Short answer: the Klipsch The Fives. It ranks #12 of 76 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $699; the Edifier S3000MKII ranks #60, rated 3.9/5, and costs $998.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
Different design philosophies for active stereo. Klipsch The Fives is built as an all-in-one living room powerhouse, featuring HDMI ARC for TV control, an integrated phono stage for turntables, and a dedicated subwoofer output with selectable bass management. Erin’s Klippel measurements show that in Bass Cut mode, The Fives delivers strong tonal balance with a 5.52 standalone preference score (and 7.89 with a sub).
Edifier S3000MKII goes bigger on driver hardware. It packs 6.5-inch aluminum mid/bass drivers, horn-loaded planar magnetic tweeters, and 256W RMS total output. It includes balanced XLR inputs, optical, coaxial, and true wireless inter-speaker pairing, but omits HDMI ARC and has no subwoofer output.
Buy Klipsch The Fives for proven Klippel-measured accuracy in Bass Cut mode, HDMI ARC convenience, phono integration, and simple subwoofer expansion.
Buy the Edifier S3000MKII if you want larger 6.5-inch acoustic scale, planar tweeter resolution, balanced studio inputs, and wireless speaker interconnects.
Buy the Klipsch The Fives. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Edifier S3000MKII and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Powered Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch The Fives | Edifier S3000MKII | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699 per pair | $998.99 per pair |
| Ranked | #12 of 76 in Medium Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #60 of 79 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Drivers | 1” horn-loaded tweeter; 4.5” woofer | 107mm x 107mm planar magnetic tweeter, 6.5” aluminum mid/bass |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC, USB, optical, Bluetooth, phono/line RCA | Bluetooth, XLR, RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax, USB |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD | SBC, aptX HD |
| 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 | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes | Yes |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | Yes | Yes |
| Coaxial Input | No | Yes |
| USB Input | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Input | Yes | No |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Weight | Primary 11.8 lbs (5.35 kg), Secondary 10.7 lbs (4.85 kg) | - |
| Dimensions | 12”H x 6.5”W x 9.2”D (304.8 x 165.1 x 234.95 mm) | 14.2”H x 8.7”W x 10.6”D (360 x 222 x 268 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | 160W total system power (320W peak) | 256W RMS total |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 38Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Klipsch The Fives compares with other leading options:
- Klipsch The Fives vs Genelec 8331A
- Klipsch The Fives vs Neumann KH120 MKII
- Genelec 8030C vs Klipsch The Fives
- Neumann KH80 DSP vs Klipsch The Fives
- Klipsch The Fives vs Dynaudio LYD 5
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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: $699 per pair Amazon eBay
Newer model: the Klipsch The Fives II, ranked lower, estimated 4.3/5.
Larger models: the Klipsch The Sevens (rated 3.7/5) and the Klipsch The Nines (rated 4.2/5).
Pros: 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. That mode offers considerably better tonal balance than the bass-heavy default behavior. HDMI ARC, phono/line input, digital inputs and subwoofer output make it a versatile stereo alternative to a soundbar. Measured bass extension of 57Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The favorable score specifically requires Bass Cut mode; it does not describe every firmware or bass setting. Bass reaches -3dB around 59Hz in that configuration. The review reports increasing compression around 200Hz and below 80Hz as volume rises, reducing bass dynamics. Careful placement and a subwoofer remain useful, and the horn/woofer transition is not perfectly uniform off-axis.
Full Klipsch The Fives review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | 160W total system power (320W peak) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 47.3Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 57Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, AAC, aptX, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| DSP | Dynamic Bass, Flat and Bass Cut profiles |
| Dimensions | 12”H x 6.5”W x 9.2”D (304.8 x 165.1 x 234.95 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” horn-loaded tweeter; 4.5” woofer |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 25kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | Yes |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC, USB, optical, Bluetooth, phono/line RCA |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| Outputs | Subwoofer |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.52 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.89 |
| Subwoofer Output | Yes |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | Yes |
| Weight | Primary 11.8 lbs (5.35 kg), Secondary 10.7 lbs (4.85 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: Klipsch The Fives Review More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website: Klipsch The Fives
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Jasper Tech: Best Bookshelf Speakers For TV & Gaming - 2025 More from Jasper Tech →
- Jasper Tech: Best Powered Bookshelf Speakers for Every Budget - 2025
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch The Fives vs JBL 305P MKII
- Klipsch The Fives vs Genelec 8020D
- Klipsch The Fives vs Topping MA4
- Klipsch The Fives vs KEF LS50 Wireless II
- Klipsch The Fives vs Vanatoo Transparent One Encore Plus
- Klipsch The Fives vs Devialet Phantom II 98 dB
- Klipsch The Fives vs Genelec 8320A
- Klipsch The Fives vs Genelec 8330A
- See all 58 comparisons
Edifier S3000MKII: $998.99 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the Edifier S3000Pro (ranked lower, rated 3.8/5).
Pros: Horn-loaded 107mm planar magnetic tweeters and 6.5” aluminum mid/bass drivers, driven by 256W RMS total. The two speakers link wirelessly, and inputs cover balanced XLR, optical, coaxial, USB, RCA line and Bluetooth 5.0 with aptX HD. Edifier rates it at 38Hz to 40kHz with Hi-Res Audio certification up to 24bit/192kHz on the digital inputs.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its tonal balance and directivity can’t be compared with ranked speakers. It has no subwoofer output, HDMI input or app EQ.
Full Edifier S3000MKII review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 256W RMS total |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| Bluetooth Codecs | SBC, aptX HD |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.0 |
| Coaxial Input | Yes |
| Dimensions | 14.2”H x 8.7”W x 10.6”D (360 x 222 x 268 mm) |
| Drivers | 107mm x 107mm planar magnetic tweeter, 6.5” aluminum mid/bass |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 40kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, XLR, RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax, USB |
| Optical Input | Yes |
| RCA Input | Yes |
| USB Input | Yes |
| XLR Input | Yes |
- 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.