In this review, we will be comparing Demand D17 and RP-8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Definitive Technology and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive Demand D17 and Klipsch RP-8000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive Demand D17 | Klipsch RP-8000F |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Midrange | 6.5" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Carbon-fiber | 2 x 8" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-22k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 98 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 40-300 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 29.10kg / 64lbs | 27.27kg / 60lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 42-3/4" x 10-1/4" x 14-3/4"
1086.0 x 261.0 x 375.0mm | 43-1/4" x 10-7/8" x 17-1/2"
1099.0 x 277.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive Demand D17 and Klipsch RP-8000F 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 Demand D17 |
Klipsch RP-8000F |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Demand D17 is a 3-way design whereas the RP-8000F 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.
Definitive Demand D17Klipsch RP-8000F
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive Demand D17 |
Klipsch RP-8000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Demand D17 features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter, a 6.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Carbon-fiber Woofer. On the other hand, the RP-8000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1750 Hz.
Frequency Response
Demand D17 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas RP-8000F has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-8000F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Demand D17's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Demand D17 and RP-8000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Demand D17 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the RP-8000F's is at 98 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive Demand D17, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Demand D17 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas RP-8000F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Demand D17.
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
Both Demand D17 and RP-8000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Definitive Demand D17's 5-Way Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RP-8000F's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RP-8000F Port
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 Definitive Demand D17's and Klipsch RP-8000F's external dimensions. Definitive Demand D17 has external dimensions of 1086.0 x 261.0 x 375.0mm (42-3/4 x 10-1/4 x 14-3/4inch) whereas Klipsch RP-8000F has external dimensions of 1099.0 x 277.0 x 445.0mm (43-1/4 x 10-7/8 x 17-1/2inch).
Klipsch RP-8000F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 16mm wider, 13mm taller and 70mm deeper than Definitive Demand D17.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Definitive Demand D17 and Klipsch RP-8000F in scale.
Comparison image of Definitive Demand D17 and Klipsch RP-8000F Size and External Dimensions
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 Demand D17 is approximately 978.8cm2 / 151.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-8000F is approximately 1232.7cm2 / 191.1inch2. The Demand D17 requires 21% less surface area than the RP-8000F which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Definitive Demand D17 weighs 29.10kg / 64lbs and the Klipsch RP-8000F weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs. This makes the Demand D17 7% heavier than the RP-8000F.
Here is a comparison of how Demand D17 and RP-8000F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Definitive Demand D17?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Demand D17:
- Left floorstanindg loudspeaker
- Right floorstading loudspeaker
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 2 Bases
- 8 Spike feet
- 8 Floor-glides
- 8 Lock-rings
- 8 Screws
- Cleaning cloth
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-8000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-8000F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (installed)
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Terminal jumpers (installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
1086mm
vs
1099mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
978cm2
vs
1232cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
22k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1658USD
vs
2798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology Demand D17 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-300 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon-fiber |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1750 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1086.0mm (42.8") |
1099.0mm (43.3") |
| Width |
261.0mm (10.3") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
375.0mm (14.8") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
29.10kg (64lbs) |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Aluminum |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Definitive Demand D17 costs roughly 1.7x what Klipsch RP-8000F does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch RP-8000F digs deeper - 32Hz against 42Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-8000F is more sensitive (98dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Definitive Demand D17 takes more power (300W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Definitive Demand D17 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-8000F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Definitive Demand D17: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-8000F: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-8000F sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch RP-8000F is cheaper - $1,658 against $2,798, about 41% less; arguably a different class. |
A Definitive Demand D17 B Klipsch RP-8000F
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Klipsch RP-8000F has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive Demand D17 the better fit for a very large room, and Klipsch RP-8000F for a mid-size room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.