In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM5 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 AM5 and Klipsch The Fives first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | PSB Alpha AM5 | Klipsch The Fives |
|---|
| Brand | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 100-watt RMS | 160-watt RMS (320-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polypropylene | 4.5" Fiber-composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-20k Hz | 50-25k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 48 kHz | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| App control | — | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 9.75kg / 21.5lbs | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.5" x 6.75" x 11"
292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm | 12.375" x 6.5" x 11.125"
314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Alpha AM5 and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
PSB Alpha AM5Klipsch The Fives
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM5 |
Klipsch The Fives |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Alpha AM5 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Alpha AM5 has a frequency range of 55-20k Hz whereas The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, The Fives can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Alpha AM5's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 Alpha AM5 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
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 PSB Alpha AM5's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM5 has external dimensions of 292.1 x 171.5 x 279.4mm (11.5 x 6.75 x 11inch) whereas Klipsch The Fives has external dimensions of 314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm (12.375 x 6.5 x 11.125inch).
PSB Alpha AM5 is 22.2mm shorter and 3.2mm less deeper than Klipsch The Fives but it is also 6.4mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha AM5 and Klipsch The Fives in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM5 and Klipsch The Fives 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 PSB Alpha AM5 is approximately 479.2cm2 / 74.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The Alpha AM5 requires 3% more surface area than The Fives 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 PSB Alpha AM5 and Klipsch The Fives 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 PSB Alpha AM5 weighs 9.75kg / 21.5lbs and the Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs. This makes the Alpha AM5 101% heavier than The Fives.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha AM5 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 AM5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha AM5:
- 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 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
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
292mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
969USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 USB Port |
microUSB
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 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 |
 Base Surface Area |
466cm2
vs
479cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
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 AM5 |
Klipsch The Fives |
| Brand |
PSB |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
55-20k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-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 |
5.25" |
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 |
292.1mm (11.5") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
171.5mm (6.8") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
279.4mm (11") |
282.6mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
9.75kg (21.5lbs) |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch The Fives costs roughly 1.6x what PSB Alpha AM5 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 | Klipsch The Fives digs deeper - 50Hz against 55Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Built-in power | B | Klipsch The Fives has the bigger amplifier (160W vs 100W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Klipsch The Fives adds HDMI. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch The Fives: a sub output. PSB Alpha AM5 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | PSB Alpha AM5 is cheaper - $599 against $969, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A PSB Alpha AM5 B Klipsch The Fives
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, PSB Alpha AM5 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 55Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper PSB Alpha AM5 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.