In this review, we will be comparing M20 HD and The Fives, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Q Acoustics 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD and Klipsch The Fives first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Q Acoustics M20 HD | Klipsch The Fives |
|---|
| Brand | Q Acoustics
United Kingdom · founded 2006 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 128-watt RMS | 160-watt RMS (320-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.875" Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" | 4.5" Fiber-composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-22k Hz | 50-25k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 5.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| App control | — | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 5.10kg / 11.2lbs | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-15/16" x 6-11/16" x 12-3/16"
278.0 x 170.0 x 310.0mm | 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 M20 HD and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
Q Acoustics M20 HDKlipsch 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 |
Q Acoustics M20 HD |
Klipsch The Fives |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.875-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
M20 HD features a 0.875" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woofer. On the other hand, The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
M20 HD has a frequency range of 55-22k 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 M20 HD'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 M20 HD 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. Q Acoustics M20 HD has external dimensions of 278.0 x 170.0 x 310.0mm (10-15/16 x 6-11/16 x 12-3/16inch) 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 4.9mm narrower and 27.4mm less deeper than Q Acoustics M20 HD but it is also 36.3mm taller.
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.
Q Acoustics M20 HD needs about 13% more floor or shelf area. Q Acoustics M20 HD is 27mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch The Fives is 36mm 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD is approximately 527.0cm2 / 81.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The M20 HD requires 13% more surface area than The Fives which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD weighs 5.10kg / 11.2lbs and the Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs. This makes the M20 HD 5% heavier than The Fives.
Here is a comparison of how M20 HD 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of M20 HD:
- Powered speaker
- Passive speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- 2 AAA batteries
- 13-feet Speaker wire
- 59-inch Optical digital cable
- 2 Foam port plugs
- Owners Manual
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 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
278mm
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 |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Base Surface Area |
466cm2
vs
527cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
|
USB Port |
USB-B
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
Q Acoustics M20 HD Wireless Music System |
Klipsch The Fives |
| Brand |
Q Acoustics |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered stereo speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
55-22k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
128-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 |
5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
0.875" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
278.0mm (10.9") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
170.0mm (6.7") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
310.0mm (12.2") |
282.6mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
5.10kg (11.2lbs) |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, Stereo RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
USB-B |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
mono-RCA |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical, HDMI |
| HDMI Input |
No |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch The Fives costs roughly 1.6x what Q Acoustics M20 HD 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 128W RMS). |
| Connections | B | Q Acoustics M20 HD adds streaming; Klipsch The Fives adds HDMI and phono. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Q Acoustics M20 HD: a sub output; Klipsch The Fives: a sub output. |
| Price | A | Q Acoustics M20 HD is cheaper - $599 against $969, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Q Acoustics M20 HD 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, Q Acoustics M20 HD 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 Q Acoustics M20 HD 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.