In this review, we will be comparing Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and The Fives, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from Sony 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and Klipsch The Fives first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 212-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75, 0.5 (2)" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 4" Woofer
- 51-100k Hz Frequency Response
- 32-bit Max Depth / 768 Hz Max Sample Rate
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 209.5" x 7.875" x 12.875"( 209.5 x 200.0 x 327.0mm )
Klipsch The Fives Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 160-watt RMS( 320-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter
- 4.5" Fiber-composite Woofer
- 50-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 192 kHz Max Sample Rate
- App Control Feature
- Weight:4.85kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 314.3" x 6.5" x 11.125"( 314.3 x 165.1 x 282.6mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and The Fives are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 |
Klipsch The Fives |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75, 0.5 (2)-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 features a 0.75, 0.5 (2)" Titanium Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" 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
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has a frequency range of 51-100k Hz whereas The Fives has a frequency range of 50-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the The Fives can go slightly deeper then the Sony Signature Series SA-Z1's min frequency of 51Hz.
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
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Sony Signature Series SA-Z1
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.
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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1's and Klipsch The Fives's external dimensions. Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 has external dimensions of 209.5 x 200.0 x 327.0mm ( 8.25 x 7.875 x 12.875inch) 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 34.9mm narrower and 44.4mm less deeper than Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 but it is also 104.8mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and Klipsch The Fives in scale.
Comparison image of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 is approximately 654.0cm2 / 101.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch The Fives is approximately 466.6cm2 / 72.3inch2. The Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 requires 40% more surface area than the The Fives which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Sony Signature Series SA-Z1 and Klipsch The Fives on a Media Console
What's in the Box of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sony Signature Series SA-Z1:
2 Desktop monitor speakers2 AC power cordsDigital sync cableWalkman cableUSB-C to USB-B cableRemote control2 AAA batteriesInstruction 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