Klipsch Just Upgraded Its Popular Bookshelf Speakers With Japanese Hi-Fi Engineering

The speakers combine old-school looks with modern versatility.

Pair of bookshelf speakers with wood veneer sides and black front panels on a long black cabinet under a wall-mounted TV.

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Published April 9, 2026

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In 2020, Klipsch introduced The Fives, a highly versatile powered bookshelf speaker system with a vintage-inspired design. It had numerous wired connections — in fact, it was the first powered speaker system with an HDMI ARC input, so you could use it as TV speakers (no AV receiver required) — and supported Bluetooth streaming.

In the years that followed, thanks to its popularity, the American loudspeaker icon introduced The Sevens and The Nines, which were essentially the same powered speaker system as The Fives, but larger and better-sounding. (The Nines being the biggest).

Fast forward to 2026, and as part of its 80th-anniversary celebrations, Klipsch has introduced second-generation versions of all three powered speaker systems in The Fives II, The Sevens II and The Nines II.

All three systems were announced at CES in January. As of April 2026, they’re finally shipping.

Klipsch’s Next-Gen Powered Speaker Systems

Black Klipsch speaker on a stand against a dark brick wall with a person reading in the foreground. — Klipsch has introduced second-generation versions of its three powered speaker systems: The Fives II, The Sevens Ii and The Nines II.

Upgraded with Wi-Fi streaming

The second-generation versions of each of these speaker systems look quite similar to the predecessors, but Klipsch made some big, big changes that apply to all three.

First, all three of these speaker systems now support Wi-Fi streaming. Instead of just Bluetooth, you’re able to stream higher-resolution audio (up to 24-bit/96kHz) via AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Qobuz Connect and Google Cast. Each is Roon Ready, too.

Person holding a mug sitting on a beige textured rug in front of a wooden coffee table with books and a remote. — Each speaker system is available in a third finish: red oak and white. Shown here: The Fives II.

Powered by Onkyo

Next, Klipsch overhauled the internals of each speaker system, too. The American audio maker partnered with Japanese AVR experts Onkyo — as of early 2025, the two are owned by the same parent company — so that all three are now powered by Onkyo’s electronics.

According to the press release, “the new models deliver Klipsch’s signature, legendary American sound with the breadth of connectivity that Klipsch customers expect — now in a fully optimized design that makes each model more reliable than ever.”

White and wood-finished Klipsch speaker on a black cabinet with books and a potted plant nearby. — Each system now supports Wi-Fi streaming, instead of just Bluetooth. Shown here: The Sevens II.

Dolby Atmos Ready

Naturally, these second-generation speakers are positioned as significantly better TV speakers. Each has updated connectivity, including HDMI 2.1 and HDMI eARC, and all support Dolby Atmos. The largest models, The Nines II, also support DTS:X.

The Sevens II and The Nines II also feature Dirac Live technology, which corrects and optimizes sound based on the room’s acoustics. This is done through a simple process in the Klipsch Connect Plus app.

Modern living room with black brick fireplace, two black speakers on stands, and a landscape photo above. — Each system also supports Dolby Atmos. Shown here: The Nines II.

Re-engineered acoustics

In addition to being powered by Onkyo, Klipsch reengineered the drivers of each speaker system, too. Each speaker features a new single-piece BMC baffle that integrates with that integrates its signature Tractrix-horn design.

According to the brand, this “helps remove unwanted resonances thanks to its denser and more rigid structure, while its curved radius further widens the soundstage by reducing diffraction.”

All three models feature the same 25mm titanium tweeter, but their Jet Carametallic woofers differ in size: 5.25-inch (The Fives II), 6.5-inch (The Sevens II) and 8-inch (The Nines II).

Modern living room with black brick fireplace, wooden floor, two speakers on stands, and a large cityscape photo above. — Each system comes with optional magnetic grilles. Shown here: The Nines II.

Turntable and desktop ready, too

In addition to the physical connections for hooking up to your TV, each of these powered speaker systems also has a built-in MM phono stage, so you can hook directly to your turntable. (If your turntable has a built-in phono preamp, there’s a line-level analog jack, too.)

Each system also has a USB-C audio input, so you can connect your Mac or PC and turn each of these speakers into a badass desktop hi-fi system.

Living room with a large flat-screen TV on a black media console, flanked by two speakers, a wooden coffee table with stacked books, and a potted plant. — After being announced in January, The Fives II, The Sevens II and The Nines II are now available.

Price and availability

In addition to the two finish options of their first-generation predecessors, which were either black or white/walnut, Klipsch has introduced a third option in red oak/white for The Fives II, The Sevens II and The Nines II.

Unsurprisingly, each powered speaker system is more expensive than its predecessor. The Fives II cost $1,400. The Sevens II cost $2,000. And The Nines II cost $2,400.

The systems are available to order now, with shipping starting mid-April.

Pair of white Klipsch bookshelf speakers with black drivers and horn-loaded tweeters.

About the Author: Tucker Bowe has been on Gear Patrol’s editorial team since 2014. With a passion for consumer tech and hi-fi, he tracks everything from headphones and turntables to smartphones and wearables. If it lights up or makes noise, he probably covers it.

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