Short answer: the Klipsch The Fives II. It ranks #22 of 105 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,399.99; the Cambridge Audio L/R M ranks #30, rated 4.2/5, and costs $1,599, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Klipsch The Fives II: Next-generation update featuring Onkyo-engineered Class-D amplification (160W continuous, 320W peak) driving a 1-inch titanium LTS vented tweeter on a 90x90 Tractrix horn and a 5.25-inch Jet Cerametallic woofer. The tradeoff: Priced around $1,399 a pair, representing a substantial price increase over the original Fives.
Why pick the Cambridge Audio L/R M: The middle model of Cambridge’s L/R active range, between the L/R S and L/R X. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured L/R S and L/R X.
Buy the Klipsch The Fives II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Cambridge Audio L/R M and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
About the ratings: neither speaker has been measured yet, so both ratings are estimated from measured siblings and predecessors (likely ranges: Klipsch The Fives II 4.1 to 4.5; Cambridge Audio L/R M 3.8 to 4.5). Treat this verdict as provisional.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch The Fives II | Cambridge Audio L/R M | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,399.99 per pair | $1,599.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #22 of 105 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated | #30 of 105 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers Estimated |
| Amplifier Power | 160W total (320W peak) | 300W total (150W per speaker) |
| App | Yes (Klipsch Connect) | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 | - |
| Dimensions | 12” x 6.5” x 9.5” (305 x 165 x 241 mm) | 10.4” (263 mm) H x 158mm W x 190mm D (each) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | - |
| Drivers | 1” titanium LTS tweeter on Tractrix horn, 5.25” Jet Cerametallic woofer | 28mm tweeter, 4” woofer, 4.75” passive radiator |
| EQ | Yes (Dirac Live ready) | - |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 25kHz (-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | 40Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes (HDMI 2.1 eARC) | Yes |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, Phono/RCA, Optical, USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | HDMI eARC, optical, USB-C audio, RCA, MM phono, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes (switchable phono preamp) | Yes |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes | Yes |
| USB Input | Yes (USB-C) | Yes |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) primary speaker, 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) secondary speaker |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Roon Ready) | - |
| XLR Input | - | No |
| TRS Input | - | No |
| Coaxial Input | - | No |
| AES Input | - | No |
| Aux Input | - | No |
| Bluetooth Codecs | - | SBC, AAC |
| DSP | - | Yes (room and placement correction) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- Devialet Phantom Ultimate 98dB vs Cambridge Audio L/R M
- IK Multimedia iLoud MTM vs HEDD Type 05 A-CORE
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 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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The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch The Fives II: $1,399.99 per pair Estimated Amazon B&H Photo Video eBay
Older model: the Klipsch The Fives (ranked higher, rated 4.3/5). See every Klipsch The Fives, Sevens and Nines generation.
Same family: the Klipsch The Sevens II (larger bookshelf, estimated 3.8/5) and the Klipsch The Nines II (larger bookshelf, estimated 4.3/5).
Pros: Next-generation update featuring Onkyo-engineered Class-D amplification (160W continuous, 320W peak) driving a 1-inch titanium LTS vented tweeter on a 90x90 Tractrix horn and a 5.25-inch Jet Cerametallic woofer. Upgrades include HDMI 2.1 eARC with Dolby Atmos decoding, high-resolution Wi-Fi streaming (Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify/Tidal/Qobuz Connect, Roon Ready), Bluetooth 5.4, Dirac Live room correction support, and a switchable phono preamp alongside optical and USB-C inputs. Low-frequency extension is rated to 50Hz (-3dB) with dynamic bass EQ extending down to 40Hz at moderate volumes.
Cons: Priced around $1,399 a pair, representing a substantial price increase over the original Fives. Standardized Klippel NFS preference scores and CEA-2010 output limits have not yet been published to verify distortion under heavy bass loads.
Full Klipsch The Fives II review and specifications →
| Released | Jan 2026 (9 months ago) |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 160W total (320W peak) |
| App | Yes (Klipsch Connect) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.4 |
| Dimensions | 12” x 6.5” x 9.5” (305 x 165 x 241 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| Drivers | 1” titanium LTS tweeter on Tractrix horn, 5.25” Jet Cerametallic woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Dirac Live ready) |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 25kHz (-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes (HDMI 2.1 eARC) |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, Phono/RCA, Optical, USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes (switchable phono preamp) |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| USB Input | Yes (USB-C) |
| Weight | 26 lbs (11.8 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Roon Ready) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Cambridge Audio L/R M: $1,599.00 per pair Estimated Cambridge Audio eBay
Same family: the Cambridge Audio L/R S (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.4/5) and the Cambridge Audio L/R X (larger bookshelf, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: The middle model of Cambridge’s L/R active range, between the L/R S and L/R X. Each speaker pairs a 28mm tweeter with a 4” woofer and a 4.75” passive radiator, driven by 150W, and Cambridge specifies 40Hz to 24kHz (±3dB), so it reaches deeper than the 3”-woofer L/R S. Inputs cover nearly any source: HDMI eARC for a TV, a moving-magnet phono stage, optical, USB-C audio, RCA and Bluetooth, plus app-based room and placement correction and a subwoofer output.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared directly with measured speakers; the rating is estimated from the measured L/R S and L/R X. Passive radiators extend bass in place of a larger woofer, so very loud low bass will compress sooner than from a bigger cabinet, and Bluetooth is limited to SBC and AAC.
Full Cambridge Audio L/R M review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| AES Input | No |
| Amplifier Power | 300W total (150W per speaker) |
| App | Yes |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Yes (room and placement correction) |
| Dimensions | 10.4” (263 mm) H x 158mm W x 190mm D (each) |
| Drivers | 28mm tweeter, 4” woofer, 4.75” passive radiator |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz - 24kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes |
| Inputs | HDMI eARC, optical, USB-C audio, RCA, MM phono, Bluetooth |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | 13.7 lbs (6.2 kg) primary speaker, 11.9 lbs (5.4 kg) secondary speaker |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons