The catch
Klipsch The Fives
The HDMI socket goes to the TV’s ARC port, and it can’t pass a console signal through the speakers.
Side by side
Klipsch The Fives vs The Fives II: Fives II holds on to a console input and keeps phono apart from line
Quick verdict
The Fives II is the one to get if the TV’s ARC port doubles as a valuable console port, or if a turntable and another RCA source should stay plugged in. Besides the TV eARC connection, it has an HDMI source input with stated 4K/120 passthrough, along with separate phono and line inputs. The original Fives is the better choice when its shallower cabinet fits your space and your existing sources already handle music streaming. It keeps ARC and USB audio but offers no HDMI passthrough and no built-in Wi-Fi streamer.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
The ARC socket may be the gaming socket you didn’t want to give up
On some TVs only a few inputs have the gaming features a console owner wants, and one of them may also carry ARC or eARC. The original Fives takes up that TV socket and gives nothing back as an HDMI source input. Fives II adds passthrough, so a compatible console can connect through the speaker system. That can spare you an external HDMI switch or a compromise elsewhere in the setup. Check the real port layout on your television and its 4K/120, VRR and ALLM support before you make this your reason to upgrade.
Where this comes from
A TV port overlap that applies only in some cases, set against a verified HDMI source input and stated passthrough features. No claim that every TV has the conflict or that every cable preserves those formats.
The catch
Klipsch The Fives II
Before cables and placement clearance, each cabinet is 1.45 inches deeper than the original.
Klipsch The Fives
- Why pick it
- Your TV has an ARC connection to spare, and your music source takes care of streaming already.
- Furniture suits the shallower original cabinet, and you can live with RCA shared between phono and line.
- The catch
- The HDMI socket goes to the TV’s ARC port, and it can’t pass a console signal through the speakers.
Klipsch The Fives II
- Why pick it
- A console needs to keep its HDMI input while the speakers use the TV eARC connection.
- You want records and another RCA line source to stay plugged in, and you want network music built into the speakers.
- The catch
- Before cables and placement clearance, each cabinet is 1.45 inches deeper than the original.
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What this page compares
TV, console gaming and records on The Fives versus Fives II. The differences covered are HDMI port use, which sources stay connected, Wi-Fi music and the new, deeper cabinet.
Both the original Fives and the second-generation one are options you can buy now for the same compact TV-and-record system. The question that helps with upgrading is what happens to the equipment already around the television.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The TV’s eARC socket is also wanted for a compatible gaming source
Fives II brings an HDMI source passthrough route, depending on format and cable compatibility.
- Klipsch The Fives
- Caution
- Klipsch The Fives II
- Better fit
A turntable and an analog-only CD player, each on RCA
The original’s shared-RCA limitation is avoided by separate phono and line sockets.
- Klipsch The Fives
- Good
- Klipsch The Fives II
- Better fit
A shallow console, plus a streaming source you already own
The original is shallower by 1.45 inches and may already handle the sources.
- Klipsch The Fives
- Better fit
- Klipsch The Fives II
- Good
Count on real rear and overhead speakers because of the Atmos label
Each purchase is a stereo pair. The height effect on Fives II comes from virtual processing.
- Klipsch The Fives
- Not suitable
- Klipsch The Fives II
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
The ARC socket may be the gaming socket you didn’t want to give up
On some TVs only a few inputs have the gaming features a console owner wants, and one of them may also carry ARC or eARC. The original Fives takes up that TV socket and gives nothing back as an HDMI source input. Fives II adds passthrough, so a compatible console can connect through the speaker system. That can spare you an external HDMI switch or a compromise elsewhere in the setup. Check the real port layout on your television and its 4K/120, VRR and ALLM support before you make this your reason to upgrade.
How we worked this out
A TV port overlap that applies only in some cases, set against a verified HDMI source input and stated passthrough features. No claim that every TV has the conflict or that every cable preserves those formats.
A record player plus an older CD player bring out the difference in sockets
On the original Fives, phono and line are two settings sharing one RCA pair. A compatible MM turntable can take that pair, and then an analog-only CD player has to use the auxiliary input, a switch or a cable swap. Fives II has separate phono and line inputs, so the regular RCA connections can stay put. If the CD player already has an optical output, the original’s optical input may fix the problem and no upgrade is needed. Count the outputs you really have before paying for extra convenience.
How we worked this out
Physical socket count and source-level requirements, with optical availability stated as conditional. The comparison doesn’t assume phono and line can play at the same time.
Swapping the speakers could push them nearer the front edge
The original body is 9.25 inches deep, against 10.7 for the new one. If the rear clearance stays the same, the front of Fives II sits 1.45 inches farther forward. On a narrow console that already holds a TV, game controllers and household clutter, that counts. Each cabinet of the new model is also 0.7 inches wider, which adds 1.4 inches across the pair. Measure the stable support and the cable path before assuming the familiar Fives name means the same fit.
How we worked this out
10.7 − 9.25 = 1.45 inches depth difference. 2 × (7.2 − 6.5) = 1.4 inches combined body-width difference. No acoustic-clearance value is made up.
Option A
Klipsch, The Fives
The Fives
Your TV has an ARC connection to spare, and your music source takes care of streaming already.
- Best for
- Your TV has an ARC connection to spare, and your music source takes care of streaming already.
Facts we checked
- HDMI source route: TV ARC connection only
- Phono and line: One switchable RCA pair
- Network music: Bluetooth and wired sources
- Cabinet depth: 9.25 inches
Option B
Klipsch, The Fives II
The Fives II
A console needs to keep its HDMI input while the speakers use the TV eARC connection.
- Best for
- A console needs to keep its HDMI input while the speakers use the TV eARC connection.
Facts we checked
- HDMI source route: HDMI source input plus eARC output, stated 4K/120, VRR and ALLM passthrough
- Phono and line: Separate phono and RCA line inputs
- Network music: Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet streaming
- Cabinet depth: 10.7 inches
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Klipsch The Fives | Klipsch The Fives II | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDMI source route | TV ARC connection only | HDMI source input plus eARC output, stated 4K/120, VRR and ALLM passthrough | Fives II takes up the TV’s ARC socket but can also give a source connection back to the setup. |
| Phono and line | One switchable RCA pair | Separate phono and RCA line inputs | The newer model can keep both sources connected with no analog switch. |
| Network music | Bluetooth and wired sources | Built-in Wi-Fi and Ethernet streaming | If its supported services cover what the household uses, the upgrade can take the place of a separate network source. |
| Cabinet depth | 9.25 inches | 10.7 inches | Putting a replacement on the same console takes 1.45 inches more body depth. |
| Computer audio | USB-B audio | USB-C audio | Digital computer audio is already supported on both. A change of connector is no reason to replace a system that works. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Klipsch The Fives
- One phono/line socket pair is shared by an analog-only turntable and another RCA source. Where the source and cable suit it, the separate auxiliary input can help.
With Klipsch The Fives II
- Passthrough depends on a compatible source, TV settings and cables. Virtual Atmos doesn’t give you real rear or overhead speakers.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Your TV setup is running short of suitable HDMI inputs
Go with Klipsch The Fives II. Fives II comes with a source input and supported passthrough.
All your sources already connect, and the console is shallow
Go with Klipsch The Fives. The original keeps ARC and USB in the cabinet with less depth.
Decision guide
Before you buy
Better TV sound is the goal, but not at the cost of a gaming port, and not if every switch from records to something else means swapping cables.
What this page can’t tell you
- Sound, gaming latency and reliability have not been measured or ranked. HDMI features only work if every piece of equipment in the chain supports them.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the powered speakers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klipsch The Fives |
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| Klipsch The Fives II |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Klipsch The Fives
Your TV has an ARC connection to spare, and your music source takes care of streaming already.
Furniture suits the shallower original cabinet, and you can live with RCA shared between phono and line.
See price & reviews on AmazonKlipsch The Fives II
A console needs to keep its HDMI input while the speakers use the TV eARC connection.
You want records and another RCA line source to stay plugged in, and you want network music built into the speakers.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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