Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers
The first and only powered speakers worthy of both the Klipsch and McLaren names, The Fives McLaren Edition ups the ante on performance and design. An all-new turbocharged, high-res amplifier powers a meticulously engineered carbon fibre woofer, all in a hand-painted super matte black cabinet.
Just like today's boundary-pushing F1 cars, The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers feature the supreme strength and ultra-low mass of carbon fibre for enhanced performance. Klipsch engineers designed the high-excursion carbon fibre woofer cone from scratch to ensure maximum output with minimal cone break up - for detailed, deep, dynamic bass and decreased distortion.
The Fives are part of Klipsch's Heritage Wireless series and can play almost anything. Connect your turntable or other analogue source, play your TV sound via HDMI-ARC and stream music via Bluetooth from your phone or USB from your computer. These powered speakers have it all.
The Fives powered speakers by Klipsch are ready for anything. They have a built-in phono amp for your turntable, and they're Bluetooth-enabled for streaming from your smartphone or tablet. There's a USB port for great computer sound, and a stereo minijack for just about anything else.
The speakers also feature an HDMI-ARC audio input, so you can run digital sound from your TV directly to the Fives — an ideal setup for watching videos in a bedroom or guest room. A mono subwoofer output lets you add a powered sub to make movie soundtracks really come to life.
Custom Engineered Amplifiers: The Fives powered monitors deliver room-filling sound without taking up much space thanks to built-in amplifiers that are custom-engineered for these high performance speakers, maximizing output and sound quality. The Fives incorporate ultra-low noise amplifiers that are custom designed to maximize system performance and eliminate the need for external amplification.
Two-Way Driver Design: The Klipsch Fives utilize a two-way driver design with a 1" titanium tweeter mated to Tractrix Horn and a 4.5" long-throw carbon-fibre-composite woofer with a rubber surround. The Tractrix horn-loaded 1" titanium dome tweeter provides a natural, lifelike sound, while the square Tractrix horn offers up a 90° x 90° dispersion pattern for a broader sound-stage. The 4.5" long-throw fibre-composite woofer delivers accurate, detailed midrange & bass performance.
True Connectivity: The Fives are the first powered monitors on the market with HDMI-ARC to connect directly to a TV for high-resolution, discrete 2-channel TV sound. The Fives include a phono preamp, Bluetooth® 5, HDMI-ARC, digital optical, analogue RCA and USB inputs, and a subwoofer output.
Bass Reflex Cabinet: The Klipsch Fives employ a bass reflex cabinet with a rear-firing port for greater efficiency and bigger bass response. The cabinets are constructed of MDF and finished with a walnut veneer. Magnetic grilles finish off the speakers' look and feel.
Dynamic Bass EQ: As the human ear perceives frequencies differently with variations in output, The Fives will dynamically match the ear's ability to hear lower frequencies. Typically, only available with audio/video receivers, dynamic volume is a first for Klipsch powered monitors. What you get is powerful bass whether the listening volume is low, cranked up or somewhere in between.
Bluetooth Audio Streaming: The Klipsch Fives tabletop stereo system features Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology so you can enjoy streaming online music services, internet radio, or music content stored on your Bluetooth-enabled smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer. Pairing your Bluetooth source device with the Fives is extremely easy; just choose Bluetooth on the Fives and select "Klipsch The Fives" on your Bluetooth device. The speakers will only pair with one device at a time. Once paired, the Fives will automatically re-connect with your device when in wireless range (up to 10 metres). Note: You will still control your music from your Bluetooth source device (not the speaker).
USB-B Input: The Klipsch Fives speaker system features USB (type-B) input on the back of the "Right" speaker for connecting your Windows PC or Mac computer/laptop. Through the Fives' USB connection, you are able to play music files (up to 24-bit/96kHz) stored on your Windows PC or Mac computer/laptop through the powered speaker system. Basic playback control (Play/Pause & Previous/Next Track) can be done from the included remote control. Advanced music browsing and song/artist info are still handled from your computer. You will need to install a dedicated USB driver from the Klipsch web site onto your Windows PC before connecting your computer (Mac computers will not need this dedicated driver). Note: There is also a rear-panel USB-A port which is used for service, software, and firmware updates only.
Optical Digital Input: The Klipsch Fives are fitted with an optical (Toslink) digital input on the back of the "Right" speaker for connection to a digital audio device like your TV, Blu-ray, or CD player. The speaker's optical digital input will accept 2 channel stereo PCM only (up to 24-bit/96kHz).
Aux Input: The Klipsch Fives also features a 3.5mm analogue input, so you can connect practically any audio source via either a 3.5mm-to-3.5mm audio cable or an RCA-to-3.5mm audio cable (sold separately). Connect your portable music player, TV, or any audio source with an analogue audio output or headphone jack. The Aux input is located on the back of the "Right" speaker.
Line or Phono Analogue Input: In addition, the Klipsch Fives is equipped with a stereo RCA input that can be used as a Line or Phono (MM) input. There is a switch on the back-panel that lets you select between line-level or the built-in phono (MM) preamp. Connect your CD player, Blu-ray player, Turntable, and other audio sources with an analogue audio output. The Line/Phono input and switch is located on the back of the "Right" speaker.
Subwoofer Output: The Fives also include a subwoofer output so you can easily add a powered sub to the system. The subwoofer output consists of a mono-RCA jack and is located on the back of the "Right" speaker.
Controls: The Klipsch Fives come with an IR remote control for wireless operation of the speaker system. The remote provides the following control functions - Power on/off, Source selection, Volume up/down, Sub level, and LED illumination. There is also Volume & Source Selection controls on the top-panel of the "Right" speaker.
Detachable AC Power Cord: The included 1.5 metre detachable AC power cord plugs into the back of the "Right" speaker and then into an AC wall outlet, surge protector, or power conditioner.
Proprietary Speaker Cable: The included 6 metre proprietary speaker cable connects the Klipsch Fives' powered speaker (Right) and slave speaker (Left) together for power and audio signal.
Klipsch Connect App: There is now a dedicated Klipsch Connect App which you use to fine tune the sound of your Klipsch The Fives Powered Speakers. It has a number of great features including the following.
- 3-Band EQ to set Bass, Mid-Range, & Treble
- Save Custom Settings
- Subwoofer Volume Control & Speaker Placement Control
- Update the Speakers over the Air without a Flash Drive
- Product Firmware Updates
- One-Tap Access to Support
Klipsch The Fives Mclaren Edition Powered Speakers Review
"Overall then, Klipsch's new McLaren Edition is a worthy 'tune up' for The Fives. I really liked it, and even cynical old me was rather taken by the fancy paint job and other stylistic tweaks. The product is easy to use and bolstered by a new version of the app that's handy to have around. My only criticism at the price is that it's not network-capable, so the streaming only comes via Bluetooth; this might be an issue for some but not for others. Well worth an audition then, especially if you're a rock or dance music fan." StereoNet
Our Take On Klipsch The Fives Mclaren Edition Powered Speakers
The Fives are some of the most versatile powered speakers available and now, if you're a Formula 1 fan, you can have Klipsch The Fives with McLaren colours, accents and logo. These would certainly not be called visually shy and retiring speakers but considering they are Klipsch that really isn't such a bad thing. The McLaren updates, including a new carbon-fibre-composite bass driver, are actually rather well considered and change the look from heritage to modern if the old fashioned look of the normal Fives isn't your thing. Get into some Formula 1 style today.
Main Features & Specifications
- Design: Powered Speakers with Bluetooth, HDMI-ARC, Digital & Analogue Inputs
- Special McLaren branding and a newly designed carbon-fibre-composite bass driver
- 25mm (1") titanium tweeter matched with a Tractrix® horn
- 114mm (4.5") long-throw fibre-composite woofer
- 192kHz/24-bit DAC (digital to analogue converter)
- 2-channel PCM only
- Bluetooth® technology for music streaming with compatible devices
- Built-in phono preamp
- RCA stereo analogue audio input (selectable Line in/Phono)
- Switch for selecting phono or line input
- HDMI-ARC input for connecting your TV
- Optical digital audio input (digital optical cable included)
- USB Type B input for connecting your Mac or PC (USB A-to-USB B cable included)
- Stereo minijack input for portables
- Tactile metal control knobs and switches
- Real wood veneer
- RCA mono output for connecting an optional powered subwoofer
- Remote Control
General
- Max Acoustic Output: 109 dB (1M stereo pair)
- High Frequency Drivers: 1" (25.4mm) titanium tweeters on Tractrix® horns (each speaker)
- Woofer: 4.5" (114mm) long-throw carbon-fibre-composite woofer (each speaker)
- Port: Rear-firing bass-reflex port
- Power: 60W Low Frequencies, 20W High frequencies, 160W Total System Power (320W Peak)
- Frequency Response: 50Hz - 25kHz
- Dynamic Bass Extension: 46Hz @ 35% Volume
- Inputs
- Bluetooth®
- HDMI-ARC
- 3.5mm miniplug (analogue)
- Phono pre-amp / RCA Analogue switchable
- USB Type B
- Optical
- Outputs
- Subwoofer output
- Included Accessories: McLaren braided 4 metre 4-conductor speaker cable (for R to L connection), USB Type B to USB Type A cable, 1.5 metre HDMI Cable, Remote Control (with 2 x AAA Batteries), McLaren braided 2 metre AC Power Cable
- Finish: Matte Black with McLaren accents & logo
- Dimensions (WxHxD): 165 x 305 x 235mm
- Weight: Right Speaker: 5.35kg, Left Speaker: 4.85kg
- Manufacturer's Warranty: 1 Year
Note: Features & Specifications Subject To Change Without Notice. E&OE