In this review, we will be comparing The Fives and LSX II, 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 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch The Fives | KEF LSX II |
|---|
| 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 | 54-28k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 384 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 4.2 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs | 3.60kg / 7.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.375" x 6.5" x 11.125"
314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm | 9.5" x 6.1" x 7.1"
240 × 155 × 180 mm |
|---|
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 LSX II are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch The FivesKEF LSX II
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 II |
|
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 II 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 II has a frequency range of 54-28k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, The Fives can go slightly deeper then the LSX II's min frequency of 54Hz.
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 II 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
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 II'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 II has external dimensions of 240 × 155 × 180 mm (9.5 × 6.1 × 7.1 inch).
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 Klipsch The Fives and KEF LSX II in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch The Fives and KEF LSX II 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 II is approximately 279.0cm2 / 43.2inch2. The Fives requires 67% more surface area than the LSX II 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 II 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 II weighs 3.60kg / 7.9lbs. This makes The Fives 35% heavier than the LSX II.
Here is a comparison of how The Fives and LSX II'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 II?
Here are the items that come with the LSX II:
- 2 Wireless powered speakers
- Two 6.5-feet AC power cords
- 10-feet Cat-6 interconnect speaker cable
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Safety Information
- Warranty Information
- Maintenance Guide
 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 |
 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 |
| General |
Klipsch The Fives |
KEF LSX II |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
54-28k 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 |
384 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") |
240.0mm (9.4") |
| Width |
165.1mm (6.5") |
155.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
282.6mm (11.1") |
180.0mm (7.1") |
| Weight |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
3.60kg (7.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black,Walnut |
Carbon Black, Mineral White, Cobalt Blue, Lava Red, and Soundwave |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
USB-C (connects to your computer) |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
No |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
ARC |
| 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 54Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | KEF LSX II has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 160W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Klipsch The Fives adds phono; KEF LSX II adds Wi-Fi and streaming. |
| Size | depends | KEF LSX II 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 II: a sub output. KEF LSX II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Klipsch The Fives is cheaper - $969 against $1,299, about 25% less. |
A Klipsch The Fives B KEF LSX II
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?
KEF LSX II is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 34% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch The Fives looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the KEF LSX II appeals to you. 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 II is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $330 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.