In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. Canton Reference 9 2023 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the RF-7 III is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Canton Reference 9 2023 and Klipsch RF-7 III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Canton Reference 9 2023 | Klipsch RF-7 III |
|---|
| Brand | Canton
Germany · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.75" dome |
|---|
| Woofer | — | 2 x 10" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 25-40k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 100 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 125-220 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 18.14kg / 39.9lbs | 44.10kg / 97lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 17.7" x 10.2" x 15.4"
449.6 x 259.1 x 391.2mm | 49-1/16" x 13-15/16" x 17-15/16"
1247.0 x 355.0 x 456.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Canton Reference 9 2023 and Klipsch RF-7 III speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Canton Reference 9 2023 |
Klipsch RF-7 III |
| Near-field |
Good |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Reference 9 2023 and RF-7 III are 2-way speakers.
Canton Reference 9 2023Klipsch RF-7 III
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Canton Reference 9 2023 |
Klipsch RF-7 III |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
x -inch
|
2 x 10-inch
|
Reference 9 2023 features a 1" Aluminum ceramic oxyd Tweeter and x " Woofer. On the other hand, the RF-7 III features a 1.75" titanium dome Tweeter and 2 x 10" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1300Hz.
Frequency Response
Reference 9 2023 has a frequency range of 25-40k Hz whereas RF-7 III has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Reference 9 2023 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RF-7 III's min frequency of 32Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Reference 9 2023 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RF-7 III which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Reference 9 2023 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Reference 9 2023 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the RF-7 III's is rated at 100 dB. This 13 dB difference makes the Klipsch RF-7 III a more sensitive speaker compared to Canton Reference 9 2023, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
RF-7 III can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Reference 9 2023 has a max power handling value of 220 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the RF-7 III.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
RF-7 III features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Reference 9 2023 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RF-7 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Canton Reference 9 2023's and Klipsch RF-7 III's external dimensions. Canton Reference 9 2023 has external dimensions of 449.6 x 259.1 x 391.2mm (17.7 x 10.2 x 15.4inch) whereas Klipsch RF-7 III has external dimensions of 1247.0 x 355.0 x 456.0mm (49-1/16 x 13-15/16 x 17-15/16inch).
Klipsch RF-7 III is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 95.9mm wider, 797.4mm taller and 64.8mm deeper than Canton Reference 9 2023.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch RF-7 III needs about 60% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch RF-7 III is 65mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch RF-7 III is 797mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Canton Reference 9 2023 is approximately 1013.6cm2 / 157.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RF-7 III is approximately 1618.8cm2 / 250.9inch2. The Reference 9 2023 requires 37% less surface area than the RF-7 III which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of Klipsch RF-7 III?
Here are the items that come with the RF-7 III:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Plinth
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Machine screws
- Owners Manual