I link to products I like. If you buy from a link in this post, I may get a commission. See my disclosure.

Teufel System 5 Speaker
Package Review

Teufel System 5 Speaker Package Review

When I was given the opportunity to review the Teufel System 5 home cinema speaker system, I was particularly interested because I had never actually heard any Teufel speakers before.

I had heard the name of Teufel in passing but had never heard any of their products - and even reviews were relatively hard to find (in English anyway).

When I looked into it a bit more, I found that they were a German speaker manufacturer with over 30 years experience of producing speakers - and they appeared to have a good reputation in the German market. However they didn't seem to have ventured much outside of Germany - which is why I hadn't come across them I guess.

The unique selling point of Teufel is that their speakers aren't available to buy from general audio-visual shops and internet retailers. What Teufel do is they sell their systems direct from their factory. By cutting out the middle-man, they aim to provide high-quality speakers at a low cost to the customer.

You will find that Teufel not only provide a wide range of speakers, from hi-fi stereo speakers to complete surround systems - but they also have various wireless audio products, media players and headphones.

Teufel System 5 Details

However, back to the reason for this review, the Teufel System 5 home cinema system. This package is a 5.1 surround sound system that has components which are THX Select 2 certified. This certification means that these speakers have met certain standards defined by THX, and should therefore suggest a system that is of a relatively high standard.

The whole package isn't Select 2 certified, as this requires some extra features such as two subwoofers. However, if you wish, you can buy the slightly more expensive Teufel System 5 THX Select 2 - which is essentially the same components as the standard System 5, but with two subwoofers and slightly higher specification dipole surrounds.

Teufel System 5 THX Select 2Teufel System 5 THX Select 2

There is a recommended room size of 15 to 35 square metres for these speakers, which is a useful guideline to those wondering if the relatively small satellites will produce enough power for their room. As you can see however, this system will fill a decent-sized room better than many satellite/subwoofer speaker combinations.

Teufel say there were two main aims of the System 5 - to make a multiple-speaker system that didn't take up too much room, but which would also satisfy the demands of movie and hi-fi enthusiasts.

There are many speaker systems which can do an adequate job of making a movie soundtrack sound impressive - but it's another matter entirely to be able to reproduce music to a high standard too.

So how does the Teufel System 5 fare?

Firstly, let's take a look at the specifications of this system and find out exactly what comes with the package.

System Specification



Satellite Speaker S 500 FCR THX Select 2







Dipole Speaker S 50 D



Teufel Dipole Speaker S 50 DTeufel Dipole Speaker S 50 D





Subwoofer S 5000 SW THX Select 2







Testing The Performance

So now we have taken a look at the speakers that make up this system, how does the Teufel System 5 actually perform?

Teufel claim that the System 5 should perform well for both movies and music, which is often a difficult thing for a speaker system to achieve. However, a 5.1 system that is THX-certified suggests that movies are the main target for this setup, so let's first take a look at how it gets on at reproducing soundtracks.

Movie Performance

The first thing that becomes clear when using the System 5 for the first time, is how easy it is to fill the room with sound. The speakers provide a wide soundfield, possibly due to the wide, flat-diaphragm design of the front three speakers, and this makes it easy to setup the system to compliment the width of the audio soundtrack.

Unlike some systems, you don't need to be sat exactly in the middle of the speakers to get the full effect of the panning effects from left and right, and this should also scale up to larger rooms too. Incidentally, the System 5 is recommended for rooms up to 35 m² - so there is plenty of power there if you have the right amplifier.

The rear dipole speakers are also effective at diffusing the sound, and they dovetail nicely with the front satellites. You get an excellent surround effect in the room without too much effort in placing the speakers in exactly the right positions.

Teufel Subwoofer S 5000 SW THX Select 2 - Bottom ViewTeufel Subwoofer S 5000 SW THX Select 2 - Bottom View

The subwoofer, as expected from a beast like the S 5000, has the ability to lift you from your seat when you get to some really low frequency effects (sorry neighbours). The 80 Hz crossover works well with the satellite speakers, and it's hard to tell if the sound is coming from the front or subwoofer speakers - which is a good sign and indicates that the system is well designed to work together.

The subwoofer actually works really well, and gives a tight bass sound that jumps out with plenty of power when required. At first I thought the bass sub was a bit 'polite' and reserved for such a large subwoofer, but after living with it for a while I realised it was because it complemented the satellite speakers so well. It was doing its job without any fuss, but would still rattle the windows when required by the soundtrack.

The front satellites provide a detailed sound which are a cut above many 5.1 satellite speakers, although they may sound a bit too clinical for some tastes. The 130mm woofers are large enough to give a reasonable weight to voices and sound effects without relying too much on the subwoofer.

All in all, I liked the performance of this system with movies - and it proved it can handle subtle soundtracks and effects-driven epics alike.

Music Performance

So how was the System 5 when it came to reproducing music?

Well, up to a point, pretty good.

As already stated the front satellites do provide a fairly detailed sound and, unless you have a reasonably good stereo setup, you will hear many music tracks as you've never heard them before.

It should be pointed out that the speakers can't really operate on their own without the subwoofer (well, they can, but it won't sound that great!). This really is a '.1' system and needs the subwoofer to round off the sound and give a full frequency response. The THX specification means that the speakers are specifically designed to work together.

The subwoofer responds very quickly with music and, as with movies, it works well with the satellites to give a full sound.

Teufel Satellite Speaker S 500 FCR THX Select 2 Rear ViewTeufel Satellite Speaker S 500 FCR THX Select 2 Rear View

The downside is the slight harshness in upper-mid frequencies that was slightly evident with movies, but is emphasized more with music - although more with some tracks than others. The satellite speakers can get very sibilant at certain frequencies and this is very evident with things like female vocals.

A few Eddi Reader tracks I tried were especially sibilant on certain words, and this would prove annoying if you were listening carefully. However, put on some Pink Floyd and it didn't sound too bad.

I managed to smooth out some of this sibilance using the parametric EQ on my AV receiver - however, just bear in mind this isn't something most people would be comfortable with doing, and may not even be possible depending on the equipment you are using.

This system doesn't have the smoothness of higher-end music systems - but then to be fair that's not where it is aimed. Even with a warm-sounding Yamaha receiver, you could still class the sound as bright, and so the choice of amplifier used with the system may be important.

I also didn't have a THX-certified AV receiver which may be slightly unfair on these THX-rated speakers.


Overall, the Teufel System 5 THX home cinema system is a pretty good performer.

I liked its performance with movies, and this is where the system really comes into its own. A detailed sound, excellent surround sound placement and room-shaking bass are what you can expect from a 5.1 system which really works 'as-one' to produce an exciting sound for movies.

It will easily handle all the low-rumblings of your favourite action-packed blockbuster, plus has enough detail to do justice to a more subtle soundtrack with atmospheric soundscapes or acoustic-based music.

If music performance is an important consideration for you, then you may need to consider what other options you have at this price point. That's not to say the System 5 can't handle music relatively well - but if you are an audiophile then you may need something with a little more smoothness and refinement. It depends on the type of music you play and your listening habits really.

The good news for those interested in this Teufel system (or any Teufel system for that matter) is that you don't have to take my word for it.

Teufel Free Home Trial

As a retailer that operates direct from the factory, Teufel offer an impressive 8 week risk-free home trial. You can order the speaker system from their website and once you have it delivered to your home, you can trial the system for 8 weeks. If you decide against keeping the speakers, you can return the system and you will receive a refund of the amount you paid, minus the shipping cost to send it back.

It's a tempting offer, as there is no substitute for hearing a speaker system in the exact room that you will be using. Your room acoustics can make a big difference to the sound of an audio setup - and at least you will know before you buy the thing!

Not only that, but Teufel offer a whopping 12-year guarantee on the housing, chassis and diplexers of the loudspeaker boxes - and a 2 year warranty on the electronic equipment, components and parts.

If, like me, you've never heard any Teufel speakers before, then they are a manufacturer that are worth considering if you are looking for the best speaker system for your home.

Home Cinema Guide Logo

About Home Cinema Guide
