Short answer: the Klipsch The Nines. It ranks #25 of 31 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $1349.99; the Focal Twin6 Be ranks #30 and costs $2200, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Klipsch The Nines offers: Erin calls these his favorite Klipsch speaker he has heard. Watch for: The app’s flat setting leaves the treble elevated, and Erin preferred a -2dB tweeter trim.
What the Focal Twin6 Be offers: High-output 2.5-way studio monitor with an inverted beryllium tweeter and two 6.5-inch W-composite drivers, one covering bass/midrange and the other reinforcing only 40-150Hz. Watch for: The response and directivity are not as uniformly neutral as newer waveguided three-way monitors, and Erin suspected intermodulation-related roughness even though conventional harmonic distortion was low.
Buy the Klipsch The Nines. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Focal Twin6 Be and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 31 powered bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch The Nines | Focal Twin6 Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,349.99 | $2,200 each |
| Ranked | #25 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #30 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 8" high-excursion fiber-composite woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn | 1" inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5" W-cone drivers |
| Output Power | 240W total (480W peak; 100W LF + 20W HF per powered speaker) | - |
| Inputs | HDMI ARC, Bluetooth 5.0, phono/line RCA, 3.5mm, USB, optical | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity |
| Dimensions | 19.13"H x 9.5"W x 13.38"D | - |
| Weight | 28.4 lbs primary, 27.0 lbs secondary | - |
| Sensitivity | 82.5dB (measured at 0.30V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | Not applicable (active studio monitor) |
| 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) | - |
| Max SPL | 115dB at 1m (stereo pair, manufacturer specified) | - |
| App | Klipsch Connect (bass/mid/treble EQ) | - |
| Woofer Cabinet | rear-ported bass reflex | - |
| Bass Extension | - | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity |
| Amplification | - | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF |
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More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL 4305P vs Klipsch The Sevens
- Buchardt A10 vs Klipsch The Sevens
- JBL 4329P vs Klipsch The Sevens
- JBL 4305P vs Klipsch The Nines
- Focal Twin6 Be vs Klipsch The Sevens
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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Focal Twin6 Be: $2,200 each Amazon
Pros: High-output 2.5-way studio monitor with an inverted beryllium tweeter and two 6.5-inch W-composite drivers, one covering bass/midrange and the other reinforcing only 40-150Hz. Erin measured excellent harmonic distortion at both 86 and 96dB, essentially quarter-decibel dynamic compression and clean subjective output around 95dB. Mirror-configurable driver orientation, front ports, shelving/notch controls and switchable +4dBu/-10dBV input sensitivity support professional installation.
Cons: The response and directivity are not as uniformly neutral as newer waveguided three-way monitors, and Erin suspected intermodulation-related roughness even though conventional harmonic distortion was low. The amplifier plate becomes notably warm after extended operation. Hiss is more audible in -10dBV mode, and safe output can be deceptive because the speaker gives little audible warning before excessive exposure. The active design has no passive impedance or sensitivity figure; low-bass extension should be augmented for full-range mastering.
Full Focal Twin6 Be review and specifications →
| Amplification | 150W LF + 100W LF/MF + 100W HF |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension | 40Hz manufacturer specified; Erin measured strong low-frequency linearity |
| Drivers | 1" inverted beryllium tweeter; dual 6.5" W-cone drivers |
| Inputs | Balanced XLR with +4dBu/-10dBV sensitivity |
| Sensitivity | Not applicable (active studio monitor) |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons