【AI前沿】Klipsch the Fives II Speakers Review for Music, Movies, More (2026)

John BrandonGearMay 14, 2026 6:32 AMReview: Klipsch the Fives IIThese bookshelf speakers are excellent for music playback, but you’ll want to stick with a soundbar for theater-shaking surround sound.Courtesy of Best Buy$1,400at Best BuyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyRating:8/10Open rating explainerInformationWIREDPristine music playback for relatively small bookshelf speakers. Size won’t overwhelm the room. Now has an HDMI eARC 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 bookshelfspeaker 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 withthe Sevensor 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 theCambridge Audio Evo One.I also tested movies and TV shows, video games, and a boatload of other new music on these speakers. The results were so impressive I ended up preferring the Fives II to several other bookshelf speakers I’ve recently tested (and enjoyed—just not as much).Heavy Updates and Customization AbilityPhotograph: John BrandonI’ve noticed how the best speakers are almost always heavy, and that’s true of The Fives II. The primary speaker with the electronics weighs 18.2 pounds, and the secondary speaker weighs 15.5 pounds; the woofers are solidly built using Jet Cerametallic, a new Klipsch proprietary construction method that helps produce accurate sound.Because they are meant to function asbookshelf speakersor for sitting on a computer desk, the the Fives II are mostly targeted at music lovers, but they also function well as home theater speakers. You can buy the matchingKlipsch KS28 speaker standsfor $229 a pair (factory refurbished), but I foundsimilar stands on Amazonthat cost about $50 for a pair.It almost seems like the Fives have too many ports, but that’s not meant as a criticism—it’s good to have options. You can connect using an optical cable, HDMI (with eARC support), USB-C, USB-A (for charging gadgets), RCA phono and analog, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. There’s also a port for connecting a subwoofer, though I didn’t feel that was necessary for music.That Wi-Fi connection is a critical new addition. The Fives II speakers now let you play music through services like Tidal Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and Google Cast. I used Tidal to start a playlist, then turned off my phone, and Tidal Connect continued to play the high-res audio. You can pause, skip tracks, or come back later and resume the playlist quite easily.Photograph: John BrandonOne major design change has to do with the controls on the speaker itself. The previous model had a large dial for switching between connection types, and it indicated which port was currently selected with a light. With the new speakers, you press a button to change ports, and the color indicates the connection type. I liked this approach better because, in most cases, you’ll likely select your connection type and not change it. However, it took a minute to figure out which color matched which port (for example, orange for USB-C and purple for optical). The Klipsch Connect app makes it easier to switch between ports, since they are clearly labeled on the interface.Speaking of the app, it’s quite helpful. You can adjust EQ (equalization) settings and make a few other tweaks, but my favorite setting is related to lip-synching. During movies and shows, if you connect over HDMI, you can use the setting to make lips perfectly match the audio. In my tests, it worked really well without any delays.The Klipsch remote is handy, but I mostly used the app on my iPhone. You can easily switch inputs, adjust volume, pause, go to the next track, or use two custom input buttons. For example, you can map the custom button to use the HDMI or USB-C port.The Music-Blasting TestPhotograph: John BrandonYou know you have a great speaker when you use it to play a song you’ve heard countless times but now experience new sonic textures and previously hidden flourishes. When a speaker makes guitar distortion sound like mush or the bass overly loud and thumpy, it’s hard to justify the