In this review, we will be comparing The Fives and LSX, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Klipsch and KEF. 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 KEF LSX first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch The Fives | KEF LSX |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | KEF
United Kingdom · founded 1961 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 160-watt RMS (320-watt peak) | 200-watt RMS |
|---|
| Uni-Q driver | — | 11th Generation Uni-Q |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 0.75" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Fiber-composite | 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 59-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs | 3.50kg / 7.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.375" x 6.5" x 11.125"
314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm | 9.4375" x 6.125" x 7.1"
239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both The Fives and LSX are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch The FivesKEF LSX
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 |
KEF LSX |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer. On the other hand, the LSX features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Magnesium/Aluminium alloy Woofer.
Frequency Response
The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas LSX has a frequency range of 59-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, The Fives can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LSX's min frequency of 59Hz.
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 LSX 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 KEF LSX'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 KEF LSX has external dimensions of 239.7 x 155.6 x 180mm (9.4375 x 6.125 x 7.1inch).
Klipsch The Fives is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 9.5mm wider, 74.6mm taller and 102.6mm deeper than KEF LSX.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch The Fives and KEF LSX in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch The Fives and KEF LSX 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 KEF LSX is approximately 280.1cm2 / 43.4inch2. The Fives requires 67% more surface area than the LSX 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 KEF LSX 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 KEF LSX weighs 3.50kg / 7.7lbs. This makes The Fives 39% heavier than the LSX.
Here is a comparison of how The Fives and LSX'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 KEF LSX?
Here are the items that come with the LSX:
- 2 Powered wireless audio speaker
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Ethernet cable
- Remote control (CR2032 3V battery pre-installed)
- Maintenance Guide
- Specifications
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Information
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
59 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
969USD
vs
1250USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
239mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
280cm2
vs
466cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Charge only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
| General |
Klipsch The Fives |
KEF LSX |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
59-28k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
160-watt RMS |
200-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" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Magnesium/Aluminium alloy |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
0.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
314.3mm (12.4") |
239.7mm (9.4") |
| Width |
165.1mm (6.5") |
155.6mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
282.6mm (11.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
3.50kg (7.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
Black, Olive Green, Gloss White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
Charge only |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your sources and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch The Fives digs deeper - 50Hz against 59Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LSX has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 160W RMS). |
| Connections | depends | Klipsch The Fives adds HDMI and phono; KEF LSX adds Wi-Fi and streaming. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX is easier to place; Klipsch The Fives is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch The Fives: a sub output; KEF LSX: a sub output. KEF LSX sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch The Fives is cheaper - $969 against $1,250, about 22% less. |
A Klipsch The Fives B KEF LSX
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 59Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch The Fives has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KEF LSX is the easier speaker to get right.
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.