The Klipsch The One II is a vintage-style Bluetooth speaker with a similar design to the Klipsch The Three II, though it's a bit smaller in size. It can get pretty loud, and there's an AUX input you can use to wire older devices to the speaker. It has a boomy sound profile that adds some punch to the bass, though it can muddy vocals and lead instruments. Unfortunately, it also lacks low-bass, so you can't feel the deep thump and rumble in bass-heavy music, and there aren't any sound customization features like a graphic EQ or presets to tweak its sound to your liking.
Our Verdict
The Klipsch The One II is alright for music. It has a boomy sound profile that adds some punch to the bass, though it can also muddy vocals and lead instruments. That said, like most speakers its size, it lacks the thump and rumble in the low-bass range that fans of bass-heavy music like hip-hop and EDM tend to enjoy. Unfortunately, there aren't any sound customization features you can use to tweak its sound to your liking. However, this stereo speaker can still get pretty loud, though there's some compression present at max volume that can affect the quality of your audio during louder listening sessions.
- Gets loud.
- AUX input.
- No graphic EQ.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Klipsch The One II isn't bad for watching videos and movies. It has low Bluetooth latency with iOS and Android devices, so your audio is in sync with the visuals on your screen. That said, some apps compensate for latency differently, and your experience may vary. The speaker can also get pretty loud, though its boomy sound profile can muddy dialogue. Unfortunately, its directivity is disappointing, resulting in a narrow and directional-sounding soundstage.
- Gets loud.
- Low iOS and Android latency.
- No graphic EQ.
- Compression present at max volume.
The Klipsch The One II is unremarkable for podcasts. Its boomy sound profile can muddy voices and dialogue, and there aren't any sound customization features to tweak its sound to your liking. It also isn't very portable due to its wired design, making it bothersome to transport from room to room in your home. While it can get pretty loud, there's some compression present at max volume that can affect the quality of your audio at louder volumes. Its directivity is also sub-par, so you can't hear your audio as clearly from all angles.
- Gets loud.
- AUX input.
- No graphic EQ.
- Compression present at max volume.
The Klipsch The One II doesn't support voice assistants.
The Klipsch The One II isn't designed to be used outdoors and needs to remain plugged into a power outlet for it to work.
Changelog
- Updated Nov 27, 2023: Added market comparison with the JBL Authentics 200 in the Voice Assistant box.
- Updated Sep 18, 2023: Added market comparison for the Klipsch Groove XXL in the Portability box.
- Updated Jan 27, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Jan 25, 2022: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Klipsch The One II comes in two color variants: 'Walnut' and 'Matte Black'. We tested the 'Walnut' variant, you can see its label here. We expect both variants to perform similarly.
If you see any other variants of this speaker, let us know in the discussions, and we'll update our review.
Popular Speaker Comparisons
The Klipsch The One II is a similar speaker to the Klipsch The Three II, though it's smaller and doesn't feature Phono Pre-Amp and ground inputs to connect it to a turntable. Like the Three II, it can get pretty loud and comes with an AUX input you can use to wire it to your devices. Both speakers have similar sound profiles, though vocals and lead instruments can sound slightly less muddy on the One II. Unfortunately, there aren't any sound customization features to tweak its sound to your liking. Also, unlike other home speakers we've tested, it doesn't support voice assistants and can't be connected to your Wi-Fi network.
Check out our recommendations for the best home speakers, the best smart speakers, and the best Bluetooth speakers for bass.
The Klipsch The One II and the Klipsch The Three II are similar speakers. The One II is smaller, and its sound profile's mid-range is slightly better balanced, resulting in vocals and lead instruments that sound more present in the mix. That said, the Three II can get louder and features Phono Pre-Amp and ground inputs you can use to connect a turntable to the speaker. It also supports USB Audio, meaning you can wire your devices to the speaker via its USB-B port.
The Amazon Echo Gen 4 is a better speaker than the Klipsch The One II overall. The Amazon speaker offers outstanding voice assistant support with Alexa built-in. It has better directivity, resulting in a wider-sounding soundstage. It also features bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound to your liking. That said, the Klipsch can get louder than the Amazon speaker and has lower Bluetooth Latency with iOS and Android devices.
The Ultimate Ears WONDERBOOM 2 and the Klipsch The One II are designed for different uses. The Ultimate Ears is a significantly smaller and more portable Bluetooth speaker you can bring along with you on the go. It offers a more neutral sound profile and a more open and natural-sounding soundstage. It's also rated IP67 for dust and water resistance, certifying it to be dust-tight and immersible in up to a meter of water for 30 minutes. That said, the Klipsch is a wired speaker designed for use at home. It can produce a more extended low-bass and can get louder too. It also features an AUX input to wire your devices to the speaker.
The Sonos Five is a better speaker than the Klipsch The One II. The Sonos offers a bright sound profile out-of-the-box and can produce a deeper and more extended low-bass. It also has better directivity, and there are bass and treble adjustments in its Sonos S2 companion app to customize the speaker's sound to your liking. That said, the Klipsch can get louder than the Sonos with less compression present at max volume, so your audio sounds cleaner at louder volume levels. Also, while the Sonos only supports Wi-Fi, the Klipsch only supports Bluetooth.
Test Results
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