In this review, we will be comparing The Fives and R-51PM, two Powered Bookshelf speakers by 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 Klipsch The Fives and Klipsch R-51PM first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch The Fives | Klipsch R-51PM |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 160-watt RMS (320-watt peak) | 120-watt RMS (240-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1.0" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Fiber-composite | 5.25" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-25k Hz | 68-21k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 96 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 3.0 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | — |
|---|
| Weight | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs | 4.80kg / 10.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12.375" x 6.5" x 11.125"
314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm | 13" x 7.0625" x 10.25"
330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm |
|---|
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 R-51PM are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch The FivesKlipsch R-51PM
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 |
Klipsch R-51PM |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer. On the other hand, the R-51PM features a 1.0" Aluminum LTS Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1663Hz.
Frequency Response
The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz whereas R-51PM has a frequency range of 68-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, The Fives can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-51PM's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 R-51PM 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 Klipsch R-51PM'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 Klipsch R-51PM has external dimensions of 330.2 x 179.4 x 260.3mm (13 x 7.0625 x 10.25inch).
Klipsch The Fives is 14.3mm narrower and 15.9mm shorter than Klipsch R-51PM but it is also 22.3mm 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 22mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch R-51PM is 16mm 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 Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-51PM is approximately 467.0cm2 / 72.4inch2. The Fives requires 0% less surface area than the R-51PM 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 Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs and the Klipsch R-51PM weighs 4.80kg / 10.6lbs. This makes The Fives 1% heavier than the R-51PM.
Here is a comparison of how The Fives and R-51PM'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 Klipsch R-51PM?
Here are the items that come with the R-51PM:
- Powered speaker (right)
- Passive speaker (left)
- 2 Grilles
- 68-inch AC power cord
- Remote control
- 2
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 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
330mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
466cm2
vs
467cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
|
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
969USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
| General |
Klipsch The Fives |
Klipsch Reference R-51PM |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
50-25k Hz |
68-21k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
160-watt RMS |
120-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
320-watt RMS |
240-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1663Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
314.3mm (12.4") |
330.2mm (13") |
| Width |
165.1mm (6.5") |
179.4mm (7.1") |
| Depth |
282.6mm (11.1") |
260.3mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
4.80kg (10.6lbs) |
| 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 |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
Wired |
| Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI |
Optical |
| HDMI Input |
ARC |
No |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch The Fives costs roughly 1.6x what Klipsch R-51PM 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 | Klipsch The Fives digs deeper - 50Hz against 68Hz. |
| Built-in power | A | Klipsch The Fives has the bigger amplifier (160W vs 120W RMS). |
| Connections | A | Klipsch The Fives adds HDMI. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch The Fives: a sub output; Klipsch R-51PM: a sub output. |
| Price | B | Klipsch R-51PM is cheaper - $599 against $969, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch The Fives B Klipsch R-51PM
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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch The Fives measures better, Klipsch R-51PM costs about about 62% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch R-51PM much easier to justify. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $370 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.