American loudspeaker icon Klipsch is back with a familiar trio—now sharpened, tuned, and turned up to eleven. The beloved active speaker systems The Fives, The Sevens, and The Nines have all been refreshed and relaunched with a simple but telling suffix: II. And no, this isn’t just a cosmetic update.
Behind the scenes, Klipsch has teamed up closely with sister brand Onkyo, bringing a significantly upgraded amplifier platform to all three models. The result? More power, more control, and a noticeably more refined sound. The new lineup is set to hit stores in spring 2026.
The Fives II, Sevens II & Nines II
The new generation made its public debut at CES, fittingly as part of Klipsch’s 80th anniversary celebration. The promise is clear: classic Klipsch horn-loaded energy, now backed by modern electronics and smarter engineering.
Klipsch says the entire acoustic platform has been reworked. All three speakers feature a new BMC baffle combined with the brand’s signature Tractrix horn, improving efficiency, widening dispersion, and sharpening detail. Redesigned woofers aim to deliver tighter, more authoritative bass—without losing that lively Klipsch punch.
Size
While the DNA is shared, the three models scale clearly in ambition:
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The Fives II uses a 13 cm Jet Cerametallic woofer
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The Sevens II steps up to a 16.5 cm Cerametallic woofer
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The Nines II goes big with a 20 cm Cerametallic woofer
All models share a 25 mm titanium tweeter, ensuring consistency in treble character across the range.
This new generation isn’t locked into one role. Klipsch positions the speakers as equally at home in a pure two-channel hi-fi setup or as the heart of a modern AV system. Dolby Atmos support is available across the lineup, delivering a more immersive presentation—especially when paired with a TV via HDMI eARC.
At the top of the range, The Nines II adds DTS:X, while both The Sevens II and The Nines II feature Dirac Live room correction, allowing the speakers to adapt intelligently to your listening space.
Streaming and connectivity
Wireless streaming support is extensive, covering Google Cast, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, and Qobuz Connect, alongside standard Bluetooth. All models are Roon Ready and support hi-res audio playback up to 24-bit/96kHz.
The Sevens II and Nines II can also connect wirelessly between left and right speakers—similar in concept to systems like the KEF LSX II—reducing cable clutter without sacrificing performance.
Physical connections are equally generous: HDMI 2.1 with eARC, optical, coaxial, analogue inputs, and a dedicated subwoofer output. Vinyl lovers are covered too, as all models include a built-in phono stage. The Nines II goes even further with balanced XLR inputs, a rare sight in this category.
Classic Klipsch control
Control is handled via the new Klipsch Connect Plus app, giving access to EQ, input selection, and Dirac room calibration where available. Prefer something more tactile? Klipsch hasn’t forgotten you. Each speaker features metal control knobs on the top panel, along with physical source buttons and a bundled remote control.
Vinny Bonacorsi, COO of Klipsch, sums it up neatly:
“The Fives II, Sevens II, and Nines II combine Paul W. Klipsch’s legendary American horn speaker sound with a new Onkyo-developed electronics platform to create a high-performance speaker system that’s bigger, clearer, and more immersive than ever before.”
Availability
The new Klipsch II series will be available in red oak, walnut, or ebony, with deliveries starting in spring 2026. Pricing has not yet been announced—but if the originals are anything to go by, these will be among the most feature-packed active speakers in their class.
Classic horns. Modern brains. And finally, electronics that keep up with the sound.
