In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM3 and The Fives, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from PSB 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 PSB Alpha AM3 and Klipsch The Fives first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Alpha AM3 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 Alpha AM3 and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Klipsch The Fives |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene 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
Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the The Fives can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha AM3's min frequency of 56Hz.
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 Alpha AM3 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.
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 PSB Alpha AM3's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm ( 8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) 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 33.3mm wider, 93.6mm taller and 76.2mm deeper than PSB Alpha AM3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha AM3 and Klipsch The Fives in scale.
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 PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The Alpha AM3 requires 42% 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:
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 PSB Alpha AM3 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs and the Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs. This makes the The Fives 8% heavier than the Alpha AM3.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha AM3 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 PSB Alpha AM3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha AM3:
Powered speaker Passive speaker 2 Grilles AC power adapter (attached 45-inch DC cord) 4-feet AC power cord Remote control (PSR-1) 2 AAA batteries 8-feet Speaker cable 58-inch Stereo minijack cable 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Connection Diagram Warranty Card
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
Height |
220mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
272cm2 (131x206mm)
vs
466cm2 (165x282mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
969USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
56 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA
vs
No
|
Pair your speakers with external subwoofer |
General |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Klipsch The Fives |
Brand |
PSB |
Klipsch |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
56-20k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
70-watt RMS |
160-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
320-watt RMS |
Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
Max Sample Rate |
48 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
4" |
4.5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
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 |
220.7mm (8.7") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
Width |
131.8mm (5.2") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
Depth |
206.4mm (8.1") |
282.6mm (11.1") |
Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Matte Black, Matte White |
Black,Walnut |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
USB Port |
microUSB |
USB-B |
Phone Input |
Yes |
Yes |
Subwoofer Output |
No |
mono-RCA |
Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical, HDMI |
HDMI Input |
No |
ARC |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |