In this review, we will be comparing Sonos Five and R-41PM, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Sonos 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 Sonos Five and Klipsch R-41PM 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 Sonos Five and Klipsch R-41PM 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 Sonos Five and R-41PM are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Sonos Five |
Klipsch R-41PM |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
3 x 0.8-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
3 x 2.75-inch
|
1 x 4.0-inch
|
Sonos Five features a 3 x 0.8" Dome Tweeter and 3 x 2.75" Cone Woofer . On the other hand, the R-41PM features a 1.0" Aluminum LTS Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4.0" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1770Hz.
Frequency Response
Sonos Five has a frequency range of whereas R-41PM has a frequency range of 76-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of Hz, the Sonos Five can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-41PM's min frequency of 76Hz.
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
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Sonos Five has a front firing port whereas R-41PM has a rear firing ports. Sonos Five's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch R-41PM with its rear-firing port.
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 Sonos Five's and Klipsch R-41PM's external dimensions. Sonos Five has external dimensions of 201.6 x 363.5 x 174.6mm ( 7.9375 x 14.3125 x 6.875inch) whereas Klipsch R-41PM has external dimensions of 281.0 x 147.6 x 241.3mm ( 11.0625 x 5.8125 x 9.5inch) .
Sonos Five is 79.4mm shorter and 66.7mm less deeper than Klipsch R-41PM but it is also 215.9mm wider.
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 Sonos Five is approximately 634.7cm2 / 98.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-41PM is approximately 356.2cm2 / 55.2inch2. The Sonos Five requires 78% more surface area than the R-41PM 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 Sonos Five weighs 6.40kg / 14.1lbs and the Klipsch R-41PM weighs 3.70kg / 8.1lbs. This makes the Sonos Five 73% heavier than the R-41PM.
Here is a comparison of how Sonos Five and R-41PM's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Sonos Five?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sonos Five:
Wireless audio speaker 6.5-feet AC power cord Quickstart Guide Important Safety Information
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-41PM?
Here are the items that come with the R-41PM:
Powered speaker (right)Passive speaker (left)2 Grilles68-inch AC power cordRemote control2
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
App-Based Control |
Apple iOS, Android, Mac, Windows
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
Height |
201mm
vs
281mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Ethernet Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
High quality streaming over Ethernet |
Woofer Size |
4.0 inches
vs
2.75 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
21k Hz
vs
k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
Base Surface Area |
356cm2 (147x241mm)
vs
634cm2 (363x174mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
1098USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
RCA Connection |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connection via RCA input |
Phono Input |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your turntable directly |
Digital Input |
Optical
vs
No
|
Connect digital inputs directly |
General |
Sonos Five |
Klipsch Reference R-41PM |
Brand |
Sonos |
Klipsch |
Speaker Type |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Powered Stereo Speakers |
Frequency Response |
|
76-21k Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
Watts RMS (Continuous) |
n/a |
70-watt RMS |
Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
140-watt RMS |
Max Bit Depth |
16-bit |
24-bit |
Max Sample Rate |
44.1kHz |
96 kHz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
3 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
2.75" |
4.0" |
Woofer Composition |
Cone |
Copper-spun IMG |
Tweeter Size |
3 x 0.8" |
1.0" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1770Hz |
Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
201.6mm (7.9") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Width |
363.5mm (14.3") |
147.6mm (5.8") |
Depth |
174.6mm (6.9") |
241.3mm (9.5") |
Weight |
6.40kg (14.1lbs) |
3.70kg (8.1lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Aux Inputs |
3.5mm |
3.5mm, RCA |
USB Port |
No |
USB-B |
Phone Input |
No |
Yes |
Subwoofer Output |
Optional Wireless |
Wired |
Digital Input |
No |
Optical |
HDMI Input |
No |
No |
Headphone Jack |
No |
No |
Ethernet Port |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |