In this review, we will be comparing Prime Wireless and The Fives, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from SVS 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 SVS Prime Wireless and Klipsch The Fives first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | SVS Prime Wireless | Klipsch The Fives |
|---|
| Brand | SVS
United States · founded 1998 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Built-in amplifier | 200-watt RMS | 160-watt RMS (320-watt peak) |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" composite glass-fiber | 4.5" Fiber-composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 52-25k Hz | 50-25k Hz |
|---|
| Max depth / sample rate | 24-bit / 192 kHz | 24-bit / 192 kHz |
|---|
| Bluetooth | Built-in 4.0 | Built-in 5.0 |
|---|
| App control | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Weight | 3.96kg / 8.7lbs | 4.85kg / 10.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.3125" x 6.125" x 8.6875"
260 x 155 x 220.7 mm | 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.
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Drivers
Both Prime Wireless and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
SVS Prime WirelessKlipsch 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 |
SVS Prime Wireless |
Klipsch The Fives |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Prime Wireless features a 1" aluminum Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" composite glass-fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, The Fives features a 1" Titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Prime Wireless has a frequency range of 52-25k Hz whereas The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, The Fives can go slightly deeper then the Prime Wireless's min frequency of 52Hz.
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 Prime Wireless 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 SVS Prime Wireless's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. SVS Prime Wireless has external dimensions of 260 x 155 x 220.7 mm (10.3125 x 6.125 x 8.6875 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 10.1mm wider, 54.3mm taller and 61.9mm deeper than SVS Prime Wireless.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Prime Wireless and Klipsch The Fives in scale.
Comparison image of SVS Prime Wireless 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 SVS Prime Wireless is approximately 342.1cm2 / 53.0inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The Prime Wireless requires 27% less surface area than The Fives which gives it a small advantage 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 SVS Prime Wireless 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 SVS Prime Wireless weighs 3.96kg / 8.7lbs and the Klipsch The Fives weighs 4.85kg / 10.7lbs. This makes The Fives 22% heavier than the Prime Wireless.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Wireless 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 SVS Prime Wireless?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Wireless:
- Active wireless speaker
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Grille (pre-installed)
- 4 Self-adhesive feet
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty/Registration Card
- SVS brochure
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
 Height |
260mm
vs
314mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
342cm2
vs
466cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
449USD
vs
969USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
 USB Port |
Service only
vs
No
|
USB port adds flexibility |
 RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
 Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
52 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
 HDMI Input |
ARC
vs
No
|
Connect HDMI sources directly |
| General |
SVS Prime Wireless |
Klipsch The Fives |
| Brand |
SVS |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
| Frequency Response |
52-25k Hz |
50-25k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
200-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 |
4.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
composite glass-fiber |
Fiber-composite |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
260.0mm (10.2") |
314.3mm (12.4") |
| Width |
155.0mm (6.1") |
165.1mm (6.5") |
| Depth |
220.7mm (8.7") |
282.6mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
3.96kg (8.7lbs) |
4.85kg (10.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF with genuine wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black,Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Aux Inputs |
3.5mm, RCA |
3.5mm |
| USB Port |
Service only |
USB-B |
| Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
| Subwoofer Output |
Wired |
mono-RCA |
| Digital Input |
Optical |
Optical, HDMI |
| HDMI Input |
No |
ARC |
| Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
| Ethernet Port |
Yes |
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 2.2x what SVS Prime Wireless 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (52Hz vs 50Hz). |
| Built-in power | A | SVS Prime Wireless has the bigger amplifier (200W vs 160W RMS). |
| Connections | depends | SVS Prime Wireless adds Wi-Fi and streaming; Klipsch The Fives adds HDMI and phono. |
| Size | depends | SVS Prime Wireless is easier to place; Klipsch The Fives is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | SVS Prime Wireless: a sub output; Klipsch The Fives: a sub output. SVS Prime Wireless sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | SVS Prime Wireless is cheaper - $449 against $969, about 54% less; arguably a different class. |
A SVS Prime Wireless 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?
SVS Prime Wireless has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch The Fives has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, SVS Prime Wireless is the easier speaker to get right. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $520 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.