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Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers

Until now, the partnership between Klipsch and McLaren Racing has focused solely on headphones, but now they are presenting active speaker systems for the first time, in the form of the new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition.

With the new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers, the US speaker and headphone specialist Klipsch is expanding its partnership with McLaren Racing. For the first time, active loudspeaker systems are presented that are completely designed for the branding of the Formula 1 racing team.

Up to now, this partnership has focused primarily on headphones, but now these active speaker systems will also have very special features that go beyond a special design.

Partnership between Klipsch and McLaren Racing

It was in January 2020 when Klipsch announced its partnership with McLaren Racing – sempre-audio.at reported. The main aim of this partnership was, of course, to address an even broader customer base with the Klipsch brand. The logo of the US company has been prominently displayed on McLaren Racing’s Formula 1 cars since the 2020 Formula 1 season. Klipsch also supplies McLaren Racing with headphones and portable audio.

But that’s not all, both companies emphasised at the time that the agreement concluded was intended to go beyond a mere marketing cooperation and was designed to last for several years.

Together, they wanted to design solutions, especially in the area of personal audio devices, which would combine the strengths of Klipsch and McLaren Racing.

As already mentioned, it was first headphones that were presented under the joint flag, namely the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless Sport Earphone McLaren Edition, followed by the Klipsch T5 II True Wireless ANC McLaren Edition.

Now, for the first time, they are venturing into speaker systems, using Klipsch The Fives Powered Speakers as a base.

Improved version of the Klipsch The Fives Powered Speakers

The new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers are not just an adapted version of the previously available model in terms of design, but are in fact an improved version with some very important features.

Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers – adapted design

Of course, the two solutions are similar at first glance; both are comparatively compact, but by no means dainty active speaker systems in the form of so-called bookshelf speakers.

With dimensions of 304.8 x 165.1 x 234.95 mm, the speakers fit easily into any living environment, and weigh in at 5.35 kg for the active speaker and 4.85 kg for the passive speaker.

The design of the new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers is largely the same as the previous standard model, with a housing made of MDF and finished entirely in black. The aluminium control panel on the top has been anodised in orange, and the horn driver of the speakers also has an orange accent.

Intermediates for the right grip

Another detail is not immediately visible, but is hidden on the underside of the speakers. This is where a special rubber pad is used, rather than simple rubber feet. In fact, the rubber coating is based on the structure of a Formula 1 tyre, although the choice is not for slicks, but for intermediates. As is appropriate, these are marked with a green stripe…

More power and performance

From a technical point of view, the most striking difference between the Klipsch The Fives Powered Speakers and the new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers is probably the woofer, which has been completely redesigned by Klipsch engineers.

As is usual in Formula 1 cars, a carbon fibre diaphragm is used, which has an incredible tensile strength and an extremely low mass. Everything has been done to achieve maximum performance through a wide excursion with minimal partial vibrations. The bass drivers are supported by rear-mounted bass reflex systems.

For the tweeter, of course, they relied on a 1-inch titanium tweeter with a Klipsch Tractrix horn, with the manufacturer promising accurate, deep and powerful bass for this combination, but equally clear mids and detailed highs.

Similar to a Formula 1 car, the new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers are said to have plenty of power, with two 60-watt units for the woofers and two 20-watt units for the tweeters. Of course, Klipsch emphasises that the system can deliver a peak power of 320 watts, as it sounds much better than a sober total power of 160 watts RMS.

  • Foto © Klipsch | Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers
  • Foto © Klipsch | Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers
  • Foto © Klipsch | Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers
  • Foto © Klipsch | Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers

Bluetooth, HDMI, USB and phono preamplifier.

When it comes to the available connections, nothing is lacking, in fact the new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers are equipped with all the options that a modern audio system should offer.

This starts with an analogue input in the form of a pair of RCA sockets, whereby this can also be used as a phono input if desired, and thus with a downstream phono preamplifier for connecting a record player. However, it should be borne in mind that the phono preamplifier is only designed for turntables equipped with MM cartridge systems.

Another analogue input is a 3.5 mm stereo mini jack and digital audio sources can be connected via an optical S/PDIF interface.

The Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers also have an HDMI connection, which is ideal for a TV set, as ARC, i.e. an audio return channel, and HDMI CEC for central control with just one remote control are supported here.

A PC or Mac can be connected directly as a source via USB, and smartphones and tablets can be used particularly easily for music playback via Bluetooth 5.0. Of course, the complete variety of different streaming apps is also available, regardless of which online provider you have subscribed to. Incidentally, the signal processing is carried out with up to 24 bits and 192 kHz.

The two speakers – the active and the passive part of the duo – are connected to each other via a special cable, whereby the cable of the Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers naturally also comes with an orange textile jacket.

It should also be mentioned that an external subwoofer can also be connected if desired; the corresponding connection is available in the form of an RCA output.

Prices and availability

The new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers are available immediately from specialist dealers. In addition to the mains cable and the 4 m long 4-wire connection cable for the two speakers, the scope of delivery also includes a USB Type-B to USB Type-A cable with a length of 1.5 m as well as an HDMI cable with a length of also 1.5 m. A matching infrared control is also included. Also included is a matching infrared remote control. The recommended retail price is listed at € 1,499.

Getting to the point

For some time now, the US specialist Klipsch has been offering very attractive active loudspeaker systems with its Klipsch The Fives Powered Speakers, which are not only typical Klipsch in terms of sound, but above all shine with a multitude of connections, so that this solution can function as a universal complete system. The new Klipsch The Fives McLaren Edition Powered Speakers takes this system as a basis, but equips it with even better features and presents it with a very appealing design inspired by McLaren Racing.

PRODUCTKLIPSCH THE FIVES MCLAREN EDITION POWERED SPEAKERS
Price€ 1.499,-
BRANDKLIPSCH
ManufacturerKlipsch
Distribution AustriaAudio Tuning Vertriebs GmbH
Distribution GermanyOsiris Audio AG
Distribution Switzerlandnovis electronics AG
More about this manufacturer at HiFi Blog
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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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