There's something NOT QUITE RIGHT about KLIPSCH's 'The Fives'

[@DarkoAudio]

PLEASE READ *before commenting*! 1) Got a question? Please ask it of the Darko.Audio KZbin community (and not me) as I'm off making the NEXT video 2) All comments here are moderated by a third party: instagram.com/p/CTWcokaszpW/ 3) Polite comments that advance the conversation are most welcome (but no URLs, racist/sexist remarks or conspiracy theories, please)

[@Mosamania]

The Klipsch Fives were designed with the Klipsch Subwoofer in mind. Plugging them with a subwoofer takes them to a really better level of sound. Try plugging them into a subwoofer and thar should fix all your complaints with them, but I agree it should wound better out of the box, but I think Klipsch tried to make the Fives sound like their much bigger older brothers, the Forte and tried really hard to do that with DSP, but physics at the end of the day will have the final say, but seriously plug them into a sub and they will sound much much better, crazy how much they improve with that.

[@rosendomerel9864]

I love this speakers, it's been one year since I got them, I used for my art desktop computer setup with kanto stands, via usb connected to roon, tidal, CD player connected via optical toslink and with a SVS micro 3000, the sound is amazing, as mention before with the high-pass filter, for me this speakers are just fun to listen and dynamic, small to medium rooms, and for the price and size and connectivity they are amazing :)

[@onepurpose315]

Quick story: so I actually started my journey looking for speakers by watching your kef wireless video but realized I didn’t want to spend more on my speakers then I did on my oled. I needed up with the fives after watching Andrew Robinson video and I love these! I actually got rid of a vizio Dolby atmos sound bar (moved to bedroom) and love the sound of the fives way more. I paired a cheap jamo s808 sub ($120) and can’t be more happy! Keep up the good work

[@chrisbarnard8399]

Been struggling with these speakers for years but the latest firmware update finally makes them the product I thought I was buying 3 years ago. You can now set the EQ to address the bass issues and never open the (horrible) app again! AMAZING. Connect turntable, Raspberry Pi for streaming and TV and i'm finally enjoying living with these Klipsch it's just annoying it took so long to get here.

[@vicfendan]

Hey, how do you change the eq once and for all? For me I have to change it every time the speakers are turned on.

[@antoniofossaluzza4675]

You need to try them with something plugged in the subwoofer output, even just plugging a cable triggers an high-pass filter (at 80hz i believe) that cleans the sound hugely

[@antoniofossaluzza4675]

Not to mention than pairing them with a sub you get the clean sound from the fives and the punch from the sub

[@budzlightyear2212]

How about plug it to a sub?🙃

[@simoesm59]

Hello. John thanks for the review. I have owned a pair of the fives for 2 years and I agree with John's opinion. But once I added a Klipsch C300 subwoofer that took the frequencies below 80Hz off the fives they sound a lot cleaner, nice imaging and non fatiguing. I like the sound of my system for the money I spent. I may say I love it. The C300 sub has room correction which makes a huge difference.

[@kona328WH]

All these literally need is a play with the EQ then all is fixed. I also have a SVS3000Micro sub for movies

[@edlinton]

@@kona328WH I have the same setup and I agree that movie watching is excellent. However, with music I am not sure if I am getting the crossover at 80Hz. Have you noticed that as well?

[@stevestumbaugh]

I bought my Fives at Costco for $499+tax and I love them. I can listen to them in my one room apartment at a volume that is somewhat low and I can hear them clearly all the way to my bedroom. The bass is smooth and not overly emphasized and the highs are never harsh. I saw the new versions of these and I am foaming at the mouth to hear them.

[@FreddySavage3]

I have my Fives hooked up to my PC. I have an R-120SW plugged in the sub out, and have a custom EQ I dialed in with Peace Equalizer. The setup is phenomenal for PC gaming, listening to music, watching movies/videos, or anything else you'd generally wanna do with your rig. I will admit tho they didn't sound great just raw out of the box and I haven't hooked them to a TV or anything else because I got them to be computer speakers. I'd imagine I wouldn't adore them as much if I didn't have an equalizer solution, but I'd personally also say that about most any speaker. Pairing them with a sub frees them, setting a proper EQ makes them shine bright.

[@eminienina3256]

Brother, youre the best on the tube, I always watch every one of your reviews with interest and delight.

[@F1fletch]

I found they sounded best with two tiny subs (which engages the crossover and removed the bloated bass to my ears). I tried lots of combos but ultimately left the dynamic bass eq on and adjusted the baby subs to blend nicely. It took hours but patience paid off and they now sound WAY better to these ears than as stand alone speakers.

[@falagarius]

That's quite dedication to aesthetics if you don't want to plug in your turntable because "it would make the back of the speaker busier"

[@brianoliver7175]

Great video John. I bought a pair of the 5’s a few months ago and did not know about the Klipsch Connect App and the ability to change settings. I will have to check it out and try some other settings. I use mine as a replacement sound bar and to play streaming music from my phone outside when we are having parties. They sound better than my Bose 300 sound bar also.

[@1calebparker]

In the US these can be found cheap. I got these and a Klipsch 12" wireless sub for $730 US. I actually find myself listening at lower volumes after adding the sub. Not audiophile Hi-Fi but it's compact, cheap (relatively speaking), convenient, and I regularly am switching between BT/HDMI/USB/Phono inputs. At full retail, I would have pieced together [used] separate components and passives

[@christiangarcia1546]

I bought these when they first came out and was absolutely in love with the look and feel. It was so hard for me to send them back because I wanted to love them so bad. But I could not betray my ears. I wanted them primarily for vinyl and that was a joke. Incredible sounding recordings sounding ok, but anything delicate was lost. I lost all of my folk music and classical. The Fives were "impressive" in that they were loud and boomy. I remember hearing a long time high end audio salesman say that the non-audiphile equated good sound with "loud." But I honestly preferred my budget bedroom $200 Fluance a41s for clarity and precision. Before sending them back I tried them in different rooms in different spaces and different positions with different sources. Ultimately I went a different direction and am VERY happy I did.

[@uTube00789]

"I wanted them to love them" so true. 😅 I felt mislead by most reviewers. Most of them only commenting about how "loud" they can get. What about quality?

[@bfife22]

Can confirm that the new firmware to accommodate the app completely changed my experience with these. Paired with a sub, the bass cut EQ sounded fantastic before the firmware update. Now I run “night mode”, and boost the mids and treble a tad to get them to sound good, and have the speakers set to not auto turn off to keep the EQ settings. I’ll have to mess around and see if I prefer the sound over optical vs HDMI

[@annacynd7]

I had it for more than a year simplest, versatile set up i can find to play with my x 1 tt, added klipsh sub , great sound don’t need the app , much better with the sub, i think it’s built for a sub to be added

[@thomasnew8606]

Bass problem can be solved if hooking up an external subwoofer

[@misterwoody_]

The outtakes at the end are a brilliant tool to keep people engaged right to the end - I just wish I could remember they're there. Great content as always thank you John

[@purpleviking46]

I own these and love them. I use them in a desk top 2.2 set up. The low/high pass filter with a sub really opens the mids up and takes the congestion away, also I don't use the arc or toslink, I use RCA with a dedicated dac, preamp, and bellari eq and they sound very good that way. Very analog set up using the eq nobs and preamp nob for volume control

[@joeldeal9878]

Adding a sub does make quite a difference. The new app is driving me crazy.. before the update I had the system locked in pretty well. After I completed the update yesterday the bass was absolutely out of control and I am still working on it. The app will hold your preferred settings under the custom setup.

[@dajuice4200]

I've had them for a year and I love them. I replaced a Bose soundbar, and could not be happier with them. I have not had the same issues you had.

[@jackblackwhole]

Had The Fives for a year now. The DSP is a hit and miss depends on the music. I since connected a sub and called it a day. For me the Fives is perfect for what I need, the jack of all trade master of none. All I wanted from these was the plug and play, and it does that perfectly. I really liked the fact it came with all the audio cables (rare these days) and the ARC connectivity works well with my TV. I am a musician and yes I listen for details. But the details of a speaker never bothered me as such, I enjoy good musicianship on 20 dollar speakers any day of the week. These speakers are what you pay for, and the branding premium. Hifi for me is about knowing your needs. And a fat wallet.

[@jcappleman]

Even after a fairly negative review, I decided to try the fives with a Klipsch subwoofer that was on sale. They are plugged into my PC on stands on each side of my desk and adding a sub makes these sound much better. I’m now a believer in adding a sub to bookshelf speakers. I’m going to get a KC62 for my LS50Ws after trying it on a much cheaper setup.

[@kaing5074]

Try doubling up with two svs 3000 micros. Same price for a symmetrical system

[@uTube00789]

Klipsch messed up The Fives big time. I tried those, they look amazing, easy connectivity options. They got very "theatrical" sound in that small package. Amazing Bass for their size. You won't need a sub in common situations. The problem is, that Bass is everywhere. To the point vocals are inaudible sometimes. Vocals and fine instruments get very muddy. Depends on mixing of videos as well, but my other speakers handle that same video perfect. Klipsch isn't even putting any efforts into EQ. Their support suggested me to use vocal EQ, and keep an eye for an update. Wow. I returned those. And got Martin Logan 15i. Supper happy with those.

[@diamondbracelette]

Had the Fives for over a year. I agree they need some work but it's worth it. Before the EQ app was launched, I simply bought a cheap Ayima A2 ($45) DAC and this improved the DAC signal from my Macbook, but crucially offerd tone controls. Run the Fives at neutral bass setting and use the DAC to tweak bass and treble. The subwoofer rec by users is accurate too. I'm running a jamo 808 bc it's small and cheap. Not a terrible sub! Although many will dismiss it as such, and it certainly isn't high end. But it definitely provides a step up to Fives' performance. Keeping budget in mind, bonus tweaks are running a Fosi p1 tube preamp with swapped tubes, and launching Mac EQ app for further tweaks. Both these things make a difference but the first two things are the meat and potatoes.

[@doodlewop]

Just got my Fives yesterday. Love them. Amazon US is having a great sale on them right now as well. Cheers

[@ryanjofre]

What did you pay if I may??

[@masoncnc]

I just got some myself. I really like them. Not expensive...so much value

[@costantineyoussif6679]

I got 2 pairs today🤘🏽

[@manonthemoon4544]

Try adding a subwoofer.. you'll be pleased with the sound. I have the Klipsch R-100SW 10" Subwoofer.

[@thunderpooch]

Not really. Hooking up a sub saps them of all their bass. The best method is reducing the bass in the eq and hooking up a sub but not with sub out provided on the back of the speaker. Just use another source out to your sub using the original source.

[@jalee1910]

As a user of The Fives, i do agreed with u that out from the box this speaker bass is kinda too much, after the klipsch connect app is usable for adjusting the EQ it does sound better. But that is still not enough for me, so i try changing the power cable, pair them with a dongle dac plus a ground box. After some tweaking, this speaker does sound great compare to when it is out from the box.

[@F1fletch]

I agree, the speakers have potential but you need to be creative with setting up and seriously consider sub/s which really help. I also think being away from the wall helped quite a bit.

[@jalee1910]

@@F1fletch Actually i plan to pair with a sub too but too bad my space do not allow, this is y i mess around n try to get the best out of this speaker. My speaker is place 30-32cm away from the wall n also i'm using AT6099 insulator feet for the speaker. With this the bass is actually more well control.

[@j.f.johnson7843]

I sold my Fives. I was not impressed from the beginning. I was hopeful when the update and Connect app became available but never successfully installed it on my iPhone or iPad. That finalized my decision to sell them.

[@jalee1910]

The Fives really don't sounds really good out from the box but if u willing to spend some extra money for tweaking this speaker can sounds pretty darn good.

[@brianguidi3424]

I'd be curious what your thoughts are with The Fives connected to a subwoofer, which is the setup I use (Klipsch R100SW). This offloads the bass work to the sub, freeing up The Fives to focus on highs & mids, where they shine.

[@iamrobcrawford]

Kind of a mindreader... I've been considering these for a while, as recently as this morning!

[@stevehinchey9013]

Great professional review, especially the summary. I bought The Fives last year. Yes, the firmware upgrade and app are a bit kludgy. But still, far easier than your basic AVR setup. I have a pair of older Polk Audio towers RT1000i with their large center channel speaker, hooked up to a new Denon AVR. Still not perfect with movies or streaming TV, very directional for stereo music. After listening to music on the Fives, I was astounded at how much further the music traveled through the house than the Polks, with little power. I loved the sound, and the bass. Speaker stands made the bass a bit more mellow. Hooked up via HDMI to the TV, I was embarrassed at how much better they sounded the my Polks. Perfect? Not at all, but I enjoyed that up front sound more, and even separated at only 6 feet, far less directional. Sure, I have old ears, which is a benefit as far as cost goes. I considered getting the newer Sevens, but too big for their location, I am trying to downsize. The multiple ways you can connect these speakers is a huge plus, and I haven't seen any other setup that comes close at this price level. That's also a key point, in that most other powered speakers sound like crap compared to these, especially using the HDMI TV setup.

[@TheLWebb100]

I really love these comparison videos a lot!

[@garypolsinelli6033]

Your review was spot on IMO. Great job and very well articulated. The FW update to get the EQ availability is cumbersome to say the least. I also have been struggling with the congestion you mention. The one thing I don't notice as much are the highs. I've noticed the lack of which I find puzzling of a Klipsch horn speaker. I have the EQ setting adjusted and they seem to be barely there. If I paid $799 US I would be very disappointed. With that being said, I'm really excited about the SVS Prime Wireless Pro setup you reviewed.

[@scruffy8861]

Personally, i would have done The Sixes. 6-1/2" woofer vs a 4-1/2" woofer and FR is 40-20,000Hz vs 50-20,000Hz.

[@nacarp2000]

The Sixes have been effectively replaced by The Fives. Unfortunately the app settings for the Sixes are far more limited and there is no way to rid the boomy Bass, at least you have some options with the Fives, such as routing all Bass to a subwoofer.

[@edwards409]

I noticed the difference in quality between inputs by accident when my TV's ARC suddenly stopped working, so I switched to optical. The downside was not being able to control the volume via TV's remote anymore and having to use the Klipsch one. On the upside - music sounded different. Can't put it into words exactly like you do - but "better" kind of different. I had no idea you have to go through that song and dance in order to update it though. Going to check it out, thanks for this !

[@kevinryan7531]

I haven't tried the fives, but I own the sixes and have found they sound much better with an external DAC. It might defeat some of the all-in-one appeal, but I've found that the results are worth it.

[@decky9995]

How about the ultimate upgrade - sock in the port.

[@harm-iwy4088]

Like others, i would love to hear your opinion when using a correct sub with them!

[@twanshiiit]

Agree with most of what you say. Have had mine for 6 months and for the most part it's largely hit or miss. That being said, subwoofer negates most bass issues, and eARC port has proven very valuable to me.

[@michaellundgren8551]

I use a WiiM mini for music and use the 10 place EQ to get the sound just right. For TV the base is perfect out of the box.

[@radovangoricanec4049]

I am planning to buy WiiM Pro with SIXES. Are you satisfied with bass? My room is 55m2.

[@mbizozo6271]

Love The Fives!

[@warmbutterpancakes]

Just a shout out for the Levi's twisted engineered shirt. A forgotten classic of the Levi range!

[@jefftaylor8594]

I use these for desktop rca in from an external source, it makes a world of difference. They definitely cut corners. Also noticed the line/phono switch was down in a lot of the shots. That should be up unless you are hooked up to a turntable/external amp.

[@kuhenelan]

Shout out to the editor for overlaying the Windows pop-up, dialogue box error message sound to cover the mistake made by John.

[@MrYamaha413]

call me "old style" but in speakers size matters, especially for home HIFI system ;) however they can be improvement over tv build in speakers

[@kevinreynolds8783]

I've had these speakers for 2 years. I agree with your review. Unfortunately I can't even get the speakers to connect to WiFi to update the firmware so I haven't been able to adjust the EQ. Another annoyance is sometimes the TV remote doesn't change the volume. Which requires me to have the speaker remote nearby at all times.

[@DennisvanEnckevort]

Does your TV have HDMI ARC? Are you sure it's turned on in the TVs settings?

[@josexavierjr.5633]

Good video, John........oh, and by the way.....great attitude as well!

[@samgates2059]

Please define active. I have always called a speaker with the amp built in active.

[@anomalousresult]

Active is where the crossover occurs before the amplification.

[@gitmobob6266]

I have heard Klipsch speakers from the top of the line to the bottom for over 49 years and never heard a speaker I would want to own, not even close. That goes for every other horn speaker I ever heard. Yes they play loud and clear but never provide that audiophile sound I crave. I played my Focal/JMLabs based home theater for many a Klipsch owner and they left cursing me. Your review upheld my own experiences with that brand of speaker.

[@2731TomveS]

i like your reviews, been following you for quite sometimes. I have it , the FIVES, for over a year now. most of the bass issues were gone after I added a Klipsch sub-woofer into the system. and i can control the subwoofer level from their remote. i feel the mid and the high sound better too. not needing the amplifier for me means i can spend the money on the streamer and the DAC. another thing that i like is the flexibility of the many ways of inputs i can feed the speakers. this is my current feed to the FIVES; TIDAL > Zen iFi Streamer > SMSL M500 mkII DAC > Klipsch the FIVES or the more convenience ones, just BT Tidal from Samsung phone to the FIVES or SMSL M500 mkII.

[@jalee1910]

How does the fives sounds pairing with SMSL M500 MKii??

[@2731TomveS]

@@jalee1910 better sound stage with the smsl m500 mkii. i notice the depth difference vocal vs instrument, better instrument placement horizontally too.

[@B.D.E.]

Great review! Thanks. Great combination of both thorough and accessible.

[@thomaswachter7782]

Another great video. Thank you, John.

[@Rp-bk7mh]

Well was able to pick a pair of FIVES for( $ 600us) and added a Rel 1510 Sub and that took that congestion of the low-end response away and was surprised by a cleaner mid-range experience without using any of the app settings. Taking some of that bass responsibility away from the speakers. Not sure how you feel about subs, well first this sub is not cheap (@ $1900 us) and secondly it is not a ported sub and really plays well with both music and HT. I did not want my media room cluttered with devices making this a cleaner look.

[@somejerk1520]

Just got The Nines. At this point, Klipsch Connect updates the speaker firmware over BlueTooth, no USB stick necessary.

[@hanks_2210]

It's such a great feature. Plus you can manage all of your klipsch devices (Earbuds, desktop speakers, living room speakers) from the same app.

[@selvan2379]

I've had these for a couple of years in my small room. I love way it handles vocals and music in general but the boomy bass on many tracks was fatiguing and was beginning to hurt my ears. I finally decided to do the usb update which i had been resisting. Now i must say the boomy bass is gone and its much more pleasant and enjoyable.

[@thewirah1]

The boomy bass is awful. Even after EQ I couldn't stand the Fives. I love low end, but it's not a very refined low end.

[@robinenbernhard]

​@@thewirah1my god you are fan boy like kids go xbox is beter then every thing els jusy because thy got xbox.

[@dodpr]

Cant wait for the SVS Prime Wireless Pro review. I really enjoy your videos.

[@Hyjy0]

I've had these speakers for a little while now. I bought them second hand, so I saved a pretty penny on them, but it didn't make me any happier with the purchase. After a little bit of EQ, and getting an outboard dac (got the speakers integrated into a headphone setup via the RME adi-2) their sound changed from a dissappointment into something I'm personally quite happy with. I do wonder how they'd compare against the Kanto TUKs, but I'm in no rush to upgrade/sidegrade away from these speakers. I would recommend trying a dac with these speakers, as the one built in isn't much to write home about, and you don't even need golden ears to be able to tell the difference.

[@masoncnc]

Just got my the fives. Amazing value off Amazon. Quite a bit of bass for sure.

[@ANDRE1mang]

Happy for ya! they're definitely great for music!!

[@TheGaber3al]

I get adds for these on instagram all the time so was curious to see what you thought. I think they'd look really good on an old school liquor cabinet/bar with a turntable in the middle, but for the price they'd need to be freaking flawless. Would def be interested to see other good looking, all-in-ones other brands are putting out. Appreciate the thoughtful review

[@Crimsonphilosophy]

Anything is better than a soundbar!!

[@justinwalsh5521]

You know, seeing a fairly negative review of a product where you still do go through all the steps of trying to make it operate at its best is so refreshing because your critiques don’t feel bombastic and attention grabbing.

[@darrenmay4800]

Save a few hundred pounds and buy the Q Acoustics M20. For the money, better than any soundbar of a similar price, and higher. Less fussy than the fives. And just a fantastic all rounder so long as stereo is good enough for you. But if you want the same quality sound for Atmos, you're gonna need to spend serious money! And you'll need a room that can accommodate it too, which is out of touch for the average user.

[@fcm2790]

If you get a cheap DAC with tone controls / will improve sound alotttt.. better results

[@charleshuguley9903]

Doesn't "active" just refer to speakers with built-in amplifiers, not necessarily DSP?

[@bryanherr1093]

Active refers to having the driver amplification after the crossover.

[@peterabraham1168]

I decided not to update the firmware at all. I use Bluetooth only and have added the Wiim Pro.and they are fine.

[@leon23leon]

Love your work John but a few point of respectful contention here: The app does hold your changes. I agree that there some jank to the app but mine keeps my custom EQ settings. Adding a subwoofer (as a few other commentators say also) completely changes the sound of The Fives. They high and low pass at 80hz and are all the better for it. There’s an extension chord available through Klipsch. I bought it and it works as expected. I know this goes against the “audio as an appliance” idea but these are also great if fed by an external dac. Totally agree with the cable salad argument but this could be said of any active speaker. I’d argue that lots of connection options are great for the consumer. It certainly ups your ‘cable management game’ though.

[@rand9994]

Can confirm, my pair absolutely keeps my settings. The app is janky though. I hate that it has a delay connecting every time you open it. Mine will even say "cannot connect" even though it is connected.

[@DarkoAudio]

Which sub? And how much? Then we ask: why should we have to spend extra (on a sub) to fix the sound of a speaker that shouldn't really have this bass bloat issue in the first place? I'm not talking about adding bass extension but correcting what Klipsch didn't seem to get right out of the box. I didn't know about the extension cable. But again: an extra expense. And yes, you could add an external DAC to The Fives to make them sound different/better but again we're spending extra cash that we shouldn't really have to.

[@leon23leon]

@@DarkoAudio You’re right… all at extra expense. In all honestly, I bought The Fives and realised I had a problem to solve so I threw a little bit of money at it at a time until I had a sound I was happy with. If I had known what I know now, I probably wouldn’t have bought The Fives. Active speakers yes, The Fives, no. Having said that, they sound great in my room now. My comments were more for people who have these speakers and need to “fix” them.

[@mattiaippolito1625]

If you need to get rid of the extra bass you can just plug in an rca cable without the sub connected and the speakers insert the HPF anyway….from other reviews

[@davids2214]

It doesn’t keep my eq settings, so I fixed the problem with a sub. Now I love them.

[@ashliehiggins]

This was perfectly timed, as I was thinking about these along side LSX IIs, as the HDMI in is what I'm after so I can use my 42C2 as an audio hub for airplay and routing audio from my computer and PS4.

[@EquatorialVillager]

For someone like me new to this word the adjectives audiophiles use to describe sound are a whole learning experience of themselves 😂. Great video, and liking the approachable review.

[@TeSp00kie1]

For something more forward and open than the Dali/Rotel combo I would recommend the Triangle br02 and smsl da9/su9 stack. The sound is very neat and detailed and tight although it is less forgiving to the source quality than the Dali's. It is a very revealing combo without being harsh and it's about the same price.

[@jimr5703]

I have my Fives supplied via the optical from the TV. See how that sounds vs the HDMI.

[@chrisbarnard8399]

Had these since pretty much they were launched and it’s been painful to be honest! The days before bass cut and eq they just sounded horrible and as my first Hi-Fi system it was so disappointing. Now with eq they’re sounding much better but I still have moments where I’m not loving the sound. A potential improvement I’ve thought about but not tried yet is adding a sub as these have a sub out on the back and will provide a high/low pass filter at 80hz to potentially open up these speakers a bit more and maybe add further bass control. Maybe something to consider if you’re looking at these and have the money…

[@diamondbracelette]

I'm on team subwoofer but not sure it will make you love them if you already don't. It opens things up for sure, but arguably enhances what they were already sonically delivering. There are other tweaks that make a big difference in combination with a sub tho

[@mayurkulkarni1990]

why they made 2 apps, its weird. they should have just integrated updates in connect app

[@RB-us6tf]

I've been using The Fives for over a year and while they sound fantastic its "brains" are complete trash. It's amazing how bad firmware/software can ruin the product. Here are some examples - they are not waking up on certain inputs, they are randomly switching to Bluetooth when watching TV via HDMI, they are randomly turning off when watching TV via HDMI, they are not automatically waking up when starting playback through toslink/USB, and the list goes on. Because of all of these faults I cannot recommend these speakers to anyone. Absolute trash because of the firmware/software. PS I have hardware revision 2 and I am on the latest firmware (=with the EQ controls app).

[@thomasnew8606]

Dang, I was just about to order these…not much if anything out there with so many options

[@radovangoricanec4049]

Do you still have those problems? Now i am afraid to bu this..

[@michaelmiller6575]

You speak of the bass congestion in the mid range, i would have loved to see if your opinion of the fives could have changed if you connected a sub woofer. I think a lot of people buy the fives not for critical listening, but for multimedia consumption as a soundbar replacement. I would move up to the sevens or nines if i was intending on listening to music. Agree about the app though. What a mess. I have the fives connected to a sub in a small room which are on my desk and are used for computer speakers. They serve their purpose, but if i had a bigger room i would have gone the sevens though.

[@thewirah1]

I can't imagine having those on my desk right a couple feet away from my ears. Way too boomy even with EQ.

[@FloridaDad]

I also noticed the EQ not always retaining my settings. I reached out to Klipsch support and they are working on an update to resolve this. I have these as my PC speakers via USB with a Kanto sub and am very happy. Even though they technically aren't perfect, there is something very satisfying about them. The EQ however is a requirement to help correct some of the low-end mushy tendencies, but then there are some instances where these will outperform my Bang & Olfsons.

[@tibhen8473]

i think i have same issue, the EQ goes off when i changed the source, on the phone it is fine because the K app is there, but when i use laptop or TV then the EQ seems to be OFF. Did you find a fix?

[@radovangoricanec4049]

Did you solve that problem?

[@Paul-RSA]

Another great review, love this channel!

[@ryanrodriguez70]

I’m not happy with the fives I can never get the volume right. Might try to add a sub woofer. Idkn.

[@manonthemoon4544]

The Fives work great with a woofer

[@thunderpooch]

Reduce the bass in the phone's eq setting. Then use a sub but not with the sub out provided on the back of the speakers. Using the sub-out kills way too much. Here's the dilemma. The sub out kills all bass below 80hz. The fives excel exceptionally well producing all bass above 60hz. They get muddy when they try to dig deep to 35hz. You'll notice if you use the sub out, you no longer have bass slam. And that is an absolute tragedy.

[@bigdallyc]

Nicely done, John. Bravo!

[@ervinleblanc1757]

Hopefully they will think to update this so the eq adjustments save so people don’t have to keep readjusting them.

[@joshpope2141]

Add a sub. I know that sounds strange. Also a DAC! I used rca (phono) to bypass the internal DAC)to 3.5 into dragonfly Cobalt or red ,into HP laptop stripped of everything except Qobuz, tidal, roon & a EQ software “equalizer APO” Damn things sounded great! Lots of work but fun once ya get it set up. I put them away about 2 months ago. They will be back

[@Big-J-8579]

I think they have a place for the casual listener who wants easy. Thanks!

[@Driver2616]

I’m not a sound engineer or an audiophile. I’m no kind of “expert at all but when I was in the market for speakers, I looked at these Klipsch speakers. And I dismissed them. For the level and quality of sound reproduction they provide, they’re just too expensive. I bought the Edifier S1000MK II speakers instead, for a much lower price, less than half the cost of the Klipsch. I have them connected via optical toslink to my TV, via RCA analogue to my Sony PSLX310BT record turntable (I also have the option of using the v5 Bluetooth to play records if I wish), via coaxial cable to my Sony BluRay player (for playing CD’s). That leaves one other spare RCA input for whatever I may want to use it for - sometimes I connect my phone or iPad that way, as an alternative to using Bluetooth. So, the versatility of these Edifiers, in their connection possibilities and capabilities, is very impressive. As for the sound that the Edifier S1000MKII speakers reproduce, all I can do is smile 😊 very contentedly to myself. Well, I can say more….they are very powerful in every respect. Even at very low or very high volumes, everything from high, through mid, to low end sound comes over very crisply and clearly. Klipsch may have a big name and reputation but for my money they don’t provide enough of a return for investment, in the sound output. Edifier does that for me, as I said earlier, at a lot less than half the price. This is only my personal opinion. Someone else might disagree but that’s the great aspect to all this - discussion, opinion, agreement/disagreement = learning and being informed…

[@noonaanee]

that's because the dac inside the edifiers are so good also, they use good high end dacs and implement them very good, and hi res audio certified, klipsch don't even mention what dacs they use, not to mention the sound is messed up since their tweeter changes the whole spectrum of the sound, incredibly unnatural, hurts the ears,

[@danielrozsa260]

Would you do a review of The Sevens and The Nines, maybe with a comparison between Burchardt’s A500 and the latter?

[@BoudewijnVanderhaeghe]

Indeed. Not everything is great, or terrible....I like it this way. Nice video.

[@mndlessdrwer]

I had a chance to demo some of 'The Fives' and they were just fine. Nothing particularly wrong with them but nothing that stood out as being exceptional either. Their treble was a bit more metallic than I prefer and the bass performance was about what I expected from speakers with that woofer size. All-in-all, you'd be better off with the Jamo S803 and a cheap amplifier or stereo receiver.

[@canoeshoe]

What was the other speaker compared to The Fives? I dont want a sound bar, i want some TV speakers

[@Nico-if8mx]

Would I buy them again? NO! Stuck with them and made the best out of them, and they now sound pretty good after unning them through a Wiim Mini to a Bifrost 2, and the overall sound improved miles. Bass got more controlled, they used to be boomy as hell, and they now sound quite good! I know this defeats the purpose of an active speaker with built-in DAC, but this setup sounds quite good now (for the price)! Nonetheless, I keep the EQ on -3db of bass (some songs need -4 or even -6db), and everything else flat. Have them with no toe-in, soundstage and imaging is very good! I Use these for music listening as my secondary setup! Have yet to try and connect my sub to them! But I agree with John that the app could be better integrated, and better developed, the Bluetooth keeps disconnecting and, I have to move the eq slider for the speaker to apply the eq again after music stops for a while even if the Bluetooth does not disconnect, this is my worst complaint on the speaker!!! Either my ears are getting used to them or Burn-in is a real thing in these, but they sound quite good now! For 500 USD ... you decide!

[@aibinjoseph2008]

Those with in built amplifier does the job very well..but the durability will be in question..the life of the speaker depends on the amplifier used in the system...

[@edwardwood969]

I discovered that the HDMI input doesn’t work with my TV because it doesn’t have eArc. That’s a bummer. I tried hooking up a CD player to the rca input and that sounded terrible. And I switched the phono off. so all I use now is my AudioEngine streamer which likes to drop the Wi-Fi connection and whose app isn’t great. I may just buy the A11 Tribute , bluesound node and use these with my Paradigm Studio 20’s and sell the Fives.

[@mcbowler]

Grrreat with a subwoofer. Very fun with music AND movies.

[@mcbowler]

The 4m cord is long enough if you move the speakers closer to the wall, which you can do if you offload the bass to a sub.

[@mcbowler]

I’m using optical from the TV and Bluetooth from phone.

[@kona328WH]

@@mcbowler klipsch should just make a bloody extension cable already

[@laika25]

Amazon must love you and all your returns, haha

[@BobFonseca]

John, I have the Fives. For a time in '21 they were $499 at Costco (black only). Any thoughts about plugging the rear ports. I agree with your assessments... but I've enjoyed them more in form factor and in sound (with eq) than any soundbar I've tried at that price. Can't get the wrinkles out of my Forte style grilles however.

[@JP1050x]

They still sold for $499 in their warehouse recently. Costco probably needed to clear their stock from xmas ‘21. I’m always tempted to pick up a pair when I see them at Costco.

[@HarshalGeet]

What would be your views on Q Acoustic M20

[@air870]

I wonder how the Fives compare to the R 51pm s

[@luisphillips818]

Me too im looking to buy either the fives or the r51pm's

[@filipkrstevski5449]

Always check the ac cord polarity to be on the right side or they will sound not so good. And they can have dufferent polarity from one speaker to the other cheers

[@carlitomelon4610]

A good watch to see John politely steer us away from faffing about & wasting music enjoyment time on these awful "lifestyle" products... (Actually, I only watched half;-) Save your cash and start with a Blusound powernode and some worthwhile passive speakers. Less cable clutter too! 🎶🤫🎶

[@HOOK_NOSE_JEW]

With a chromecast audio hooked up to the fives via optical....sounds pretty amazing

[@dantonchat71]

I predict the product arriving in the next few months are the LSX II's !

[@DarkoAudio]

Nope

[@bvander131313]

Got The Fives some time ago and actually like them as a secondary set. I paired it with a REL T5i Sub and to free them from handling all frequencies really takes them further. Of course you can argue that the REL is almost the price of the Fives but I took the one I originally wanted to use for a 2-Sub setup for my main system which ultimately was too much. Not for me but for my neighbors. ;-) I assume you can achieve similar results with more adequately priced subs. The EQ almost never works for me as the Fives refuse to connect to the Klipsch Connect app for weeks. Probably the most annoying things about them for me.

[@RB-us6tf]

Exactly, the firmware/software on The Fives is complete trash.