In this review, we will be comparing Alpha iQ 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 iQ 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 iQ 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 iQ and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha iQ |
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 iQ 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 iQ has a frequency range of 64-20kHz 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 iQ's min frequency of 64Hz.
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 iQ 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 iQ's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. PSB Alpha iQ has external dimensions of 246 x 145 x 92mm ( 9.7 x -5.6 x 7.6 inch ) 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 20.1mm wider, 68.3mm taller and 90.6mm deeper than PSB Alpha iQ.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha iQ and Klipsch The Fives in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha iQ 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 iQ is approximately 278.0cm2 / 43.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The Alpha iQ requires 40% 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:
Size Comparison image of PSB Alpha iQ 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 iQ weighs 7.36kg / 16.2lbs and the Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs. This makes the Alpha iQ 52% heavier than the The Fives.
Here is a comparison of how Alpha iQ 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 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 |
246mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
278cm2 (145x192mm)
vs
466cm2 (165x282mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
USB-A (connect a thumb drive for music playback)
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Headphone Output |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your headphone |
 Woofer Size |
4.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
64 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Price per pair* |
969USD
vs
1499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
PSB Alpha iQ |
Klipsch The Fives |
| Brand |
PSB |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
64-20kHz |
50-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
180-watt RMS |
160-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
320-watt RMS |
| Max Bit Depth |
24-bit |
24-bit |
| Max Sample Rate |
192 kHz |
192 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Fiber-composite |
| 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 |
246.0mm (9.7") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
145.0mm (5.7") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
192.0mm (7.6") |
282.6mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
7.36kg (16.2lbs) |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Matte Black,Matte White,Tangerine Yellow,Midnight Blue |
Black,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-A (connect a thumb drive for music playback) |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
Yes |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical, HDMI |
Optical, HDMI |
| HDMI Input |
eARC |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
Yes |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
1 Year |