Klipsch the Fives II Speakers Review for Music, Movies, More (2026)
Key takeaways
- WIREDPristine music playback for relatively small bookshelf speakers.
- Sonically, this is one of my favorite Klipsch speakers you can get for less than $1,500.
- I also tested movies and TV shows, video games, and a boatload of other new music on these speakers.
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Courtesy of Best Buy$1,400 at Best Buy Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Rating:8/10
WIREDPristine music playback for relatively small bookshelf speakers. Size won’t overwhelm the room. Now has an HDMI e ARC 2.1 port for Dolby Atmos surround sound.TIREDCan’t compete with a soundbar for upfiring surround sound audio. Some test tracks for music lacked oomph. Game audio was not always convincing for surround sound.A small bookshelf speaker saves space, but it generally forces you to compromise in overall sound quality. Standing at just 12.9 inches tall with 5.25-inch woofers, the Fives II speakers from Klipsch pack a ton of new features into the updated version. (The original version came out in 2020.) Key upgrades include Dolby Atmos support over the new HDMI eARC 2.1 port, Wi-Fi capability, and new electronics. You can go bigger with the Sevens or the Nines, also from Klipsch, but the more diminutive speakers are less likely to overwhelm the room in terms of size.
Sonically, this is one of my favorite Klipsch speakers you can get for less than $1,500. When I played a new album by Cut Worms, the acoustic guitars sounded fuller and warmer than they did on the original the Fives speakers I tested just a few months ago. On the song “Fire 2" by Grace Ives—complete with crushing synths that fill the room—the Fives II were in the same premium league as the Cambridge Audio Evo One.