Klipsch The Nines Hi-Fi Bookshelf speaker Matte Black

Klipsch The Nines Matte Black — Flagship Powered Bookshelf Speakers with Built-In Amplification

The Klipsch The Nines Matte Black are the largest model in Klipsch's Heritage Inspired powered speaker line, engineered to replace a traditional amplifier-and-speaker stack with a single self-contained hi-fi system. Each cabinet pairs a 1" titanium Linear Travel Suspension tweeter mounted in a 90° x 90° Tractrix horn with an 8" long-throw fiber-composite woofer, driven by a custom bi-amplified module that delivers 240 W RMS (480 W peak) — 100 W to each woofer and 20 W to each tweeter. The Klipsch The Nines Matte Black is a turnkey powered speaker pair for listeners who want full-range, room-filling sound without a separate AVR.

What Sets The Nines Apart in the Powered Speaker Category

Two design choices separate this model from typical desktop powered speakers. First, the 24-bit/192 kHz DAC is built directly into the primary speaker and applies to every digital input — HDMI-ARC, optical and USB-B — so hi-res files from a PC or TV reach the drivers without compression. Second, the rear-firing Tractrix port is engineered with custom inner flares that reduce air turbulence, allowing the 8" woofer to reach down to 34 Hz cleanly. A switchable phono preamp on the RCA input, a dedicated mono-RCA subwoofer output and the Klipsch Connect app round out a feature set aimed at vinyl listeners, TV owners and streaming users alike.

Driver Technology and Acoustic Performance

The horn-loaded tweeter and long-throw woofer combination is the core of the Klipsch sound. The vented titanium LTS diaphragm lowers distortion, while the square Tractrix horn aims high-frequency energy directly at the listener for a wider, more stable soundstage. The 8" woofer's high-excursion design, paired with DSP and bi-amplification, produces bass that remains controlled at high volumes — a key reason The Nines are rated to a 115 dB maximum SPL.

• Tweeter: 1" titanium LTS diaphragm on a 90° x 90° Tractrix horn — focused highs with reduced room reflections
• Woofer: 8" long-throw fiber-composite cone with rear-firing Tractrix port — extended bass response down to 34 Hz
• Frequency Response: 34 Hz – 25 kHz (±3 dB) — full-range coverage without a subwoofer
• Max SPL: 115 dB — concert-level headroom for larger rooms

Built-In Amplification and Hi-Res DAC

Because the amplifier lives inside the primary speaker, no external receiver is needed. The bi-amp configuration uses ultra-low-noise amplifiers tuned specifically for the driver complement, and the 24-bit/192 kHz DAC supports hi-res PCM playback from a connected computer, TV or optical source. The primary speaker includes an L/R switch, so it can be placed on either side of the listening position.

• Total System Power: 240 W RMS / 480 W peak — 100 W per woofer, 20 W per tweeter
• DAC: 24-bit / 192 kHz across HDMI-ARC, optical and USB-B — true hi-res decoding without a separate unit
• Wireless: Bluetooth 5.0 — streaming from phones, tablets and computers

Connectivity, Cabinet and App Control

The Matte Black cabinet is finished in genuine wood veneer with metal control knobs on top of the primary speaker, magnetic grilles, and integrated cork pads that protect surfaces and decouple the enclosure. The Klipsch Connect app unlocks custom EQ (Flat, Vocal, Bass, Rock, Custom), Dynamic Bass loudness correction, Night Mode and speaker-placement compensation (-6 dB corner, -3 dB wall, 0 dB other).

• Inputs: HDMI-ARC, optical, USB-B, RCA (line/phono MM), 3.5 mm aux — covers TV, PC, turntable and portable sources
• Subwoofer Output: Mono-RCA — pairs with any powered sub for a 2.1 system
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 243 × 492 × 398 mm — substantial bookshelf footprint
• Weight: 12.9 kg active / 12.2 kg passive — solid, resonance-controlled MDF enclosure

Who The Klipsch The Nines Matte Black Are For

The Klipsch The Nines Matte Black is the right choice for listeners who want a single pair of speakers to anchor both a music system and a TV setup, without adding a separate amplifier or AV receiver. Vinyl owners benefit from the built-in phono preamp and RCA input, while TV and PC users get clean hi-res audio straight from HDMI-ARC or USB-B. The 240 W bi-amplified output and 115 dB max SPL make these speakers well suited to medium and large rooms, and the subwoofer output lets users extend the system into a 2.1 arrangement when deeper bass is needed. Audiophiles seeking a powered, all-in-one solution with classic Klipsch dynamics will find The Nines a strong flagship option in this category.

Klipsch Heritage and the Powered Speaker Line

Klipsch has built its reputation since 1946 on horn-loaded speaker design, and The Nines carry that heritage into the modern powered-speaker category. The Heritage Inspired series — which also includes The Fives and The Sevens — pairs mid-century aesthetics with contemporary amplification and connectivity, and The Nines sit at the top of that line as the largest, most powerful model. Real wood veneer, metal control hardware and cork decoupling reflect the brand's focus on both acoustic performance and build quality.