GoKawiilA 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.
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 Ability
Photograph: John Brandon
I’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.