Short answer: the Yamaha HS8. It ranks #23 of 40 powered bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $678.28; the Klipsch The Nines ranks #28 and costs $1349.99, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Yamaha HS8 offers: Good for mixing and anything needing a neutral output. Watch for: Slight midrange boost.
The case for the Klipsch The Nines: Erin calls these his favorite Klipsch speaker he has heard. The tradeoff: The app’s flat setting leaves the treble elevated, and Erin preferred a -2dB tweeter trim.
Buy the Yamaha HS8. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch The Nines and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| Yamaha HS8 | Klipsch The Nines | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $678.28 | $1,349.99 |
| Ranked | #23 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers | #28 of 40 in Large Size Powered Bookshelf Speakers |
| Dimensions | 15.4"H x 9.8"W x 13.1"D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) | 19.13"H x 9.5"W x 13.38"D |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | 34Hz - 25kHz +/-3dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR | HDMI ARC, Bluetooth 5.0, phono/line RCA, 3.5mm, USB, optical |
| Weight | 22.5 lbs / 10.2 kg | 28.4 lbs primary, 27.0 lbs secondary |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 1" dome tweeter | 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 | 120w 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 |
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The Two Speakers In Full
Yamaha HS8: $678.28 Amazon
Pros: Good for mixing and anything needing a neutral output.
Cons: Slight midrange boost. Quite expensive.
Full Yamaha HS8 review and specifications →
| App | No |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| DSP | No |
| Dimensions | 15.4"H x 9.8"W x 13.1"D (391.2 x 248.9 x 332.7 mm) |
| Drivers | 8" woofer, 1" dome tweeter |
| EQ | Yes (Room adjustment) |
| Frequency Response | 47Hz - 24kHz (-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Inputs | XLR |
| Output Power | 120w Per Speaker |
| Weight | 22.5 lbs / 10.2 kg |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Sercan Solmaz: Adam Audio T8V vs Yamaha HS8 vs KRK Rokit 8 (STUDIO SPEAKER SOUND TEST)
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Edifier R2850DB vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Adam Audio A7X vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS7 vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs Yamaha HS5 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Genelec 8020D vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review APS Klasik 2020 vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: DSAUDIO.review Focal Alpha 65 EVO vs Yamaha HS8 sound.DEMO
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs PreSonus Eris E8 XT Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs Kali Audio LP-8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: KRK Rokit 8 G4 RP8G4 vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Neumann KH80 DSP vs Yamaha HS8 Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- DSAUDIO.review: Yamaha HS8 vs IK Multimedia iLoud MTM Sound & Frequency Response Comparison
- Reddit Search for Yamaha HS8 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
- 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 Edifier R2850DB
- 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