Short answer: the Presonus Eris Studio 8. It ranks #19 of 31 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $462; the Klipsch The Nines ranks #25 and costs $1349.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Presonus Eris Studio 8 offers: More natural sounding and less fatiguing than the HS8 Watch for: Its documented strengths make it a credible option in this class.
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.
Buy the Presonus Eris Studio 8. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch The Nines and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Klipsch The Nines. It ranks near the bottom of the 31 powered bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Presonus Eris Studio 8 | Klipsch The Nines | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $462 | $1,349.99 |
| Ranked | #19 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #25 of 31 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 16.5"H x 9.8"W x 11.7"D (419.1 x 248.9 x 297.2 mm) | 19.13"H x 9.5"W x 13.38"D |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 34Hz - 25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA | HDMI ARC, Bluetooth 5.0, phono/line RCA, 3.5mm, USB, optical |
| Weight | 22.3 lbs / 10.1 kg each | 28.4 lbs primary, 27.0 lbs secondary |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer | 8" high-excursion fiber-composite woofer, 1" titanium LTS vented tweeter with Tractrix horn |
| App | No | Klipsch Connect (bass/mid/treble EQ) |
| Bluetooth | No | - |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) | - |
| DSP | No | - |
| Output Power | 140w Per Speaker | 240W total (480W peak; 100W LF + 20W HF per powered speaker) |
| 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) |
| Max SPL | - | 115dB at 1m (stereo pair, manufacturer specified) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | rear-ported bass reflex |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- KRK Rokit 8 G4 vs Edifier S3000Pro
- Yamaha HS8 vs KRK Rokit 8 G4
- Thomann Swissonic A306 vs Edifier S3000Pro
- Kali Audio LP-6 V2 vs Klipsch The Nines
- Klipsch The Nines vs Klipsch The Sevens
The Two Speakers In Full
Presonus Eris Studio 8: $462 Amazon
Pros: More natural sounding and less fatiguing than the HS8
Full Presonus Eris Studio 8 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 16.5"H x 9.8"W x 11.7"D (419.1 x 248.9 x 297.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" (203mm) woofer |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | TRS, XLR, RCA |
| Output Power | 140w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 22.3 lbs / 10.1 kg each |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- DSAUDIO.review: PreSonus Eris E8 XT vs PreSonus Eris E5 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs PreSonus Eris E8 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Kali Audio LP-8 vs Presonus Eris E8 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Tannoy Gold 8 vs PreSonus Eris E8 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Focal Alpha 80 vs PreSonus Eris E8 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Reddit Search for Presonus Eris Studio 8 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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 |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons