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.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Q Acoustics M20 HD 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 M20 HD and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
| 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 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 The Fives can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the M20 HD's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 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
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 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.
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 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 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 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 (165x282mm)
vs
527cm2 (170x310mm)
|
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 |