Klipsch Unveils Second-Generation Powered Speakers with Onkyo Platform and Dolby Atmos Support

Klipsch announced The Fives II, The Sevens II, and The Nines II powered speakers on January 6, 2026, at CES 2026, marking a significant departure from the company's traditional approach to active loudspeakers. The new lineup integrates an Onkyo-engineered electronics platform directly into each system, effectively embedding AV receiver architecture within the speaker cabinets themselves.

The announcement represents a notable shift in Klipsch's product strategy, moving beyond standalone powered monitors toward more sophisticated signal processing and room correction capabilities traditionally associated with dedicated home theater receivers.

Technical Architecture and Processing

All three models support high-resolution audio playback up to 24-bit/96 kHz and include Dolby Atmos processing capabilities. The integration of Onkyo's electronics platform brings dedicated amplification circuits, digital signal processing, and connectivity options typically found in separate AV receivers into the speakers' internal architecture.

The Sevens II and The Nines II feature Dirac Live room correction with an included measurement microphone, allowing users to optimize acoustic performance for their specific listening environments. Calibration and configuration are managed through the Klipsch Connect Plus app, which provides access to the Dirac Live implementation and other system parameters.

The Fives II, positioned as the entry-level model in the series, omits the Dirac Live functionality while maintaining the Onkyo platform and Dolby Atmos support.

Connectivity and User Interface

The new models continue Klipsch's recent emphasis on digital connectivity, incorporating features introduced in earlier product releases that included USB-C connectivity, Bluetooth 5.3, and Klipsch Connect App compatibility. The Connect Plus app serves as the primary interface for the advanced features in The Sevens II and The Nines II, providing access to room correction parameters and system configuration options.

The integration of AV receiver functionality addresses a common pain point in powered speaker deployments, where users previously required separate components to handle source switching, digital processing, and multi-channel audio decoding.

Market Context and Historical Perspective

Klipsch has demonstrated a pattern of incremental technology integration over recent product cycles, introducing connectivity and app-based control features across multiple CES appearances. The company's announcements at CES 2019 focused on tech-oriented audio solutions, while subsequent releases have emphasized digital connectivity and smart home integration.

Having covered the evolution of powered speakers since their emergence as viable alternatives to passive systems in professional applications, the current trend toward embedded processing represents a logical progression. The early powered monitors were essentially passive speakers with built-in amplifiers; today's implementations increasingly resemble complete audio systems in speaker-sized packages. This convergence mirrors the broader industry shift toward integrated solutions that eliminate component sprawl in consumer setups.

The collaboration with Ojas on a limited edition horn loudspeaker, announced separately, suggests Klipsch is simultaneously pursuing both mainstream integration and niche audiophile markets.

Technical Implementation Details

The Onkyo platform integration indicates significant internal redesign rather than simple feature addition. AV receiver architecture typically requires substantial processing power for real-time audio decoding, room correction algorithms, and multi-channel processing. Embedding these capabilities within speaker enclosures presents thermal and space constraints that traditional receiver designs do not face.

The inclusion of Dirac Live represents a particularly notable technical achievement, as the room correction algorithm requires significant computational resources and precise timing coordination between measurement, analysis, and real-time filtering. The fact that Klipsch includes the measurement microphone suggests confidence in the implementation's accuracy and user accessibility.

Dolby Atmos support in powered speakers requires careful attention to channel mapping and processing latency, particularly in systems where the speakers themselves handle the audio decoding rather than receiving pre-processed signals from external components.

Availability and Market Positioning

Klipsch plans to release all three models in spring 2026 through its authorized retailer network. The staged feature set across the three models—with The Fives II offering basic connectivity and Dolby Atmos, while The Sevens II and The Nines II add Dirac Live room correction—suggests pricing tiers designed to address different user requirements and budget levels.

The timing aligns with the broader industry push toward simplified audio systems that reduce component count while maintaining or improving performance. The integration of receiver functionality directly into speakers eliminates the need for separate AV receivers in many applications, potentially appealing to users seeking high-performance audio without complex system design.

Looking at what this means for the powered speaker market, the Onkyo platform integration could establish a new baseline for feature expectations in premium active speakers. The success of this approach will likely influence whether other manufacturers pursue similar integration strategies or maintain the traditional separation between amplification and signal processing functions.

The announcement follows Klipsch's display of the new speakers at Central Hall Booth #17204 during CES 2026, where the company demonstrated the integrated platform's capabilities to industry professionals and media representatives.

For users considering powered speaker solutions, the new Klipsch lineup offers a compelling alternative to traditional component-based systems, particularly in applications where space constraints or system complexity concerns outweigh the flexibility advantages of separate components.