Short answer: the Klipsch The Fives II, if you are buying new. The Klipsch The Fives ranks higher than the Kali Audio IN-5 (#17 vs #27 of 108 powered bookshelf speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Klipsch The Fives II, is rated 4.3/5 at $1,399.99 and is still sold new.
The Kali Audio IN-5 is the deeper-bass pick. An affordable three way coaxial studio monitor with an even midrange, good bass depth and placement switches. Its bass reaches about 45Hz before falling 3dB, against 57Hz for the Klipsch The Fives. The tradeoff: Local listening-window irregularities remain despite the small overall midrange span.
The case for the Klipsch The Fives: A versatile powered pair that replaces a soundbar, with good balance in Bass Cut mode plus HDMI ARC, phono and a subwoofer output. The tradeoff: The favorable score specifically requires Bass Cut mode; it does not describe every firmware or bass setting.
Buy the Klipsch The Fives II, the replacement for the discontinued Klipsch The Fives; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Kali Audio IN-5.
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Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the Kali Audio IN-5 reaches 40 Hz (10 dB down) against 47.3 Hz for the Klipsch The Fives, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Klipsch The Fives scores 7.9 against 7.1 for the Kali Audio IN-5 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
Prices on this page were last checked November 14, 2026 at 6:17 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Kali Audio IN-5 | Klipsch The Fives | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $898 per pair | $324.95 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #27 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #17 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | Approximately 45Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 40.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 47.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter coaxial with 4” midrange; 5” woofer | 1” horn-loaded tweeter; 4.5” woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 80W LF + 40W mid + 40W HF | 160W total system power (320W peak) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.12 | 5.52 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.13 | 7.89 |
| Inputs | XLR, TRS, RCA | HDMI ARC, USB, optical, Bluetooth, phono/line RCA |
| XLR Input | Yes | No |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | Yes |
| HDMI Input | No | Yes |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Dimensions | 15” x 8.1” x 11.1” (382 x 206 x 282 mm) (H x W x D) | 12”H x 6.5”W x 9.2”D (304.8 x 165.1 x 234.95 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 39Hz - 25kHz (-10dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 18.6 lbs (8.43 kg) each | Primary 11.8 lbs (5.35 kg), Secondary 10.7 lbs (4.85 kg) |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| DSP | - | Dynamic Bass, Flat and Bass Cut profiles |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.0 |
Where the Ratings Come From
- Kali Audio IN-5: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and DSAUDIO.review.
- Klipsch The Fives: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner and Jasper Tech.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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