Short answer: the Klipsch The Fives II, if you are buying new. The Klipsch The Fives ranks higher than the Kanto Ren (#17 vs #49 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.
What the Kanto Ren does well: Audioholics measured a listening window within about 1.5dB to 20kHz with only minor directivity ripples, so it sounds accurate and balanced, with wide horizontal dispersion past 50 degrees. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Klipsch The Fives lacks. The tradeoff: Bass begins rolling off around 90Hz in ground plane measurements, and the ports get noisy when pushed hard without a subwoofer, so maximum volume is modest on its own.
The Klipsch The Fives is the better-sounding pick. In the tested Bass Cut mode, Erin’s Klippel data gives preference scores of 5.52 standalone and 7.89 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 2.7dB midrange response span. It supports aptX HD Bluetooth, which the Kanto Ren lacks. Watch for: 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 Kanto Ren.
About the ratings: the Kanto Ren’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.7 to 4.1, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Audioholics measured a listening window within about 1.5dB to 20kHz with only minor directivity ripples, so it sounds accurate and balanced, with wide horizontal dispersion past 50 degrees.
Amazon $699.99 eBay
In the tested Bass Cut mode, Erin’s Klippel data gives preference scores of 5.52 standalone and 7.89 with an ideal subwoofer, with a 2.7dB midrange response span.
Amazon $324.95 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 19, 2026 at 10:32 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Kanto Ren | Klipsch The Fives | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.99 per pair | $324.95 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #49 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #17 of 108 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminium concave cone woofer + 1” silk dome tweeter in waveguide (each) | 1” horn-loaded tweeter; 4.5” woofer |
| Amplifier Power | 100W RMS total (200W peak) (Manufacturer specified) | 160W total system power (320W peak) |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.0 |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Weight | 9.9 lbs (4.5 kg) (active), 8.6 lbs (3.9 kg) (passive) | Primary 11.8 lbs (5.35 kg), Secondary 10.7 lbs (4.85 kg) |
| Dimensions | 7”W x 10.9”H x 8.5”D (178 x 277 x 216 mm) | 12”H x 6.5”W x 9.2”D (304.8 x 165.1 x 234.95 mm) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 22kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 50Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC, USB-C (24-bit/96kHz), Optical, RCA, 3.5mm Aux, Bluetooth; Sub out (auto 80Hz high pass) | HDMI ARC, USB, optical, Bluetooth, phono/line RCA |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| App | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (bass and treble via remote, Vocal Boost and Night modes) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 47.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DSP | - | Dynamic Bass, Flat and Bass Cut profiles |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 5.52 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 7.89 |
| Subwoofer Output | - | Yes |
| Outputs | - | Subwoofer |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| RCA Input | - | Yes |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Optical Input | - | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| USB Input | - | Yes |
| HDMI Input | - | Yes |
| AES Input | - | No |
Watch Them Compared
Videos and reviews that test both speakers side by side.
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to Klipsch The Fives: