Klipsch RP-8000F Review and Alternative

Klipsch RP-8000F review sheds light on its appearance, performance, and engineering. The first thing to say is, it is not a bright speaker. It needs only a few watts to deliver loud audio. Inclusion of advanced engineering like mechanical filter, Hybrid Tractrix horn, light and rigid woofer material, all these works together creating outstanding audio.

Movies, Music or Games, you name it, it can deliver the best and original form of any audio source. Klipsch RP-8000F is best for audiophiles. Although the overall cost of a pair of floor standing speakers are costly, it is best for overall use. Games or Movies will come to life. Movies are cinematic and with the addition of center channel, vocals will be crystal clear.

Music is handled with accuracy. Bass is prominent but you should add a subwoofer in case you take it seriously. Make sure speaker placement is considered and sit so that your listening level and tweeter level is same.

Table: Quick comparison of Klipsch RP-8000F and its alternatives

Feature
Klipsch RP-8000F
Klipsch RF-7III
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
Sensitivity
98dB
100dB
89dB
Frequency response
32Hz-25kHz
32Hz-25kHz
40-22k Hz
Power
150
250
30-200
Feature
Klipsch RP-8000F
Sensitivity
98dB
Frequency response
32Hz-25kHz
Power
150
Feature
Klipsch RF-7III
Sensitivity
100dB
Frequency response
32Hz-25kHz
Power
250
Feature
Wharfedale Evo 4.4
Sensitivity
89dB
Frequency response
40-22k Hz
Power
30-200

Product differentiator

Sensitivity is what makes this large tower speaker unique. A 98dB sensitivity means it needs to give less effort to run the speaker. Whether you watch movies or music, any contents sound lively even at lower volume levels. So, you don’t need to push the speakers to get them loud.

So, in case you hear comments saying the sound is bright, crossover isn’t accurate or it’s a power hunger speaker, then research more. Audio enthusiasts ensure the speakers are neutral and with higher sensitivity doesn’t need much power.

Pros

  • Ability to deliver Natural and accurate sound
  • Design with a modern feel
  • It is simple to put and set up
  • A tropical look fits any room.
  • Bass packs a lot of oomph.
  • Worthy midrange-priced model.

Cons

  • No surround sound systems.

How does it sound?

While choosing a speaker, the performance is the major attraction. Klipsch RP-8000F is best for larger rooms. It is a 4ft tall speaker and will stand out awkwardly if placed in smaller room size. The front grille is removable if you want to show off Klipsch. It is available in different colors and the price will vary slightly.

Analyzing the Klipsch RP-8000F, we see it has a neutral and well-balanced sound profile. The mid-range is detailed, vocals are clear and accurate. It has an openness in the sound with excellent dynamics. Watching movies will be engaging with room-filling cinematic audio. Bass is punchier and spotless.

There is almost no distortion at any volume level. Even if you turn the volume down, the audio holds its accuracy. Klipsch 8000F specs shows that the speakers can reach around 32Hz of frequency. So, the bass has got quite a punch. These tower speakers can get very loud and can reach huge audiences. You can include an amplifier, but it will sound ‘mind-blowing’ enough without it.

Specifications:

  • ·       Frequency Response: 32-25k Hz
  • ·       Impedance: 8 ohms
  • ·       Dimension: 43.12”x10.9”x17.56”

History

Klipsch RP-8000F model belongs to the Reference Premiere series and replace the Klipsch RP-280F. This brand was ‘colored’ and said to have bright and harsh sound. However, this issue has been taken care off and Klipsch RP-8000F is an example of that. You will not find it sound ‘too bright’ or harsh, rather it has a neutral tonal characteristic.

How big are they?

Let’s talk about Klipsch RP-8000F aesthetics. Well, being almost 4ft. tall, they are larger when compared to other tower speakers, but doesn’t look gigantic. It has an ideal size to build any large home theater of 5.2.4 or 7.2.6. The outer material is sturdy, like all Klipsch speakers and is made of MDF. It is also scratch-resistant. Read along this Klipsch RP-8000F review to unfold what it really holds.

The speaker has cast-aluminium stabilizer feet and rubber pads which is useful and safe if you have hardwood, laminate, tile, or vinyl types of floors. However, in case you have carpet floor, you will be disappointed because it neither includes nor supports spike feet. Having the stabilizer feet ensure uniform performance regardless of floor type. On the rear side, it has 5-way binding posts for bi-amping.

Inside the speaker

Removing the grille, you will see 1” Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Tractrix Horn and two 8” Cerametallic Cone woofer. Klipsch lovers are already known with this kind of driver material and their advantages. With a power of 150W continuous and 600W peak, the speakers are very powerful.

The engineering and material inside the speakers show it was built with care and to deliver impactful audio. Horn loaded speakers and its sized affect the sound. The sound quality improves and it more accurate because of this. You will find that there are two different parts of the horn.

Tweeter is designed in terms of shape and material in such a way that it would minimize odd reflections or bell resonances. This also gives smoother and flat frequency response.

Placement

You can start with equal distance between the speaker and the seating position. With rear port, you need to keep a good amount of space between the speaker and wall. They can be used as rear or front speakers. If you go by the Klipsch RP-8000F user manual, then place the speakers 6 to 15’ away from each other.

One crucial thing to note is, you need to be flexible with toe-in and must include several toe-in positions to find the best performance. So, make sure you have a large room and enough space around the speakers for experimenting. Try to sit 1 to 1.5 times the distance between the speakers.

A quick note about the system:

  • Rega DAC – Coax output from D10 to Rega
  • Marantz NR1606 – Using the pre-outs
  • Network transport – Raspberry pi running ropieee (highly recommended for Roon)
  • Topping D10 – usb output from network transport
  • Triode Lab EL84M-FFX

Additional accessories

Since the Klipsch RP-8000F are tower speakers, to build a home theater system, you will need center channel, rear speakers, Atmos speakers (additional), subwoofer and amplifier. With this model, you can go with Yamaha, Marantz, Pioneer or Outlaw amplifier, 50W or higher power rated is sufficient.

For center channel you can go with Klipsch RP-504C. in terms of subwoofer, it depends on your audio taste. The RP-8000F delivers quite a good amount of bass but you can also include a subwoofer. However, with these powerful speakers you need to be very careful while choosing a sub.

What it means is, you don’t want to include a subwoofer that will degrade the overall performance. Subwoofer must be as powerful and as high-end as the speakers so that they are integrate well. You can look into Martin Logan Dynamo 800X, or SVS subwoofers.

Best alternatives to Klipsch RP-8000F:

Let’s have a look at the Klipsch RP 8000F alternatives.

Klipsch 1064559 RF-7 III Floorstanding Speaker

Comparing the Klipsch RP-8000F vs RF-7III, the RF-7 III has a 10” woofer and delivers massive sound. Klipsch RP-7 III price is higher than the RP-8000F. playing any kind of source like analog, digital, Bluetooth, CDs, all these sounds exceptionally well. A higher sensitivity makes it easier to sound well at all volumes very easily. The mid-range and lower ends are more prominent.

Movies sound bold with focus on movie effects like explosions and the bass is clean and tight. Overall, no matter what you listen through it, you will have amazing experience. The RP-8000F is itself powerful for most users and the RF-7III is more than that. So, make sure to have enough space and be ready to embrace powerful audio.

Focal Chora 826

Focal Chora 826 has 1” inverted tweeter, 6.5” mid-range and two 6.5” woofer. This three-way speaker has a front port. Material used and engineering is quite thoughtful. The speakers have excellent dynamic punch and wide soundstage. Make sure to place the speaker ideally by toe-in and sit so that tweeter is directed at you.

With the included plinth, the speakers are tilted back which makes this easier. The mid-range is well-represented, and it has articulated bass. Overall, you can use it with movies and music enjoying the minute details of the content and enormous soundstage of the speakers. It has precise stereo imaging. Audio purists or audio enthusiasts will simply adore this speaker model.

Wharfedale – EVO 4.4

The Wharfedale Evo 4.4 has a tweeter, 2” mid-range and two 6.5” woofer. It is one of the expensive tower speakers with excellent sonic character. The sound has clarity, precise mid-range, and excellent bass. You can include other speakers from the Wharfedale’s EVO4 Series to create a home theater system.

It uses Wharfedale’s Computer Aided Optimization technology for crossover of drivers. The cabinet is designed with internal bracing and damping so that there is no muddiness in audio, rather it is always stable. Wharfedale speakers try to capture all details of the original recording ensuring no information is lost.

Parting words

Klipsch manufactures some of the best speakers. They brag with their patented horn-loaded technology. In case you have a tight budget, Klipsch speakers might seem costly, but honestly, the cost is compensated with the performance. Along with tower speakers, Klipsch excels in making bookshelf speaker, subwoofers, and center speakers.

The Klipsch RP-8000F is a fantastic pair of tower speakers to enjoy movie nights. But other contents are enjoyable as well. In case you want speaker at lower cost, then look for the RP-6000F. If you are an audio enthusiast, you can check the Focal Chora 826 or Wharfedale Evo 4.4. The cost, however, will increase.

Klipsch RP-8000F is not an entry-level speaker. It is best for users who love to scrutinize their audio and seek perfection. You will be impressed by how well it can handle audio sources and by its accuracy. The cost might be higher, but the performance and build quality is worth it. Klipsch fans who are already familiar with Klipsch nature of sound will simply love it.

FAQs

Well, we are almost at the end of the article. and here we are try to solve you some of your problems.

Are Klipsch speakers high-end?

Klipsch speakers are considered high-end. They have excellent engineering in their drivers and enclosure materials. Ports are built to improve audio quality. Frequency response indicates that speakers can get quite low. The power ratings, sensitivity and driver size will determine the performance. Each model is an improvement than the previous one.

Is it worth to get the Klipsch RP-8000F?

Well, this depends on a lot of factors. Given you have a large space, is serious about your audio, and have the budget, the Klipsch RP-8000F is the best floor-standing speaker you can have. Simply connect the audio sources to it and enjoy room-filling audio.

Create a bubble of sound by connection 2 rear speakers, a center, and a subwoofer. Klipsch R-8000F is suffice as a stereo speaker system as well.