Short answer: the Klipsch The Nines for better sound quality, the Edifier R2850DB for the lower price. The Klipsch The Nines ranks #28 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers at $1349.99. The Edifier R2850DB ranks #32 at $424.99, $925 cheaper.
On the Klipsch The Nines side: Erin calls these his favorite Klipsch speaker he has heard. Set against that: The app’s flat setting leaves the treble elevated, and Erin preferred a -2dB tweeter trim.
The case for the Edifier R2850DB: 3 way speaker. The tradeoff: Quite large and heavy.
Buy the Klipsch The Nines if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Edifier R2850DB if the price matters more than sound quality.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Edifier R2850DB. It ranks near the bottom of the 40 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch The Nines | Edifier R2850DB | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,349.99 | $424.99 |
| Ranked | #28 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #32 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 8" high-excursion fiber-composite woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| Output Power | 240W total (480W peak; 100W LF + 20W HF per powered speaker) | 75w RMS Per Speaker |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC, Bluetooth 5.0, phono/line RCA, 3.5mm, USB, optical | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Dimensions | 19.13"H x 9.5"W x 13.38"D | 18.1"H x 10.1"W x 12.4"D (459.7 x 256.5 x 315 mm) |
| Weight | 28.4 lbs primary, 27.0 lbs secondary | 50.7 lbs / 23 kg |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB (measured at 0.30V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Frequency Response | 34Hz - 25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) | 42Hz-20KHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Max SPL | 115dB at 1m (stereo pair, manufacturer specified) | - |
| App | Klipsch Connect (bass/mid/treble EQ) | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | rear-ported bass reflex | - |
| Bluetooth | - | No |
| EQ | - | No |
| DSP | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Edifier S3000Pro vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Yamaha HS8 vs Edifier S3000Pro
- Edifier S2000MKIII vs Edifier S3000Pro
- Klipsch The Nines vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
- Kali Audio LP-6 V2 vs Klipsch The Nines
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch The Nines: $1,349.99 Sweetwater
Pros: Erin calls these his favorite Klipsch speaker he has heard. With the tweeter trim set to -2dB, the listening-window response stays within roughly +/-1.5dB from 40Hz to just above 10kHz, and they produced genuinely powerful bass that reached about 30Hz in his room. The 8-inch woofer remains below 3% THD from 30Hz upward at 96dB/1m; compression is well controlled through about 90dB, and its limiter was not a concern at realistic listening levels. Exceptional all-in-one connectivity includes HDMI ARC, phono, USB, optical, Bluetooth, analog inputs and a subwoofer output; the Klipsch Connect app supplies useful bass/mid/treble adjustment.
Cons: The app’s flat setting leaves the treble elevated, and Erin preferred a -2dB tweeter trim. There is a likely tweeter/waveguide breakup feature around 16kHz, though he did not hear it. Horizontal coverage is narrow (about +/-30 degrees), prioritizing a focused image over room involvement; listeners who prefer a wider soundstage may not like that trade-off. Ear height matters: he recommends the reference plane between woofer and tweeter rather than directly on tweeter axis. The speaker begins limiting above roughly 90dB/1m, and the two cabinets still require a physical inter-speaker cable.
Full Klipsch The Nines review and specifications →
| App | Klipsch Connect (bass/mid/treble EQ) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 41Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 19.13"H x 9.5"W x 13.38"D |
| Drivers | 8" high-excursion fiber-composite woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| Frequency Response | 34Hz - 25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC, Bluetooth 5.0, phono/line RCA, 3.5mm, USB, optical |
| Max SPL | 115dB at 1m (stereo pair, manufacturer specified) |
| Output Power | 240W total (480W peak; 100W LF + 20W HF per powered speaker) |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB (measured at 0.30V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 28.4 lbs primary, 27.0 lbs secondary |
| Woofer Cabinet | rear-ported bass reflex |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch The Nines vs Kali Audio LP-6
- Klipsch The Nines vs Adam Audio T7V
- Klipsch The Nines vs Adam Audio T8V
- Klipsch The Nines vs JBL 308P MKII
- Klipsch The Nines vs Yamaha HS8
- Klipsch The Nines vs Focal Twin6 Be
- Klipsch The Nines vs Kali Audio LP-8
- Klipsch The Nines vs Presonus Eris Studio 8
- See all 19 comparisons
Edifier R2850DB: $424.99 Amazon
Pros: 3 way speaker. Deeper bass and more of a fun listen compared to the neutral sound of the HS8. Shockingly close to the HS8 at half the price.
Cons: Quite large and heavy
Full Edifier R2850DB review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 18.1"H x 10.1"W x 12.4"D (459.7 x 256.5 x 315 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | No |
| Frequency Response | 42Hz-20KHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | Bluetooth, 2x RCA Input, Digital Optical, Digital Coax |
| Output Power | 75w RMS Per Speaker |
| Weight | 50.7 lbs / 23 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Edifier R2850DB vs Focal Twin6 Be
- Edifier R2850DB vs JBL 306P MKII
- Edifier R2850DB vs Kali Audio LP-6
- Edifier R2850DB vs Genelec 8341A
- Edifier R2850DB vs Adam Audio S2V
- Edifier R2850DB vs Adam Audio T7V
- Edifier R2850DB vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Edifier R2850DB vs Emotiva Airmotiv 6s
- See all 19 comparisons