First seen at the last CES in Las Vegas this past January, the American company's new range of active speakers is arriving in stores to coincide with its 80th anniversary. Following our news on the Klipsch The Sevens II and Klipsch The Nines II, this is the perfect opportunity to discover the final specifications of the Klipsch The Fives II in detail, the result of a complete acoustic redesign and a unique technological alliance with the Japanese company Onkyo for the electronic components.
First unveiled at CES in Las Vegas earlier this year (see our CES 26 news > Klipsch The Fives II, active Wi-Fi and Bluetooth bookshelf speakers), the new Klipsch The Fives II speakers are now revealing all their technical secrets. While retaining the famous bookshelf form factor and Heritage design of the first generation, they represent a true technological leap inside the cabinet. Building on the success of the first version, the acoustic design has been completely revamped. The Fives II speakers incorporate a new one-piece BMC (Bulk Molding Compound) baffle, a denser and more rigid material designed to limit unwanted resonances while opening up the soundstage. The iconic Tractrix horn is back, paired with a 25mm Titanium LTS tweeter, now coupled with a new 13.3cm Jet Cerametallic woofer. The system utilizes a bass-reflex design with a rear-firing port. Onkyo's expertise in streaming and Dolby Atmos: The major evolution of this second generation lies in its electronic platform, developed in collaboration with Onkyo engineers in Osaka. The Klipsch The Fives II speakers feature a comprehensive Wi-Fi ac and Ethernet streaming module that supports Google Cast, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect, and Roon Ready. For audio processing, they handle high resolution up to 96 kHz/24-bit and offer Dolby Atmos decoding using virtual height channels. Note that the Bluetooth protocol has been updated to version 5.4. Comprehensive connectivity and a new Red Oak finish. As versatile as ever, the speakers feature connectivity ready for any situation: in addition to the previously mentioned Ethernet port, there is an HDMI eARC input, a MM phono input with integrated preamp for direct connection to a turntable, an optical input, a stereo RCA input, a USB-C port, and a USB-A port. Control is via the top panel with its metal dial, the new backlit remote control, or the Klipsch Connect Plus calibration app. Finally, a new Red Oak finish, adorned with light gray grilles, appears in the catalog alongside Walnut and Ebony. Available. Suggested retail price: €1,299. Key features of the Klipsch The Fives II: • Type: 2.0 • Tweeter: 1 x 25 mm Tractrix Horn titanium LTS • Woofer: 1 x 13.35 cm Jet Cerametallic ceramic cone • Enclosure: Bass-reflex • Power: 180 W (2 x 60 W + 2 x 30 W) • Sensitivity: 103 dB • Connections: 1 stereo RCA/Phono input (with built-in preamp for connecting a turntable) with ground connector, 1 stereo RCA input, 1 Ethernet port, 1 port [abc]USB[/abc]-C, 1 [abc]USB[/abc]-A port, 1 [abc]optical[/abc] input, 1 [abc]LFE[/abc] output, 1 [abc]HDMI[/abc] input [abc]CEC[/abc] [abc]eARC[/abc], 1 [abc]HDMI[/abc] output
• Certification: [abc]Hi-Res Audio[/abc]
• Audio file compatibility [abc]Dolby Atmos[/abc]
• Frequency response: 50-25,000 Hz
• [abc]Wi-Fi[/abc] ac Dual Band compatibility
• [abc]AirPlay 2[/abc] compatibility
• Spotify Connect compatibility
• [abc]Chromecast compatibility (integrated)
• Tidal Connect compatibility
• Bluetooth 5.4 compatibility
• Qobuzz Connect compatibility
• 96 kHz/24-bit DAC
• Dimensions (W x D x H): 181 x 273.1 x 327 mm
• Weight: 15.42 kg per pair