In this review, we will be comparing The Fives and Xeo 20, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and Dynaudio. 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 Klipsch The Fives and Dynaudio Xeo 20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch The Fives | Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Dynaudio
Denmark · founded 1977 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 160-watt RMS (320-watt peak) | 260-watt RMS |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1.1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Fiber-composite | 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 40-21k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.1 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs | 6.21kg / 13.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.375" x 6.5" x 11.125"
314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm | 12.625" x 7.125" x 10.125"
320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both The Fives and Xeo 20 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch The FivesDynaudio Xeo 20
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch The Fives |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.5-inch
|
The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer. On the other hand, the Xeo 20 features a 1.1" Coated Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.5" Magnesium Silicate Polymer Woofer.
Frequency Response
The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas Xeo 20 has a frequency range of 40-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Xeo 20 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
Both The Fives and Xeo 20 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.
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 Klipsch The Fives's and Dynaudio Xeo 20's external dimensions. Klipsch The Fives has external dimensions of 314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm (12.375 x 6.5 x 11.125inch) whereas Dynaudio Xeo 20 has external dimensions of 320.7 x 181.0 x 257.2mm (12.625 x 7.125 x 10.125inch).
Klipsch The Fives is 15.9mm narrower and 6.4mm shorter than Dynaudio Xeo 20 but it is also 25.4mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch The Fives and Dynaudio Xeo 20 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch The Fives and Dynaudio Xeo 20 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 Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Xeo 20 is approximately 465.5cm2 / 72.2inch2. The Fives requires 0% more surface area than the Xeo 20 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 Klipsch The Fives and Dynaudio Xeo 20 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 Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs and the Dynaudio Xeo 20 weighs 6.21kg / 13.7lbs. This makes the Xeo 20 28% heavier than The Fives.
Here is a comparison of how The Fives and Xeo 20'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 are included inside the box of 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
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Xeo 20?
Here are the items that come with the Xeo 20:
- 2 Powered bookshelf speakers
- 2 Grilles
- Two 8-feet AC power cords
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Setup Manual
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
314mm
vs
320mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
969USD
vs
2500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
465cm2
vs
466cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
USB Port |
Service
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Klipsch The Fives |
Dynaudio Xeo 20 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
40-21k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
160-watt RMS |
260-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
320-watt RMS |
n/a |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
314.3mm (12.4") |
320.7mm (12.6") |
| Width |
165.1mm (6.5") |
181.0mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
282.6mm (11.1") |
257.2mm (10.1") |
| Weight |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
6.21kg (13.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
n/a |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
Service |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
No |
| Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Yrs/8 Yrs registered |
These sit in different price classes - Dynaudio Xeo 20 costs roughly 2.6x 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 | B | Dynaudio Xeo 20 digs deeper - 40Hz against 50Hz. |
| Built-in power | B | Dynaudio Xeo 20 has the bigger amplifier (260W vs 160W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Klipsch The Fives adds HDMI and phono. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch The Fives: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Klipsch The Fives is cheaper - $969 against $2,500, about 61% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch The Fives B Dynaudio Xeo 20
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 $1,531 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.