In this review, we will be comparing A10 and The Fives, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Buchardt and Klipsch. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Buchardt A10 and Klipsch The Fives first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Buchardt A10 | Klipsch The Fives |
|---|
| Brand | Buchardt
Denmark · founded 2014 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 160-watt RMS (320-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.74" Dome with waveguide | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" paper | 4.5" Fiber-composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-40k Hz | 50-25k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192kHZ | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | No | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| App control | — | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.6" x 7" x 9.65"
370 x 180.0 x 245.0mm | 12.375" x 6.5" x 11.125"
314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both A10 and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
Buchardt A10Klipsch The Fives
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Buchardt A10 |
Klipsch The Fives |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.74-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
A10 features a 0.74" Aluminum Dome with waveguide Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2800Hz. On the other hand, The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
A10 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz whereas The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the A10 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to The Fives's min frequency of 50Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A10 has a front firing port whereas The Fives has a rear firing ports. Buchardt A10's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch The Fives with its rear-firing port.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Buchardt A10's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. Buchardt A10 has external dimensions of 370 x 180.0 x 245.0mm (14.6 x 7 x 11inch) whereas Klipsch The Fives has external dimensions of 314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm (12.375 x 6.5 x 11.125inch).
Klipsch The Fives is 14.9mm narrower and 55.7mm shorter than Buchardt A10 but it is also 37.6mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Klipsch The Fives is 38mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Buchardt A10 is 56mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Buchardt A10 is approximately 441.0cm2 / 68.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The A10 requires 5% less surface area than The Fives which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Buchardt A10 weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs. This makes the A10 40% heavier than The Fives.
Here is a comparison of how A10 and The Fives's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch The Fives?
Here are the items that come with The Fives:
- Powered speaker (right)
- Passive speaker (left)
- 6-inch AC power cord
- 13-feet Proprietary speaker cable
- 58-inch HDMI cable
- 59-inch USB-A to USB-B cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Instruction Booklet
- Need Help? card
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
441cm2
vs
466cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 USB Port |
Service Only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 XLR Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via XLR input |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
314mm
vs
370mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
969USD
vs
3950USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 3.5mm Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via 3.5mm AUX input |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
Buchardt A10 |
Klipsch The Fives |
| Brand |
Buchardt |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
28-40k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-watt RMS |
160-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
320-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192kHZ |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
paper |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
0.74" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome with waveguide |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
370.0mm (14.6") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
180.0mm (7.1") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
245.0mm (9.6") |
282.6mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Solid wood |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black,White, Walnut, Oak, Ash |
Black,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
XLR |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
Service Only |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
n/a |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
No |
Optical, HDMI |
| HDMI Input |
No |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
10 years on speakers / 2 years on electronics (4 years if registered) |
1 Year |
These sit in different price classes - Buchardt A10 costs roughly 4.1x what Klipsch The Fives does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Buchardt A10 digs deeper - 28Hz against 50Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | Buchardt A10 has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 160W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Buchardt A10 adds Wi-Fi; Klipsch The Fives adds Bluetooth, HDMI, phono and digital inputs. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Sealed vs Ported. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | B | Klipsch The Fives: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Klipsch The Fives is cheaper - $969 against $3,950, about 75% less; arguably a different class. |
A Buchardt A10 B Klipsch The Fives
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 50Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch The Fives much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $2,981 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.