In this review, we will be comparing BP-9040 and R-820F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive BP-9040 and Klipsch R-820F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive BP-9040 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 4.5" Midrange
- 8" Polypropelene Woofer
- 22-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:16.36kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 993.0" x 11-1/16" x 13-13/16"( 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm )
Klipsch R-820F Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 35-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 97 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:24.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1096.0" x 10-7/8" x 16-3/4"( 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm )
What size room are the Definitive BP-9040 and Klipsch R-820F 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* |
Definitive BP-9040 |
Klipsch R-820F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Definitive BP-9040 and Klipsch R-820F compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that BP-9040 is a 3-way design whereas the R-820F is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Definitive BP-9040 |
Klipsch R-820F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
3 x 4.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
BP-9040 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer . On the other hand, the R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .
Frequency Response
BP-9040 has a frequency range of 22-40k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the BP-9040 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-820F's min frequency of 35Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
BP-9040 and R-820F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. BP-9040 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the R-820F's is at 97 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive BP-9040, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
BP-9040 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the BP-9040.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
BP-9040 features Post type posts and R-820F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive BP-9040's 5-Way post, RCA terminals
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Definitive BP-9040's and Klipsch R-820F's external dimensions. Definitive BP-9040 has external dimensions of 993.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 39-1/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) whereas Klipsch R-820F has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm ( 43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 16-3/4inch) .
Definitive BP-9040 is 103mm shorter and 75mm less deeper than Klipsch R-820F but it is also 4mm wider.
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 Definitive BP-9040 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The BP-9040 requires 16% less surface area than the R-820F which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.