte Black and Walnut) that is at once modern and vintage looking.

The Klipsch engineering team should be proud of the electronics inside the Fives. Of course, the Klipsch engineers have designed excellent crossovers for their speakers for decades. Now they have engineered superb amplification to drive the tweeter and mid-range. People, in general, are used to buying passive speakers and buying amplifiers or receivers to drive them. However, there is an advantage to having powered speakers. A competent engineering team can design an amplifier to match the unique characteristics of a particular driver. This will create an electrical synergy that could provide superior performance over more conventional designs. The Klipsch engineering team’s prowess is on display in the little Fives as the sonic results are impressive.

For today’s lifestyle consumer, Klipsch has also engineered an impressive digital stage in the Fives. In addition to including Bluetooth connectivity for easy compatibility with modern mobile devices, the Fives have an impressive D to A converter that will process digital information at a 192 kHz/24-bit rate for high-resolution recordings. For additional flexibility, the Fives offer HDMI/ARC connectivity when used in a home theater system.

In case anyone has forgotten that analog is alive and well, Klipsch has included a very good phono stage and an analog input for legacy devices. The phono input will accept any moving magnet cartridge and most high output moving coil cartridges with a 47Kohm output. If you would like to use a low output moving coil, a suitable step-up device like a transformer or moving coil pre-amp can be used via the analog input. I should note that the analog input accepts a standard 3.5mm mini-plug.

Setting up the Klipsch Fives in my audio/video system was easy. In comparison to the all-in-one systems of the past (remember my intro), the set up is a breeze. Back in the distant past, you had to connect multiple components with different cables to make things work. I remember that to set up one of the basic stereo systems of the past, it would keep you busy for one or two hours. The Klipsch Fives I had unboxed and playing in 10 minutes.

The Klipsch Fives come with a plug-in speaker cord for the pair of speakers, and an AC cable to connect to power. If you want to listen to music from your phone, you just pair it with your mobile device. The Klipsch Fives feature a rotary control for volume and one for source. When pairing you just rotate it to Bluetooth. Using the supplied remote control you simply push the Bluetooth button to allow it to pair with your mobile device.

In my system, I have a digital optical cable connected to the back of the TV monitor. The back of the Klipsch Fives speaker input panel is clean and it was easy to find and connect my optical cable. If you would like to do the same and connect the TV with your optical cable, just make sure that you select digital optical out on the TV. Those of you that have a TV with HDMI ACR can use the supplied HDMI cable to connect the TV to the Klipsch Fives. The HDMI ACR will output sound to the Klipsch Fives. If you are using a computer or laptop for a source, you can use the supplied USB cable. The Klipsch Fives also have an input for analog 3.5mm cable as well.

If you have a turntable, the Fives have a phono input that will work with most turntable/cartridge combinations. The only incompatibility would be if you are using a low output moving coil cartridge. If you have or would like to install a subwoofer to the Fives, there is a sub out on the back panel.

Before I continue I have to mention the cork underside of the Klipsch Fives. The bottom of the Klisch Fives features a cork base which means the end-user should not have to worry about the speaker cabinet damaging a shelf or stand. The cork should also help in decoupling unwanted vibrations. Nice touch Klipsch!

When I first connected the Klipsch Fives into my system, I had to stop and check the connections. I had to see if by accident I had also connected the Golden Ear SuperSub I have been using in the room. The bass was very surprising coming from such small speakers. Thank you Dynamic Bass EQ!

Then a string bass line comes in and the song is transported from France to New Orleans. The rest of the song is an 11-minute tour de force by Kamasi and his band. In the end, the more familiar solo piano returns to the theme.

Fortunately, Amazon Music has the Kamasi Washington catalog for online streaming. I fired up the Fire Stick and started the track. What struck me about the Klipsch Fives as they reproduced the tune, was the clarity, weight, and tone of the bass riff that begins the Jazz improvisation on the theme. I could not believe that I was listening to such a small speaker. Now, when the rest of the Jazz ensemble comes in with their horns and drums, the little Klipsch Fives create and keep the scale of the music. For such a modestly priced, small powered speaker I was very impressed with their authority.

I recall one scene that astounded me. At the end of the film, Gandalf accompanies Bilbo back to the Shire, As they are walking through the woods, the birds are chattering in the trees. I could hear the sounds like they were coming from the ceiling! This is part of the encoded soundtrack, no doubt, but I was hearing things in the Dolby surround encoding coming from 2 speakers.

I decided to use the internal phono stage in the Klipsch Fives. The Pro-Ject Jukebox is probably more feature-laden than necessary for the Fives as the turntable has a built-in phono, a built-in amp, and built-in Bluetooth! Since this is a review of the Klipsch Fives, I used the Project solely as a turntable. So, with a pair of interconnects and a ground wire, I connected the Project turntable to the back of the Fives input plate. Then I sat down to listen to one of my favorite classical LP’s, Analog Production’s reissue of the RCA Living Presence LP, The Reiner Sound.

When I set the stylus down and turned around to listen, I heard dead quiet. I went up to the speaker to make sure I had the right input selected. Then the music started. I was impressed with the low noise level I heard. This is a testament to the Klipsch phono stage because it is very quiet. The Pro-Ject Jukebox combo seemed equally quiet. For vinyl reproduction, the lower the noise floor, the more pure music you get. And was the music pure! Credit should also go to the Analog Productions pressing of the LP, as the vinyl is what every LP should be, quiet.

The Reiner Sound LP has very soft moments that suddenly blossom into gorgeous climaxes. Sounding much bigger than they are, the Fives produced a wide and spacious sound stage coupled with thrilling dynamics. The music was presented mid-hall, and I was treated to a musically satisfying listening session. Potential buyers of the Klipsch Fives should look into the more basic Pro-Ject turntables if they want LP playback. There seemed to be a nice synergy in the combination.

I can highly recommend the Klipsch Fives for any listening environment in-home or office. The Fives have huge reserves of performance and sound.

The Klipsch Fives are a complete music system in one box. As tested by me, the Fives are fully capable of standing on their own and playing music from your mobile devices, or they can accept whatever digital or analog source you may have including a turntable. Although I think most of the environments that the Fives will be placed in will be small or compact, the Klipsch Fives did a great job filling my large family room. Never did I feel that the Fives were running out of steam. Considering the very fine sound and the low price (my moving coil cartridge alone is what the Fives sell for), I think Klipsch has provided their legendary sound in a compact package and priced it so that anyone can afford it. The Klipsch Fives are highly recommended for value and sound!