In this review, we will be comparing LSX II and The Fives, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from KEF 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 KEF LSX II and Klipsch The Fives first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KEF LSX II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 200-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 11th Generation Uni-Q Driver
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer
- 54-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 384 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 4.2 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:3.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 240.0" x 6.1" x 7.1"( 240 × 155 × 180 mm )
Klipsch The Fives Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 160-watt RMS( 320-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer
- 50-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- App Control Feature
- Weight:4.85kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 314.3" x 6.5" x 11.125"( 314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KEF LSX II and Klipsch The Fives compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both LSX II and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
KEF LSX II |
Klipsch The Fives |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
LSX II features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer . On the other hand, the The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
LSX II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz whereas The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the The Fives can go slightly deeper then the LSX II's min frequency of 54Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both LSX II and The Fives have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
KEF LSX II Port
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare KEF LSX II's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. KEF LSX II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm ( 9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch) 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10.1mm wider, 74.3mm taller and 102.6mm deeper than KEF LSX II.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KEF LSX II and Klipsch The Fives in scale.
Comparison image of KEF LSX II and Klipsch The Fives Size and External Dimensions
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 KEF LSX II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The LSX II requires 40% less surface area than the The Fives which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of KEF LSX II and Klipsch The Fives on a Media Console
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 KEF LSX II weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs and the Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs. This makes the The Fives 35% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how LSX II 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 KEF LSX II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of LSX II:
2 Wireless powered speakersTwo 6.5-feet AC power cords10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cableRemote control2 AAA batteries Quick Start Guide Important Safety Information Warranty Information Maintenance Guide
What's in the Box of Klipsch The Fives?
Here are the items that come with the 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
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
240mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
279cm2
vs
466cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer)
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
54 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
969USD
vs
1299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
| General |
KEF LSX II |
Klipsch The Fives |
| Brand |
KEF |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
54-28k 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 |
384 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
Fiber-composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
0.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
240.0mm (9.4") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
180.0mm (7.1") |
282.6mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
Black,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical, HDMI |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |