This is, I believe, the best product review I’ve ever watched. Your delivery, your perfectly paced delivery and vast yet relatable descriptions remind me of some of the best authors I’ve ever read. Very well done sir
Hi Andrew, I purchased these based on your review. While they sounded very good out of the box, the firmware update and app control has taken them to the next level. They are also available at Costco right now for $499, making them an incredible value. Just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to do an update or use them in future comparisons. Thanks for the wonderful content.
Ahhh love how the length of videos are perfect to sit down with a cup (or 2) of coffee. I think the fives are truly aimed at people who wants speakers to do anything they can think of with decent/ good sound quality and ascetics.
After watching (I don't know how many youtube reviews) I finally got the courage to spend money on the Fives. I live in Europe and these were 790 euros 3 months ago. I asked for the black, but they only had the walnut color. In my opinion, that walnut color is so gorgeous in every light and it they came with both grills. I literally have them sitting as bookshelves on a book shelf in my little office and have everything connected via bluetooth. They are subtle, clear, loud, beautiful, highly obnoxious when i'm listening to hip hop which my neighbors in the adjoining apartment can attest to. I'm so happy with my Fives...I wished I had more $$ to afford something different, but the mobility of these is incredible. Thank you Andrew for the video and the advice.
Andrew I will keep it simple... love your Show / RUclips channel. Love your perspective and detailed reviews, presentation, product knowledge. Been a music person since age 11 (now 63 and damn proud of it). Never considered myself an audiophile, but a real "gear head". Keep up the great work.
I just pulled the trigger on these in black matte. I've been dealing with Klipsch speakers for quite a few years now. Currently, I own the complete RF 7 ii' system in black as well. I started with Bose 601's, 301's and VS-100 center (purchased in 1994 and still in use sound system in My mancave. From there I crossed in the JBL's (about 10 years; My brother now has this system as I gave it to him.) Currently the RF 7's system (7.2) is My main theater room system also used for music listening. The Fives will most likely be placed in My living room area. I have NEVER had a dedicated sound system for My living because I would simply use My Bose Wave radio in the kitchen to fill that void since the rooms are co-joined to one another. Now to be honest, My living room does need its own sound system, but I so did NOT want a system upstairs that was the equivalent of My current Klipsch set-up in Our downstairs den/family room area. While TV is fine, I prefer personally, Music and books! I started purchasing high fidelity magazines when I about 11 years old, (about the mid to late 1970's.) My parents couldn't afford the equipment that I wanted, while We weren't poor, high end audio WASN'T EVER an option! That all changed for Me when I joined the military in 1983 @ 17 y/o, subsequently getting stationed in Germany about 4 years later. When I landed it Germany, it was game on! As a soldier in Germany and access to high end audio clubs, in particular Frankfurt, Germany, my first purchase was the Technics top of the line amp, preamp and matching EQ. We could purchase audio equipment for about 2/3 less than what people in the US were paying for the same equipment. Aaahhhh, such were the days! I still own and have boxed in their original boxes ALL of My Technics equipment/ dBX/ Adcom, etc. The current value for My amp and preamp is around $4500.00 today. All of the equipment is operational. I retired My super system in 2000 because at My last duty station before retiring in 2004, I simply did NOT have the room to set it up. After retiring and moving into Our current home and available space was/is not an issue, I left the system in retirement and ventured into more modern equipment. I love quality speakers, and today, they are NOT as easy to find as yesterday. Prime example, when Bose crossed over to the Lifestyle systems, We immediately divorced! I moved into Klipsch because they have been producing quality speakers since 1946 allegedly. While I have always been a huge fan of JBL and Bose, today, I feel that Klipsch complement Me and My music listening taste best! I still use JBL's, but ONLY their Bluetooth speakers. I Am so not above buying into JBL again because they still make quality audio even the company has probably changed hands several times since their first releases of speakers. I REALLY enjoyed the video, as it helped Me in making the decision to get these speakers new and for less than $500.00. My main genre of music is R&B, as I Am a person of color. However, I do require and enjoy music from the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Metallica, Foreigner, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Hootie and the Blowfish etc. Yeah, I know, I keep My friends confused! Yeah, I listen to a lil country too! Regardless of the music that I listen to, I have to hear it clearly and as balanced as possible. When ever I set up My sound system, it MUST be ABLE to play ALL of My music using the same EQ settings; and sound hella good doing it!
Funnily enough im listening to this video with The Fives Klipsch. im watching the review after my purchase cause i was going to buy another model Klipsch and was steered by the sales person to them, and im honestly glad they did. im loving the sound of them.
I bought the black version on Amazon for $399 shipped via Prime recently and could not be happier! Did the firmware update via the app which helped with my out of the box low volume issue. I cannot believe how much low end you get from a pair of 4.5” drivers! If these are this good in my garage, the Sevens and Nines would be amazeballs in the house! Thanks for your hard work and for the great reviews! You and Kristi are both appreciated!
I just bought a pair of The Fives and I'm giggling like a little kid in a candy store with $100 to blow. Grinning ear to ear. LOVE them so far and am VERY impressed with the BIG sound that these little speakers are able to put out! WOW! Thanks for the amazing reviews and for all the work you put into these videos.
Just got these as a result of watching this video. The preliminary verdict is thumbs up - thanks for the recommendation. In terms of too much bass, I hope that people know that by default the bass is boosted, and you can hold down the "sub" button on the remote for 3 seconds to disable that. Might be worth doing if you are listening at higher volumes.
Wow! Thanks for that. I love my Fives. I’ve had them for about a month and was a bit surprised that the bass was NOT very strong, which was contrary to everything I read. Reading your comment has me wondering if I disabled the bass in the opposite way that you describe. I’m out of town but will check when I get back. Thanks for the info!
Hi Andrew, i finally purchased the fives based on your review (did not go for a demo). These loudspeakers are exactly what I needed for a small/medium room. My family is glad with the look of the speakers and also as to how these small powered speakers can give a run to few floorstanding speakers out there. Thanks a ton for your review. Please keep doing what your doing. Next one will be the Klipsch Heresy IV, God willing!
Hello Andrew I sold Klipsch for 16 years at a stereo store. My favorite brand to sell. Needless to say, after being out of the business for 14 years, most of my house is still Klipsch. Powered speakers started showing up about 2 to 3 years at the end. They were definitely orientated to surround sound. I will have to check out the 5's, but I don't think they are going to replace my Chorus's.
Man, let me tell you. I bought a new tv, Samsung q60a for a secondary room and then added a pair of fives this weekend instead of a sound bar. What a surprise! They are awesome and, better than any sound bar I’ve ever heard although my experience is limited. They are just fun to listen to. Even though streaming music isn’t live concert type listening, the fives are just “easy listening” no matter what music you like. Good call.
Thanks for the great review. I bought a set of "Fives" 3 days ago, they are awesome. I put my JBL 2.1 soundbar back in it's box, also a Yamaha soundbar with built in sub back in it's box. I will be purchasing a Klipsh sub eventually just to get the most from the "Fives". I'm more than happy the way they sound without one, but I won't be happy till I find out what they sound like with one.
so im someone who has never looked at these type of powered speakers, primarily due to the type of sound class d amplifiers seem to produce, im sure its something that most people dont care about in terms of topology of amp but it seems to be noticeable. im willing to be proven wrong and maybe there is an amp out there that can match some of the entry level class ab or class a, but as far as i can tell the main reason why class d exists in the audio space is for studio monitors to have software control of the individual speakers or lower price or smaller package at the expense of resolution. great video btw.
Thanks for watching. I think Klipsch's internal "voicing" with The Fives goes a long way in curbing any real traits of any amplifier topology as they have a sound all their own.
I ordered The Fives directly from the Klipsch few weeks back and I am returning my second bricked unit tomorrow back to them. It has been a horrible experience to say the least. The first unit was delivered a week after the order, so when it arrived, I followed the instructions to set it up by downloading and connecting via Klipsh connect app. After that I then proceeded to update the firmware and that promptly bricked the unit. The support determined that it was probably a bad unit and also let me know that the their app had a bug that was preventing the speakers from connecting. Anyway i got the new unit after a week so I set it up and connect via BT and it was working, so I proceed to upgrade the firmware that was successful. Right after the second firmware update the new unit also bricks. The second support rep discloses that the "bug" that the first rep was talking about was that the Klipsch connect app permanently bricks the unit after the new firmware upgrade if you even launch Klipsch connect app. Nowhere on their website, documentation etc has this warning. Throughout this ordeal, I was never able to get these guys on the phone, they were only available via "chat". They came across as rude and condescending and I will never buy anything directly from Klipsch. I am shipping them back their second unit and getting my money back.
I just bought a pair of these for my office - streaming via bluetooth from a macbook. I trialled them against a few others and these absolutely blew the competition away. Absolutely love them.
If you have a Costco membership, you can get these "Fives"(in black only) AND a Klipsch R-12SWi sub for $729.00! They're on sale until Feb 13 2022. We just got them and are very happy with the sound quality.
Absolutely loving my Walnut The Fives in lieu of a soundbar for the last 1 year now! Makes our 14x18 room alive compared to the soundbar we used to have. As an added bonus we can listen to our music without having to hook up wires via bluetooth. We don't have it hooked up to any equipment except the arc2 hdmi to the tv. its lovely.
@@jackalclone1 The other way round the sixes may be bigger but dac is 96 compared with 192 on fives and timing and focus is much better on fives, also although the sixes have bigger woofer it has a smaller voice coil, and doesn't control the music as well as the fives. Ive auditioned side by side and the fives were first so expected a bigger sound stage with the sixes only to be dis-appointed when they sounded wooden and flabby and the music lost its focus, much better on the fives
The sound bar, hmm. I purchased The Fives several months ago. I'd say the downfall in this regard would be the lack of center speaker for voices in movies. But, i do not regret purchasing them at all for 800$. The deal for 400 had just ended, but then came the deal for a strong 12" sub from Klipsch, which was cut from 400 to 200, so no one is complaining here. Again, reminds beautiful sound, and reminds me of a movie theater quality. Well, you all watched the review, and I feel pampered.
Just bought them for $599 at Best Buy and Wow! Great speakers for my bedroom. Amazing sound and small, they look beautiful in walnut. Couldn't believe how great they sound. Really enjoying them. I'm new to your channel Andrew and fell in love with it. I've gone back and watched the majority of your videos. Amazing channel
I missed the sale :/ paid open box at a local speaker shop today for 800, but in perfect shape. 880 is the new price. Speker guy said, Klipsch just marked everything up by ten percent. There's a 12" Klipsch sub on sale currently though. 550 down to 275. I plan to pick it up this weekend. Gratz on your deal.
I bought these after lots of research and your review played no small part in that but the main driver for me buying these was… I actually listened to them in a store. The detail is crazy. Use these with a sub and they sound even better… I run a preamp/dad fed by a streamer into one of the RCA input which sounds so much better than Bluetooth. Such a clean setup.
Excellent review. I went with Klipsch R150 as my first speakers coming into this hobby. They’re fantastic and I couldn’t be happier. One day id love to upgrade to the beautiful Jamo towers you reviewed. But I definitely think high quality powered speakers like these are the future and I love what these companies are doing!! Great work on this one & I can’t wait for the next review!! Thanks much.
Have you any experience with the R-40/50 powered speakers, and if so, do they compare at all to The Fives? This is for a desktop setup. With the exception of HDMI, the R-40/50s have the exact same connection options. Their normal sale prices are in different categories ($4-500 vs. ~$950 from what I can tell), but the Fives are on sale for $399 right now. VERY tempting!
Just got these yesterday, and they are AWESOME. I’ve been wanting to upgrade to a better system for quite sometime, and have always wanted Klipsch speakers. This review is what made me finally get some, and The Fives knocked it out of the park for me! This video is also the reason I subscribed to your channel. Loving the content!
I've been searching and investigating the perfect speaker set up for my small (music room) i'm crafting in my basement. Even tho the focus of this room, is to sit and purely enjoy music, i also want to enjoy the audio from the TV. Sound bar was my first thought, but i wanted a more tradentional look, of two nice looking speakers set on either side of the tv. with the help of this video, i've made up my mind. These are the powered speakers for me.
I jsut ordered the Sixes for more bass and more affordable. Both are most beautiful speakers at any price! I was looking at sub $500 tube amplifiers...but the chance to own my first Klipsch with the walnut and features is just...well, life is short!
I owned soundbars for years and, while convenient and unobtrusive, their performance in pure music listening has never impressed me. It's a REVOLUTION for clients like me to have powered speakers with such versatility in input compartment, especially HDMI. I pre-ordered The Fives two weeks ago just to be able to hook up my turntable, TV and PC at the same time and I'm very curious to see how much they will let me want to hear music more, instead of relegating myself to headphones
Soundbars definitely not ideal for stereo music listening, but there are several quality soundbar options out today that are pretty impressive (and costly)..
Hey Andrew! fellow Austinite here. I was wondering if y’all ever tried plugging in a sub? I ask because I’ve been waiting for these ( to replace some old RP-15Ms) and from what I’ve heard when you add a sub to the fives, the internal crossover supposedly kicks in and tames down the mids. Which would in theory mean you could adjust the sub volume to whatever you’d like and have the bookshelves be less bass heavy when needed.
Great video! I really think you nailed it. I have truly enjoyed the fun factor of these speakers. Running them for music only via turntable and digital music. Added a Klipsch sub and some venom power cables and I am just blown away! I honestly think they punch way above their belt! Just wish those Solid Steel stands will come in. 4 month wait! My only complaint would be the low quality grills (toss em) and the phono pre-amp which sucks (buy a pro-ject DS).
Hey how about getting 7 of these powered speakers and connect them as surrounds in a 5.1.2 set up (the sub would be extra ofcourse) to an AVRs surround pre outs ? That way all speakers would have their independent amps perfectly matched to their drivers and the AVRs would be relieved off its amplification duties. Basically using the AVR as a processor. How would the set up sound ??
I was about to add another ERA300 when I bumped into Klipsch and your channel, and now I'm thinking about getting the Fives instead of 2 Era300, what is your opinion on that? my use is for music and probably I will connect the five to my TV if that would be my choice. Please help (I really like your channel, it's great stuff and your presentation is great.)❤
For me this is a very timely video. We are currently bouncing around the idea of replacing our Polk Audio soundbar and subwoofer set up for our main TV. We have limited space but I just can't seem to get enough enjoyment from a soundbar... this may work as an alternative. As long as we can set up for Cable Box, Sheild box and laptop. After all these years of listening to tower and shelf speakers I find soundbars just dont have the same "impact". With the time you spent listening to the Fives... did you find the lack of a centre channel deleterious in regards to TV dialogue?
@@JilesMcCoy ... good point and glad you pointed it out for those who might not have twigged to it. For my circumstances 2.1 will be just fine... so long as there is a good presentation of dialogue.
I got Edifier powered speakers for my daughter's room and they sound great in the small room. They have decent connectivity and save up space. So the concept of built in amps has proven great for me. I have a separate system with floortanders In my livingroom , but I would have definitely tried The Fives instead as I ended up using my system for music streaming most of the time.
I'm curious if you have an opinion on the Fives vs the R-51PMs? I am looking to get a pair of powered speakers for my bedroom to listen to records, stream music with bluetooth, and possibly connect to a TV.
@@AbhishekRamesh1 I know you asked the other guy but thought I'd share what I decided on. Albeit more expensive, I went for something simpler to set up. I settled on an Adam Audio T5V pair with the T10S subwoofer, Focusrite Scarlett Solo, and IsoAcoustics stands (130 size). Zero regrets - very impressed.
Absolutely agree with you! Just make the transition from The Sixes to this and I was amazed by the way Klipsch makes an even smaller pair of bookshelf that sounds better, excellent job by you and for Klipsch!
I was looking for soundbar... and these 2 little ones are growing on me more... i think versatility will make these a best investment overall, when standards start to chant and your new Atmos soundbar is not the top notch anymore... this 2 will keep sound great.
I've had my The Fives for 2 weeks now, and I'm happy with their performance in my living room for music and movies. The only problem is the remote. It really makes me work just to turn the speakers up or down in volume. The speakers are placed in an open area, and I try really hard to aim my command directly at the active side. Even with fresh batteries, my results are hit and miss. Sometimes I get zero response, and other times the volume jumps much faster than I really want. I'm I the only one....or is this remote a bit hincky in general....??
Time to review the "Klipsch ProMedia Heritage 2.1" for use in smaller rooms. They look exactly like the rest of the Heritage line (with the grille on).
A big, big difference is that the ProMedia Heritage line lacks ARC/HDMI support, which is a non-starter for a lot of home media setups (more intended for PC setups)
Probably true. But HDMI isn't THAT ESSENTIAL for a 2.0/2.1 setup. Just a slight inconvenience that your speakers won't power up at the exact same time as the TV. From a typical small-medium living room distance you can barely hear the added fidelity of a digital connection compared to analogue.
Hey i love the inclusion of words and your solid command over your vocabulary, honestly i am a new audiophile but i have learned so much from you, its incredible. Thankyou for being out there !!!
Thanks I was looking at a sound bar but never proceeded because all the one I tested never played music the way I wanted. Frustrated sales staff kept pushing me to a full hone theatre setup which I didn’t want. You have me going in a whole new direction now. Thanks again.
Finally picked up a pair one month ago, and they're fantastic! (switching out my KRK Rokit-8 g2) A little warm in the low-mids, but a nice smooth sound. I run mine with the dynamic bass setting turned off (by holding down the sub reset button on the remote) to contain the low bass a bit more, but yeah these things can thump, it's unreal. Look and size are girlfriend-approved, and all the inputs are so handy. USB to my mac mini htpc, e-arc from the TV for smart tv apps, and bluetooth from anybody's phone. I wish it had AirPlay, but no love lost, and for network security it's nice it doesn't have wifi.
It's a great package at a fair price...if you can find them for below $600 including tax. Are they flawed, perhaps a bit, but they're so damn enjoyable and fun that I could go into detail about why that is, but forget about it, man, haha. The fives put me in a positive, to cool for school mood to care to explain myself, ever. The speakers might as well be styled after the fonz's leather jacket. But they aren't pigeon holed to that genre. Not at all. I am mostly listening to all music after 1980: a lot of post punk, the smiths, indy, the shins, new wave, and anything "dancy and modern-ish": empire of the sun, foster the people, mgmt, chvches, etc. Richard Hawley "Don't get hungup in your soul" also performs well.
@@miclinda256 I listen to a lot of alt rock and electronic music, and I find these speakers maybe a bit too rich in the midbass and maybe a tiny bit lean in the highs. So considering your genres, I think of those as being often mixed in a way that has scooped mid bass and bumped highs, so I feel like that’s a great match for these speakers! I think the combination would give you a really nice tone profile. Remember you can turn off the DSP bass enhancement, and even EQ a bit through the app if needed.
@@bradhuskers Great question. I don’t have a sub, since I’m currently living in a duplex and it would certainly disturb my neighbors! Haha I plan to add a sub once I’m in my next home and can have a better listening environment. Currently my room requires both the speakers and the listening position to be very close to the wall, so there’s a lot of resonance in the low bass. Currently my issue is too much bass! But yeah I’m looking forward to a more appropriate space where there’s no shared walls, and also I can put the speakers and listening position more in free space so we can add some more LF extension without being so boomy.
I've been watching your videos regularly trying to figure out the best fit for a TV/ Music experience without having to buy additional equipment. I'm so glad I came across this channel, and wish Amazon had these units in stock so I could use the affiliate link. Going to be picking these up as this checks off everything for me, as looks is a big factor for me as well!
I've been using mine for about a week. So far if you keep the dynamic bass off the speakers are great for movies. The dynamic bass can sometimes kick in too much with low voices during quiet scenes or dialogue. But the bass is great for the scene that benefit from it.
The Klipsch Connect app now supports The Fives, meaning that the eq can be customized now. Edit (March 3 2021): I just received my pair of The Fives and connected to the Klipsch Connect app. It can update the firmware on the speakers, but no EQ yet. Sorry.
@@CollectedWorx I just received my The Fives and hooked them up (to TV via HDMI arc). The Klipsch Connect app is useful for updating the firmware on the speakers, but it does not do EQ (yet). Sorry for the misinformation above. If you pulled the trigger on these already, you won't be disappointed, just need to be patient for Klipsch to incorporate EQ into the app. I tested the speakers with some music (heavy, rock, soft rock), radio, and with a movie (Star Wars IX) and the sound is great on all fronts!
How do you like them? I'm a travel nurse and have the 8000f and 600m for my home system, but I need something I can take on the road for hotels or apartments. Are the Fives that much better than the Sixes?
@@hwanjung8230 these are my first and only pair of Klipsch. I use them for music and TV. I have them connected to the TV via HDMI eARC, and they sound great. I’m not an audiophile, but an average consumer. I listen to rock and heavy rock. I cannot opine on The Fives vs. the Sixes or any other model as I have not heard the others. Each speaker is the size of a shoebox more or less, so I personally would not consider them mobile speakers that I would take on a trip with me. I own a B&O Beolit 17 Bluetooth speaker with a long lasting battery, which would be my go to speaker if I wanted to take something on a trip with me (Though I normally just travel with noise canceling Bose headphones 700s, not my B&O Bluetooth speaker).
@@hwanjung8230 hey ...I own klipsch fives ..and I don't think they are travel friendly ...I know I may sound cheap ...but IMHO jbl boombox can be a decent choice ...(not that audiofile grade though) ..if you wish to carry your music with you outside of your house..
Have you worked with the sixes? I’m interested in klipsch the fives and a affordable alternative to a pair of Sonos five speakers and I came across the sixes and they have got me REAL curious. Thanks in advance, Ethan
Hey Andrew and Kristi, After reading the comments, I think people would like to see the fives make a cameo in your next subwoofer review. The largest criticism is the base and volume limitations, which seem to be resolved by adding a sub. Keep up the great work~!
Thank you for the great review ,I would appreciate if you could review some powered speakers from Edifier like the s2000 mkii, S300Pro and airpuls A300PRO
Wow!!!!….they are $499 @ Costco in black. I unexpectedly saw them today and flipped. If I was in the market for actives, I would be all over these, especially with Costco’s return policy if not happy.
Would love to see you review vintage klipsh models and possibly compare them with their modern counterparts, say Forte II & III, lascallas etc... thx for the vids!
★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/fivesUS** / **bit.ly/3k5vovR* ★ *QOTD: Who do YOU think the Fives are for? Can these speakers replace a soundbar? Are soundbars evil?* ★ *QUESTIONS? If it’s in the video, it’s IN THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎* ★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside URLs or RUclips links. Comments that violate these rules will be removed.*
Nice to see Klipsch providing a more modern style option, but I'm still hoping to see some white finishes integrated into the line...But the Fives are beautiful...As far as replacing a soundbar- for me a soundbar really satisfies the need to have a more minimalistic setup. Having bookshelf speakers (on stands, wires hanging out the back) in a TV setup is kind of like having 'bookends' on your entertainment console, makes it feel somewhat 'boxed in'...that's my opinion...
I don’t know what I consider myself. My first speakers were Klipsch R-15M and I loved them with the major exception of the finish that always got scratch up. I eventually sold them to upgrade to the R-51M and later got the R-820F and two R-120SW to complete my home system. I also got a used pair of of the R-15PM for my small room. As you know I only had experience with their reference and not their premier line. The Fives are beefed up R-15PM and sound like they can hold there own in a decent size room and wish I could hear them in person.
Good video. I also agree that powered speakers have a big market when it comes to people that just wants more simple configurations. Someone who just wants good sound, but his/her source it's the TV and/or the smartphone. I have had the Klipsch R 41-PM as a nearfield speaker. They looked amazing, they were giving a good sound for the size, but the sound quality was just not there, they lack a lot of the nuances that I was looking for, so I found a pair of used Kef Eggs on Amazon and I tried them. They sounded much better again, as a nearfield use, and better with the klipsch 8 inch subwoofer, really needed with both the powered klipsch and the Kef egg, if you want to have a good experience. Yes even on nearfield, bass is just not enough if you like certain kind of music... So... I am not really sure that they are going to substitute some sound bars. Sometimes the small size is a requirement for a living space. But I can see a lot of situations when a pair of speakers like the Fives make a lot of sense. In the end it's all about the music, and these seem to provide very enjoyable music with easy configuration. Usually audiophiles are not conscious how difficult it is from someone outside the audiophile world to configure everything. It's an entry poll.
@Adam - I would love to see these offered in white as they'd match my desk better. I totally hear you about the cables and such. It is a bit of a myth that powered speakers cut down on cables.
I was specifically in the market for a sound bar for 6 months or so, trying to make a decision. When I came across these at Costco, I bought them on the spot instead of a sound bar.
Phono preamp did well. Not the best I've ever heard, nor the best my U-Turn has sounded, but on par with stand alone phono preamps at or around $100-$150.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks,I have The sixes and heard bad reviews on the preamp but with my RT85 they sound amazing to me. It's my first turntable so I figured if that's bad then how good I'd good?? I tried an inexpensive BBE FJB-200X and sounded much worse,just trying to figure out what price point I'll have to reach to sound better. But I think I'll leave it alone until I upgrade to the Heresy mark 4's and a 2 ch. amplifier. Thank you for the response and your videos!
Couldn't decide between investing in basic a 3.1 system or a sound bar w/ sub. I worried that the former would be heavy on the wallet/light on my bass-thirsty ears, while the latter would offer little room for home-audio growth (i.e. It is what it is and can't build around it). Maybe you can build on a soundbar and I'm just unaware, but these 5's seem like a much stronger foundation. I also can't ignore the negative stigma surrounding soundbars among audiophiles, though I try. Thanks, man! The budding audio enthusiast
Active speakers with HDMI Arc. That simplicity is worth much and I like that more companies seems to go down that road. The only thing missing is tower speakers. But I think they will come to, in time. Nice videos. Keep them coming! Cheers.
You compared the Five's to the Kanto YU6's and said the Fives were better. What about the TUK's. It seems to me since they are both the same exact price, you would have compared them to the TUK's. How do they compare with the TUK's???
Aha! I was wondering where that TUK comparison was... Waaaaaaaaay down here in the comments! Haha So, Andrew prefers the 5's eh? Uhhhh I'm so torn especially since the price of the TUKs came down. I'll have to do more research...
@@storungz I can tell you that because the price was so much lower, I bought the TUKs. I got them 2 days ago. I had a very old soundbar on my bedroom TV. I ditched it and hooked up the TUKs. WOW! I don't think they are too bright because the bass is so good. By good, I don't mean boomy, it is precise. The TUK's have a very full sound. I have been using them with Spotify premium listening to music. I have a huge $60k system in my man room but I spent the last two nights listening to the TUKs in my bedroom. I highly recommend them.
Hi Andrew, Thank you for the awesome work ! Quick question, I'm trying to decide between Fives+Sub (like the Jamo one you suggested to match the design/colour), or R-51PM+ 100W Kliptch Sub. I don't need the HDMI ARC port (as I'll be using Bluetooth or other streaming) + I like the design of R-51PM better. But what would you chose just based on sound features? Thank you in advance, Cheers !
Super review! My Klipsch the Fives just arrive :) really enjoy this speakers with Tidal + Roon + Vintage Portable CD Player's, is like rediscover my music again, thank you Andrew for this review and your channel is just so much fun to watch and listen :):):)
I am on the fence here. Thinking about getting these as desktop speakers for near field listening. They would not be close to any wall. Probably around 30 inches from the window. That being said, I would be about 1 to max 2 feet from them. Curious if that would work. Also considered RP600s but those seem too much. Maybe RP400 or 500s?
Does anyone use them for a pc setup? My placement would be next to a 34 inch ultra wide monitor. So they would be about 80cm apart. I then sit about 60 cm away myself. Sometimes less, sometimes more. So my question is if anyone has experience with this.... How is the bass at the distance? Is the distance itself ok? Thanks in advance for the answers😀
I purchased The Fives at the end of 2021. My experience with the fives is as follows, As a Soundbar replacement. Well, if there were no connectivity issues, I'd say I'd be satisfied with them. They sound great, after one getting them to turn on, then ensuring they are in the right connection mode on the speakers themselves and then the app. I did the firmware update, re-set them and came up with a blank. And to date, Klipsch hasn't provided remedy . I no longer use them as a sound bar replacement. I bought a Sonos Arc Sound bar.
Hi Andrew, thanks so much for your review. I had these on order already and they arrived a couple days after your post. For me, the main feature that had me order these was the HDMI-ARC input. I want functionally simple and being able to control the volume from the same remote as the TV is important. They are definitely a soundbar replacement for me - I want both TV and nice music from the same system, and I want it to be simple. I am not any kind of audiophile (neither active nor recovering) but aside from age-related decrepitude, my ears work ok and what I am hearing a lot of with these speakers is DSP. And not just in the low end which I am aware can be defeated to some degree from the remote, but all through the whole spectrum. I wouldn't say it's necessarily objectionable DSP, but it's pretty heavy-handed to my ears. This is my first "decent" audio equipment purchase in probably 40-something years (last one was some inifinity bookshelfs) and so I feel like I have no real scaffolding for making comparisons, but when I listened to a bunch of different vocal music from all over genre-wise (nora jonoes, billie holiday, nick drake, tom waits, nusrut fateh ali khan), none of their voices sounded "natural" to me through the fives. They sounded good - but kind of too good if that makes sense. And I think I want a more "natural" and less "manufactured" sound. I don't dislike the fives but I'm not sure I'm going to keep them. Do you hear a lot of digital shaping with these speakers? Any thoughts or recommendations along these lines?
Well for one, there is no other powered monitor with HDMI connectivity so you'll be losing the level of simplicity you're after if you go another route. Without knowing what you've been listening to, it's hard to say if what you're experiencing with the Fives isn't just well, experiencing something new and different for the first time in 40 years or if you would truly be better off with something else.
This is, I believe, the best product review I’ve ever watched. Your delivery, your perfectly paced delivery and vast yet relatable descriptions remind me of some of the best authors I’ve ever read. Very well done sir
Hi Andrew, I purchased these based on your review. While they sounded very good out of the box, the firmware update and app control has taken them to the next level. They are also available at Costco right now for $499, making them an incredible value. Just wanted to let you know in case you wanted to do an update or use them in future comparisons. Thanks for the wonderful content.
Ahhh love how the length of videos are perfect to sit down with a cup (or 2) of coffee. I think the fives are truly aimed at people who wants speakers to do anything they can think of with decent/ good sound quality and ascetics.
Almost time for another cup. Thanks for watching.
And yes, spot on with your assessment of who the fives are for...
Thanks for watching and I agree, they're going after a customer who is looking for performance AND esthetics.
Don't need The Fives but enjoyed the video with a cup of coffee.
Thank you so much for watching!
@David Mander I enjoy powered Danish speakers with my coffee.
Nobody "needs" them but should "want" them :)
Hey Andrew what brand are those speaker stands??
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsnow what do you think of the fives being they’re been close to $450 for a while?
After watching (I don't know how many youtube reviews) I finally got the courage to spend money on the Fives. I live in Europe and these were 790 euros 3 months ago. I asked for the black, but they only had the walnut color. In my opinion, that walnut color is so gorgeous in every light and it they came with both grills. I literally have them sitting as bookshelves on a book shelf in my little office and have everything connected via bluetooth. They are subtle, clear, loud, beautiful, highly obnoxious when i'm listening to hip hop which my neighbors in the adjoining apartment can attest to. I'm so happy with my Fives...I wished I had more $$ to afford something different, but the mobility of these is incredible. Thank you Andrew for the video and the advice.
Andrew I will keep it simple... love your Show / RUclips channel. Love your perspective and detailed reviews, presentation, product knowledge. Been a music person since age 11 (now 63 and damn proud of it). Never considered myself an audiophile, but a real "gear head". Keep up the great work.
I just pulled the trigger on these in black matte. I've been dealing with Klipsch speakers for quite a few years now. Currently, I own the complete RF 7 ii' system in black as well. I started with Bose 601's, 301's and VS-100 center (purchased in 1994 and still in use sound system in My mancave. From there I crossed in the JBL's (about 10 years; My brother now has this system as I gave it to him.) Currently the RF 7's system (7.2) is My main theater room system also used for music listening. The Fives will most likely be placed in My living room area. I have NEVER had a dedicated sound system for My living because I would simply use My Bose Wave radio in the kitchen to fill that void since the rooms are co-joined to one another. Now to be honest, My living room does need its own sound system, but I so did NOT want a system upstairs that was the equivalent of My current Klipsch set-up in Our downstairs den/family room area. While TV is fine, I prefer personally, Music and books! I started purchasing high fidelity magazines when I about 11 years old, (about the mid to late 1970's.) My parents couldn't afford the equipment that I wanted, while We weren't poor, high end audio WASN'T EVER an option! That all changed for Me when I joined the military in 1983 @ 17 y/o, subsequently getting stationed in Germany about 4 years later. When I landed it Germany, it was game on! As a soldier in Germany and access to high end audio clubs, in particular Frankfurt, Germany, my first purchase was the Technics top of the line amp, preamp and matching EQ. We could purchase audio equipment for about 2/3 less than what people in the US were paying for the same equipment. Aaahhhh, such were the days! I still own and have boxed in their original boxes ALL of My Technics equipment/ dBX/ Adcom, etc. The current value for My amp and preamp is around $4500.00 today. All of the equipment is operational. I retired My super system in 2000 because at My last duty station before retiring in 2004, I simply did NOT have the room to set it up. After retiring and moving into Our current home and available space was/is not an issue, I left the system in retirement and ventured into more modern equipment. I love quality speakers, and today, they are NOT as easy to find as yesterday. Prime example, when Bose crossed over to the Lifestyle systems, We immediately divorced! I moved into Klipsch because they have been producing quality speakers since 1946 allegedly. While I have always been a huge fan of JBL and Bose, today, I feel that Klipsch complement Me and My music listening taste best! I still use JBL's, but ONLY their Bluetooth speakers. I Am so not above buying into JBL again because they still make quality audio even the company has probably changed hands several times since their first releases of speakers. I REALLY enjoyed the video, as it helped Me in making the decision to get these speakers new and for less than $500.00. My main genre of music is R&B, as I Am a person of color. However, I do require and enjoy music from the likes of Fleetwood Mac, Metallica, Foreigner, The Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Hootie and the Blowfish etc. Yeah, I know, I keep My friends confused! Yeah, I listen to a lil country too! Regardless of the music that I listen to, I have to hear it clearly and as balanced as possible. When ever I set up My sound system, it MUST be ABLE to play ALL of My music using the same EQ settings; and sound hella good doing it!
Funnily enough im listening to this video with The Fives Klipsch. im watching the review after my purchase cause i was going to buy another model Klipsch and was steered by the sales person to them, and im honestly glad they did. im loving the sound of them.
I bought the black version on Amazon for $399 shipped via Prime recently and could not be happier! Did the firmware update via the app which helped with my out of the box low volume issue. I cannot believe how much low end you get from a pair of 4.5” drivers! If these are this good in my garage, the Sevens and Nines would be amazeballs in the house! Thanks for your hard work and for the great reviews! You and Kristi are both appreciated!
ru serious? i live in europe. its 800 ( ON SALE)
Ditched my Polk Audio soundbar for a set of these... 3 days in I am satisfied. I appreciated your review!
I just bought a pair of The Fives and I'm giggling like a little kid in a candy store with $100 to blow. Grinning ear to ear. LOVE them so far and am VERY impressed with the BIG sound that these little speakers are able to put out! WOW! Thanks for the amazing reviews and for all the work you put into these videos.
This review is so well written that it is poetic. Really enjoyed the content.
Just got these as a result of watching this video. The preliminary verdict is thumbs up - thanks for the recommendation. In terms of too much bass, I hope that people know that by default the bass is boosted, and you can hold down the "sub" button on the remote for 3 seconds to disable that. Might be worth doing if you are listening at higher volumes.
Wow! Thanks for that. I love my Fives. I’ve had them for about a month and was a bit surprised that the bass was NOT very strong, which was contrary to everything I read. Reading your comment has me wondering if I disabled the bass in the opposite way that you describe. I’m out of town but will check when I get back. Thanks for the info!
Hi Andrew, i finally purchased the fives based on your review (did not go for a demo).
These loudspeakers are exactly what I needed for a small/medium room. My family is glad with the look of the speakers and also as to how these small powered speakers can give a run to few floorstanding speakers out there.
Thanks a ton for your review.
Please keep doing what your doing.
Next one will be the Klipsch Heresy IV, God willing!
Glad you like them!
Hello Andrew I sold Klipsch for 16 years at a stereo store. My favorite brand to sell. Needless to say, after being out of the business for 14 years, most of my house is still Klipsch. Powered speakers started showing up about 2 to 3 years at the end. They were definitely orientated to surround sound. I will have to check out the 5's, but I don't think they are going to replace my Chorus's.
They are ok. My settings are 0 on bass 2 on mids and 5 on treble. Paired with a dragonfly red. Helped them sound more neutral.
Man, let me tell you. I bought a new tv, Samsung q60a for a secondary room and then added a pair of fives this weekend instead of a sound bar. What a surprise! They are awesome and, better than any sound bar I’ve ever heard although my experience is limited. They are just fun to listen to. Even though streaming music isn’t live concert type listening, the fives are just “easy listening” no matter what music you like.
Good call.
Thanks for sharing and glad to hear you are enjoying your set up!
Install the latest software update. Now has adjustable EQUALIZER and Bluetooth remote.
Thanks for the great review. I bought a set of "Fives" 3 days ago, they are awesome. I put my JBL 2.1 soundbar back in it's box, also a Yamaha soundbar with built in sub back in it's box. I will be purchasing a Klipsh sub eventually just to get the most from the "Fives". I'm more than happy the way they sound without one, but I won't be happy till I find out what they sound like with one.
so im someone who has never looked at these type of powered speakers, primarily due to the type of sound class d amplifiers seem to produce, im sure its something that most people dont care about in terms of topology of amp but it seems to be noticeable. im willing to be proven wrong and maybe there is an amp out there that can match some of the entry level class ab or class a, but as far as i can tell the main reason why class d exists in the audio space is for studio monitors to have software control of the individual speakers or lower price or smaller package at the expense of resolution. great video btw.
Thanks for watching. I think Klipsch's internal "voicing" with The Fives goes a long way in curbing any real traits of any amplifier topology as they have a sound all their own.
I ordered The Fives directly from the Klipsch few weeks back and I am returning my second bricked unit tomorrow back to them. It has been a horrible experience to say the least. The first unit was delivered a week after the order, so when it arrived, I followed the instructions to set it up by downloading and connecting via Klipsh connect app. After that I then proceeded to update the firmware and that promptly bricked the unit. The support determined that it was probably a bad unit and also let me know that the their app had a bug that was preventing the speakers from connecting. Anyway i got the new unit after a week so I set it up and connect via BT and it was working, so I proceed to upgrade the firmware that was successful.
Right after the second firmware update the new unit also bricks. The second support rep discloses that the "bug" that the first rep was talking about was that the Klipsch connect app permanently bricks the unit after the new firmware upgrade if you even launch Klipsch connect app. Nowhere on their website, documentation etc has this warning. Throughout this ordeal, I was never able to get these guys on the phone, they were only available via "chat". They came across as rude and condescending and I will never buy anything directly from Klipsch. I am shipping them back their second unit and getting my money back.
Can you do a review update with the fives firmware update and how you compare theses in 2022
I just bought a pair of these for my office - streaming via bluetooth from a macbook. I trialled them against a few others and these absolutely blew the competition away. Absolutely love them.
If you have a Costco membership, you can get these "Fives"(in black only) AND a Klipsch R-12SWi sub for $729.00! They're on sale until Feb 13 2022. We just got them and are very happy with the sound quality.
Absolutely loving my Walnut The Fives in lieu of a soundbar for the last 1 year now! Makes our 14x18 room alive compared to the soundbar we used to have. As an added bonus we can listen to our music without having to hook up wires via bluetooth. We don't have it hooked up to any equipment except the arc2 hdmi to the tv. its lovely.
How does the fives compare to the sixes? Seems like the sixes have a bigger woofer than the fives but the fives seems newer?
I don't believe the Sixes has an HDMI port for ARC/eARC support, which is a deal-breaker for a lot of home media setups
@@jackalclone1 The other way round the sixes may be bigger but dac is 96 compared with 192 on fives and timing and focus is much better on fives, also although the sixes have bigger woofer it has a smaller voice coil, and doesn't control the music as well as the fives. Ive auditioned side by side and the fives were first so expected a bigger sound stage with the sixes only to be dis-appointed when they sounded wooden and flabby and the music lost its focus, much better on the fives
The sound bar, hmm. I purchased The Fives several months ago. I'd say the downfall in this regard would be the lack of center speaker for voices in movies. But, i do not regret purchasing them at all for 800$. The deal for 400 had just ended, but then came the deal for a strong 12" sub from Klipsch, which was cut from 400 to 200, so no one is complaining here. Again, reminds beautiful sound, and reminds me of a movie theater quality. Well, you all watched the review, and I feel pampered.
Just bought them for $599 at Best Buy and Wow! Great speakers for my bedroom. Amazing sound and small, they look beautiful in walnut. Couldn't believe how great they sound. Really enjoying them. I'm new to your channel Andrew and fell in love with it. I've gone back and watched the majority of your videos. Amazing channel
I missed the sale :/ paid open box at a local speaker shop today for 800, but in perfect shape. 880 is the new price. Speker guy said, Klipsch just marked everything up by ten percent.
There's a 12" Klipsch sub on sale currently though. 550 down to 275. I plan to pick it up this weekend.
Gratz on your deal.
Install the latest software update. Now has adjustable EQUALIZER and Bluetooth remote.
Everything has its place , I have a sound bar in my bedroom and it works great for me for what I need .
Does the use of a subwoofer help the midrange performance, is there a crossover setting?
Happy to confirm that it does help with the midrange as there is an auto crossover when a subwoofer is detected. I'm really enjoying these Fives.
@@russd3029this is the way
I bought these after lots of research and your review played no small part in that but the main driver for me buying these was…
I actually listened to them in a store. The detail is crazy.
Use these with a sub and they sound even better…
I run a preamp/dad fed by a streamer into one of the RCA input which sounds so much better than Bluetooth. Such a clean setup.
Install the latest software update. Now has adjustable EQUALIZER and Bluetooth remote.
I really like the inclusion of the ACR input. This would work well for my Niece, who does not want to fiddle with all that stereo stuff.
Excellent review. I went with Klipsch R150 as my first speakers coming into this hobby. They’re fantastic and I couldn’t be happier. One day id love to upgrade to the beautiful Jamo towers you reviewed. But I definitely think high quality powered speakers like these are the future and I love what these companies are doing!! Great work on this one & I can’t wait for the next review!! Thanks much.
Have you any experience with the R-40/50 powered speakers, and if so, do they compare at all to The Fives? This is for a desktop setup. With the exception of HDMI, the R-40/50s have the exact same connection options. Their normal sale prices are in different categories ($4-500 vs. ~$950 from what I can tell), but the Fives are on sale for $399 right now. VERY tempting!
Hey, which mic do you use when you record your talking head segments? A hidden lav or a boom maybe?
The one I use is no longer for sale but here are some comparable alternatives - amzn.to/3f9W0Iz and amzn.to/2O0MxaC
Just picked these up because the black version is on sale for $500 at Costco right now.
How do they sound? What did you have before? Thanks.
is regular price of 500 on amazon LOL
@@Ed-lz4jv That is a recent development LOL
Just ordered mine, I don't like clutter and this solves 3 issues, space, wireless options with Bluetooth and TV/ turntable ready.
Which sub would you recommend adding to the fives?
Also, I saw you have the Klipsch Three II as your reference Bluetooth speaker. Truly recommended?
Just got these yesterday, and they are AWESOME. I’ve been wanting to upgrade to a better system for quite sometime, and have always wanted Klipsch speakers. This review is what made me finally get some, and The Fives knocked it out of the park for me! This video is also the reason I subscribed to your channel. Loving the content!
So glad you like them and thank you for watching!
Andrew, I had to watch this review again! Klipsch is really awesome, man!
I've been searching and investigating the perfect speaker set up for my small (music room) i'm crafting in my basement. Even tho the focus of this room, is to sit and purely enjoy music, i also want to enjoy the audio from the TV. Sound bar was my first thought, but i wanted a more tradentional look, of two nice looking speakers set on either side of the tv.
with the help of this video, i've made up my mind. These are the powered speakers for me.
I jsut ordered the Sixes for more bass and more affordable. Both are most beautiful speakers at any price! I was looking at sub $500 tube amplifiers...but the chance to own my first Klipsch with the walnut and features is just...well, life is short!
I owned soundbars for years and, while convenient and unobtrusive, their performance in pure music listening has never impressed me. It's a REVOLUTION for clients like me to have powered speakers with such versatility in input compartment, especially HDMI.
I pre-ordered The Fives two weeks ago just to be able to hook up my turntable, TV and PC at the same time and I'm very curious to see how much they will let me want to hear music more, instead of relegating myself to headphones
Soundbars definitely not ideal for stereo music listening, but there are several quality soundbar options out today that are pretty impressive (and costly)..
Hey Andrew! fellow Austinite here. I was wondering if y’all ever tried plugging in a sub? I ask because I’ve been waiting for these ( to replace some old RP-15Ms) and from what I’ve heard when you add a sub to the fives, the internal crossover supposedly kicks in and tames down the mids. Which would in theory mean you could adjust the sub volume to whatever you’d like and have the bookshelves be less bass heavy when needed.
Yes, it does make the bass more manageable and allows for some measure of “tuning”.
Great video! I really think you nailed it. I have truly enjoyed the fun factor of these speakers. Running them for music only via turntable and digital music. Added a Klipsch sub and some venom power cables and I am just blown away! I honestly think they punch way above their belt! Just wish those Solid Steel stands will come in. 4 month wait! My only complaint would be the low quality grills (toss em) and the phono pre-amp which sucks (buy a pro-ject DS).
Hey how about getting 7 of these powered speakers and connect them as surrounds in a 5.1.2 set up (the sub would be extra ofcourse) to an AVRs surround pre outs ? That way all speakers would have their independent amps perfectly matched to their drivers and the AVRs would be relieved off its amplification duties. Basically using the AVR as a processor.
How would the set up sound ??
andrew i love your videos. Very easy to understand, entertaining, and informative
I was about to add another ERA300 when I bumped into Klipsch and your channel, and now I'm thinking about getting the Fives instead of 2 Era300, what is your opinion on that? my use is for music and probably I will connect the five to my TV if that would be my choice. Please help (I really like your channel, it's great stuff and your presentation is great.)❤
For me this is a very timely video. We are currently bouncing around the idea of replacing our Polk Audio soundbar and subwoofer set up for our main TV. We have limited space but I just can't seem to get enough enjoyment from a soundbar... this may work as an alternative. As long as we can set up for Cable Box, Sheild box and laptop. After all these years of listening to tower and shelf speakers I find soundbars just dont have the same "impact".
With the time you spent listening to the Fives... did you find the lack of a centre channel deleterious in regards to TV dialogue?
One thing to remember is that these are designed as a 2.0 or 2.1 system only. If you want a true center channel these aren’t the right fit.
@@JilesMcCoy ... good point and glad you pointed it out for those who might not have twigged to it. For my circumstances 2.1 will be just fine... so long as there is a good presentation of dialogue.
how were they when hooked to your PC....which did you like better on your PC THE FIVES or KANTO TUK'S......cheers from Canada
I got Edifier powered speakers for my daughter's room and they sound great in the small room. They have decent connectivity and save up space. So the concept of built in amps has proven great for me. I have a separate system with floortanders In my livingroom , but I would have definitely tried The Fives instead as I ended up using my system for music streaming most of the time.
I'm curious if you have an opinion on the Fives vs the R-51PMs? I am looking to get a pair of powered speakers for my bedroom to listen to records, stream music with bluetooth, and possibly connect to a TV.
I've never heard the 51s.
I am wondering the same. I’m fairly new to the audiophile scene. Convinced I’m overthinking it. I think too much bass makes everything muddy sounding.
@jarrodneubert7238 what did you finally decide?
@@AbhishekRamesh1 I know you asked the other guy but thought I'd share what I decided on.
Albeit more expensive, I went for something simpler to set up. I settled on an Adam Audio T5V pair with the T10S subwoofer, Focusrite Scarlett Solo, and IsoAcoustics stands (130 size). Zero regrets - very impressed.
@@bren.r Thanks. I'll check that out.
Wow dude...this was the best review and presentation of a product (any product) I have seen in my life. Thanks for the effort.
Thank you so much! We appreciate you watching.
Andrew, do you still have these? I would love to see a re-review of this in the new house!!!
Absolutely agree with you! Just make the transition from The Sixes to this and I was amazed by the way Klipsch makes an even smaller pair of bookshelf that sounds better, excellent job by you and for Klipsch!
Would love if you could get your hands on some Edifier s3000 pros they are same price as these but those pair to each other wirelessly
I was looking for soundbar... and these 2 little ones are growing on me more... i think versatility will make these a best investment overall, when standards start to chant and your new Atmos soundbar is not the top notch anymore... this 2 will keep sound great.
What about The Sixes? How do they sound compared to The Fives?
I've had my The Fives for 2 weeks now, and I'm happy with their performance in my living room for music and movies.
The only problem is the remote. It really makes me work just to turn the speakers up or down in volume.
The speakers are placed in an open area, and I try really hard to aim my command directly at the active side.
Even with fresh batteries, my results are hit and miss. Sometimes I get zero response, and other times the volume jumps much faster than I really want.
I'm I the only one....or is this remote a bit hincky in general....??
Joe & Tell reported the very same hinky remote volume behavior at the end of his RUclips review.
Time to review the "Klipsch ProMedia Heritage 2.1" for use in smaller rooms. They look exactly like the rest of the Heritage line (with the grille on).
A big, big difference is that the ProMedia Heritage line lacks ARC/HDMI support, which is a non-starter for a lot of home media setups (more intended for PC setups)
Probably true. But HDMI isn't THAT ESSENTIAL for a 2.0/2.1 setup. Just a slight inconvenience that your speakers won't power up at the exact same time as the TV. From a typical small-medium living room distance you can barely hear the added fidelity of a digital connection compared to analogue.
Hey i love the inclusion of words and your solid command over your vocabulary, honestly i am a new audiophile but i have learned so much from you, its incredible. Thankyou for being out there !!!
What would be a good subwoofer for The Fives
You don't have to go with anything too big or expensive. I'd start here: bit.ly/3LChjD9 or amzn.to/3248Neh
Thanks I was looking at a sound bar but never proceeded because all the one I tested never played music the way I wanted. Frustrated sales staff kept pushing me to a full hone theatre setup which I didn’t want. You have me going in a whole new direction now. Thanks again.
Glad I could help!
The Fives on sale for $475 right now….kind have to jump at them for that price?
Just ordered them for $475 - arriving in a couple days, super excited
@@GriffinPearson Got mine 3 weeks ago. Worth every penny. Recommend getting a sub also.
@@ninjalbatross which sub did you go with?
@@chandlerlee3516 KD-10SW 10"
I was thinking the same thing but go the McLaren edition
I just ordered them specifically for a 2.1 system for a record player system. Perfect for long skinny table with limited clutter.
Klipsch fives or kanto YU6 for minimalist setup directly to turntable?
fives all day.
Finally picked up a pair one month ago, and they're fantastic! (switching out my KRK Rokit-8 g2) A little warm in the low-mids, but a nice smooth sound. I run mine with the dynamic bass setting turned off (by holding down the sub reset button on the remote) to contain the low bass a bit more, but yeah these things can thump, it's unreal. Look and size are girlfriend-approved, and all the inputs are so handy. USB to my mac mini htpc, e-arc from the TV for smart tv apps, and bluetooth from anybody's phone. I wish it had AirPlay, but no love lost, and for network security it's nice it doesn't have wifi.
It's a great package at a fair price...if you can find them for below $600 including tax.
Are they flawed, perhaps a bit, but they're so damn enjoyable and fun that I could go into detail about why that is, but forget about it, man, haha. The fives put me in a positive, to cool for school mood to care to explain myself, ever. The speakers might as well be styled after the fonz's leather jacket. But they aren't pigeon holed to that genre. Not at all. I am mostly listening to all music after 1980: a lot of post punk, the smiths, indy, the shins, new wave, and anything "dancy and modern-ish": empire of the sun, foster the people, mgmt, chvches, etc. Richard Hawley "Don't get hungup in your soul" also performs well.
How do they sound with, for example AC/DC Sabaton Metallica? I'm a allrounder in music. But Hard rock is always a problem 🙂
Install the latest software update. Now has adjustable EQUALIZER and Bluetooth remote.
@@miclinda256 I listen to a lot of alt rock and electronic music, and I find these speakers maybe a bit too rich in the midbass and maybe a tiny bit lean in the highs. So considering your genres, I think of those as being often mixed in a way that has scooped mid bass and bumped highs, so I feel like that’s a great match for these speakers! I think the combination would give you a really nice tone profile. Remember you can turn off the DSP bass enhancement, and even EQ a bit through the app if needed.
@@bradhuskers Great question. I don’t have a sub, since I’m currently living in a duplex and it would certainly disturb my neighbors! Haha I plan to add a sub once I’m in my next home and can have a better listening environment. Currently my room requires both the speakers and the listening position to be very close to the wall, so there’s a lot of resonance in the low bass. Currently my issue is too much bass! But yeah I’m looking forward to a more appropriate space where there’s no shared walls, and also I can put the speakers and listening position more in free space so we can add some more LF extension without being so boomy.
Hi Andrew, I think you should give the Edifier S3000 Pro a shot.
Yes, I'd also like Andrew to give his opinion on them...
Yes please
@@michalesniak7012 Add to that the Airpulse A300.
@@josephchamberlain3681 We need to campaign this so that Andrew will consider lol
Yes please
I've been watching your videos regularly trying to figure out the best fit for a TV/ Music experience without having to buy additional equipment. I'm so glad I came across this channel, and wish Amazon had these units in stock so I could use the affiliate link.
Going to be picking these up as this checks off everything for me, as looks is a big factor for me as well!
Hows the sound for voices/dialogue in movies? Neflix streaming services? I'm considering the Fives or the Audio Pro A28
I've been using mine for about a week. So far if you keep the dynamic bass off the speakers are great for movies. The dynamic bass can sometimes kick in too much with low voices during quiet scenes or dialogue. But the bass is great for the scene that benefit from it.
Apologies if I missed it, but how are they for movie dialog? Thanks!
They were great. The strong center image makes them sound clear.
What type of speaker stands are those?
I am debating between a soundbar and powered speakers now in 2023. Has the landscape changed?
The Klipsch Connect app now supports The Fives, meaning that the eq can be customized now.
Edit (March 3 2021): I just received my pair of The Fives and connected to the Klipsch Connect app. It can update the firmware on the speakers, but no EQ yet. Sorry.
This just helped finalize my decision. Thank you!
@@CollectedWorx I just received my The Fives and hooked them up (to TV via HDMI arc). The Klipsch Connect app is useful for updating the firmware on the speakers, but it does not do EQ (yet). Sorry for the misinformation above. If you pulled the trigger on these already, you won't be disappointed, just need to be patient for Klipsch to incorporate EQ into the app. I tested the speakers with some music (heavy, rock, soft rock), radio, and with a movie (Star Wars IX) and the sound is great on all fronts!
How do you like them? I'm a travel nurse and have the 8000f and 600m for my home system, but I need something I can take on the road for hotels or apartments. Are the Fives that much better than the Sixes?
@@hwanjung8230 these are my first and only pair of Klipsch. I use them for music and TV. I have them connected to the TV via HDMI eARC, and they sound great. I’m not an audiophile, but an average consumer. I listen to rock and heavy rock. I cannot opine on The Fives vs. the Sixes or any other model as I have not heard the others. Each speaker is the size of a shoebox more or less, so I personally would not consider them mobile speakers that I would take on a trip with me. I own a B&O Beolit 17 Bluetooth speaker with a long lasting battery, which would be my go to speaker if I wanted to take something on a trip with me (Though I normally just travel with noise canceling Bose headphones 700s, not my B&O Bluetooth speaker).
@@hwanjung8230 hey ...I own klipsch fives ..and I don't think they are travel friendly ...I know I may sound cheap ...but IMHO jbl boombox can be a decent choice ...(not that audiofile grade though) ..if you wish to carry your music with you outside of your house..
I have wanted Klipsch speakers for 40 years! I like the Herisy walnut ones! Thank you for this review. The grills go good with my vintage receiver.
Have you worked with the sixes? I’m interested in klipsch the fives and a affordable alternative to a pair of Sonos five speakers and I came across the sixes and they have got me REAL curious. Thanks in advance, Ethan
Hey Andrew and Kristi,
After reading the comments, I think people would like to see the fives make a cameo in your next subwoofer review.
The largest criticism is the base and volume limitations, which seem to be resolved by adding a sub.
Keep up the great work~!
Thank you for the great review ,I would appreciate if you could review some powered speakers from Edifier like the s2000 mkii, S300Pro and airpuls A300PRO
I've joined the FIVES club and now my high end desktop PC rocks!!!! Top notch quality! Thanks Klipsch , cheers to you Andrew:)
So glad you are enjoying them!
Wow!!!!….they are $499 @ Costco in black. I unexpectedly saw them today and flipped. If I was in the market for actives, I would be all over these, especially with Costco’s return policy if not happy.
I saw that myself and bought a pair. Happy so far!
@@Sircinus3005 me too. Nice at 700. Crazy good at 500.
Woo thanks for pointing out its at costco. Sadly it's 599 now
they are $500 on amazon in black, just shipped today.....and can return if I wanted
Nice! Keep ‘em!
Would love to see you review vintage klipsh models and possibly compare them with their modern counterparts, say Forte II & III, lascallas etc... thx for the vids!
That would be fun!
That would be fun!
★ *REVIEWING: **bit.ly/fivesUS** / **bit.ly/3k5vovR*
★ *QOTD: Who do YOU think the Fives are for? Can these speakers replace a soundbar? Are soundbars evil?*
★ *QUESTIONS? If it’s in the video, it’s IN THE ⬆︎DESCRIPTION⬆︎*
★ *COMMENT RULES: Please be respectful. No outside URLs or RUclips links. Comments that violate these rules will be removed.*
Nice to see Klipsch providing a more modern style option, but I'm still hoping to see some white finishes integrated into the line...But the Fives are beautiful...As far as replacing a soundbar- for me a soundbar really satisfies the need to have a more minimalistic setup. Having bookshelf speakers (on stands, wires hanging out the back) in a TV setup is kind of like having 'bookends' on your entertainment console, makes it feel somewhat 'boxed in'...that's my opinion...
I don’t know what I consider myself. My first speakers were Klipsch R-15M and I loved them with the major exception of the finish that always got scratch up. I eventually sold them to upgrade to the R-51M and later got the R-820F and two R-120SW to complete my home system. I also got a used pair of of the R-15PM for my small room. As you know I only had experience with their reference and not their premier line. The Fives are beefed up R-15PM and sound like they can hold there own in a decent size room and wish I could hear them in person.
Good video.
I also agree that powered speakers have a big market when it comes to people that just wants more simple configurations. Someone who just wants good sound, but his/her source it's the TV and/or the smartphone.
I have had the Klipsch R 41-PM as a nearfield speaker. They looked amazing, they were giving a good sound for the size, but the sound quality was just not there, they lack a lot of the nuances that I was looking for, so I found a pair of used Kef Eggs on Amazon and I tried them. They sounded much better again, as a nearfield use, and better with the klipsch 8 inch subwoofer, really needed with both the powered klipsch and the Kef egg, if you want to have a good experience. Yes even on nearfield, bass is just not enough if you like certain kind of music...
So... I am not really sure that they are going to substitute some sound bars. Sometimes the small size is a requirement for a living space. But I can see a lot of situations when a pair of speakers like the Fives make a lot of sense.
In the end it's all about the music, and these seem to provide very enjoyable music with easy configuration. Usually audiophiles are not conscious how difficult it is from someone outside the audiophile world to configure everything. It's an entry poll.
@Adam - I would love to see these offered in white as they'd match my desk better. I totally hear you about the cables and such. It is a bit of a myth that powered speakers cut down on cables.
@Matthew - Hopefully someday soon it will be more safe to hear them in person. They're not going anywhere, so there's time. Thanks for watching!
I was specifically in the market for a sound bar for 6 months or so, trying to make a decision. When I came across these at Costco, I bought them on the spot instead of a sound bar.
Zeos reviewed the 5s a few months ago, and he Raves about them! He was Completely floored by the cabinets
How did the phono preamp do? And any idea why The Fives are the same price as The Sixes? Seems odd to me
Phono preamp did well. Not the best I've ever heard, nor the best my U-Turn has sounded, but on par with stand alone phono preamps at or around $100-$150.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks,I have The sixes and heard bad reviews on the preamp but with my RT85 they sound amazing to me. It's my first turntable so I figured if that's bad then how good I'd good?? I tried an inexpensive BBE FJB-200X and sounded much worse,just trying to figure out what price point I'll have to reach to sound better. But I think I'll leave it alone until I upgrade to the Heresy mark 4's and a 2 ch. amplifier. Thank you for the response and your videos!
“Too much bass?” If so, the new firmware update now adds a “bass cut” feature. FYI
Do you know if this is different than turning off the active bass setting?
@@Jev55 I think so.
@@bbutler5090 Thanks! I own these and was just trying to decide if it's worth it to full with the firmware update.
@@Jev55 I didn’t do it.
Install the latest software update. Now has adjustable EQUALIZER and Bluetooth remote.
Couldn't decide between investing in basic a 3.1 system or a sound bar w/ sub. I worried that the former would be heavy on the wallet/light on my bass-thirsty ears, while the latter would offer little room for home-audio growth (i.e. It is what it is and can't build around it). Maybe you can build on a soundbar and I'm just unaware, but these 5's seem like a much stronger foundation. I also can't ignore the negative stigma surrounding soundbars among audiophiles, though I try. Thanks, man!
The budding audio enthusiast
Just got a 70" thin tv with horrible sound was thinking of a sound bar until i watched your video. I. Not a tech guy can I dummy install this.
Very easy to install. Power cable, speaker cable and input cable.
Active speakers with HDMI Arc. That simplicity is worth much and I like that more companies seems to go down that road. The only thing missing is tower speakers. But I think they will come to, in time. Nice videos. Keep them coming! Cheers.
You compared the Five's to the Kanto YU6's and said the Fives were better. What about the TUK's. It seems to me since they are both the same exact price, you would have compared them to the TUK's. How do they compare with the TUK's???
I prefer the Fives to both of those.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I see they lowered the price of the TUK's to $650.00. Everywhere. Competition is a wonderful thing.
The tuk's were very bright to me. The tweeter might be great for some but I couldn't listen for more than about a half hour.
Aha! I was wondering where that TUK comparison was... Waaaaaaaaay down here in the comments! Haha
So, Andrew prefers the 5's eh? Uhhhh I'm so torn especially since the price of the TUKs came down. I'll have to do more research...
@@storungz I can tell you that because the price was so much lower, I bought the TUKs. I got them 2 days ago. I had a very old soundbar on my bedroom TV. I ditched it and hooked up the TUKs. WOW! I don't think they are too bright because the bass is so good. By good, I don't mean boomy, it is precise. The TUK's have a very full sound. I have been using them with Spotify premium listening to music. I have a huge $60k system in my man room but I spent the last two nights listening to the TUKs in my bedroom. I highly recommend them.
Hi Andrew,
Thank you for the awesome work !
Quick question, I'm trying to decide between Fives+Sub (like the Jamo one you suggested to match the design/colour), or R-51PM+ 100W Kliptch Sub.
I don't need the HDMI ARC port (as I'll be using Bluetooth or other streaming) + I like the design of R-51PM better.
But what would you chose just based on sound features?
Thank you in advance,
Cheers !
"DITCH YOUR SOUNDBAR"
One month later
"SOUNDBARS DON'T SUCK"
Yeah, you have options. Isn't modern tech great?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews q950t or these?
What bass speaker would you add?
Are Klipsch the Fives worth the money compared to the Kanto YU6's?
Super review! My Klipsch the Fives just arrive :) really enjoy this speakers with Tidal + Roon + Vintage Portable CD Player's, is like rediscover my music again, thank you Andrew for this review and your channel is just so much fun to watch and listen :):):)
This is the third time I'm watching this review. I wonder how they would compare to the Edifier S 3000 pro? Your input is greatly Appreciated
Good question. I wonder also.
I am on the fence here. Thinking about getting these as desktop speakers for near field listening. They would not be close to any wall. Probably around 30 inches from the window. That being said, I would be about 1 to max 2 feet from them. Curious if that would work. Also considered RP600s but those seem too much. Maybe RP400 or 500s?
Does anyone use them for a pc setup?
My placement would be next to a 34 inch ultra wide monitor. So they would be about 80cm apart. I then sit about 60 cm away myself. Sometimes less, sometimes more.
So my question is if anyone has experience with this....
How is the bass at the distance?
Is the distance itself ok?
Thanks in advance for the answers😀
how are they compared to Klipsch RP 600 Ms ( along with a suitable Amp / Receiver ) ?
I purchased The Fives at the end of 2021. My experience with the fives is as follows, As a Soundbar replacement. Well, if there were no connectivity issues, I'd say I'd be satisfied with them. They sound great, after one getting them to turn on, then ensuring they are in the right connection mode on the speakers themselves and then the app. I did the firmware update, re-set them and came up with a blank. And to date, Klipsch hasn't provided remedy . I no longer use them as a sound bar replacement. I bought a Sonos Arc Sound bar.
Hi Andrew, thanks so much for your review. I had these on order already and they arrived a couple days after your post. For me, the main feature that had me order these was the HDMI-ARC input. I want functionally simple and being able to control the volume from the same remote as the TV is important. They are definitely a soundbar replacement for me - I want both TV and nice music from the same system, and I want it to be simple.
I am not any kind of audiophile (neither active nor recovering) but aside from age-related decrepitude, my ears work ok and what I am hearing a lot of with these speakers is DSP. And not just in the low end which I am aware can be defeated to some degree from the remote, but all through the whole spectrum. I wouldn't say it's necessarily objectionable DSP, but it's pretty heavy-handed to my ears. This is my first "decent" audio equipment purchase in probably 40-something years (last one was some inifinity bookshelfs) and so I feel like I have no real scaffolding for making comparisons, but when I listened to a bunch of different vocal music from all over genre-wise (nora jonoes, billie holiday, nick drake, tom waits, nusrut fateh ali khan), none of their voices sounded "natural" to me through the fives. They sounded good - but kind of too good if that makes sense. And I think I want a more "natural" and less "manufactured" sound. I don't dislike the fives but I'm not sure I'm going to keep them. Do you hear a lot of digital shaping with these speakers? Any thoughts or recommendations along these lines?
Well for one, there is no other powered monitor with HDMI connectivity so you'll be losing the level of simplicity you're after if you go another route. Without knowing what you've been listening to, it's hard to say if what you're experiencing with the Fives isn't just well, experiencing something new and different for the first time in 40 years or if you would truly be better off with something else.