In this review, we will be comparing Demand D17 and R-620F, 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 R-620F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Definitive Demand D17 and Klipsch R-620F 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Definitive Demand D17 and Klipsch R-620F compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Demand D17 is a 3-way design whereas the R-620F 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 Demand D17 |
Klipsch R-620F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.0-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-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 R-620F features a 1.0" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Demand D17 has a frequency range of 42-22k Hz whereas R-620F has a frequency range of 38-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the R-620F can go slightly deeper then the Demand D17's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
Demand D17 and R-620F 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 R-620F's is at 96 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-620F 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. 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.
Demand D17 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-620F has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the Demand D17.
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
Demand D17 features 5-Way Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-620F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Definitive Demand D17's 5-Way Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch R-620F's Post 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 Demand D17's and Klipsch R-620F'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 R-620F has external dimensions of 1021.0 x 239.0 x 369.0mm ( 40-3/16 x 9-3/8 x 14-1/2inch) .
Definitive Demand D17 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 65mm taller and 6mm deeper than Klipsch R-620F.
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 R-620F is approximately 881.9cm2 / 136.7inch2. The Demand D17 requires 11% more surface area than the R-620F which gives it a small disadvantage 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 R-620F weighs 18.64kg / 41lbs. This makes the Demand D17 56% heavier than the R-620F.
Here is a comparison of how Demand D17 and R-620F'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 loudspeakerRight floorstading loudspeaker2 Grilles4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)2 Bases8 Spike feet8 Floor-glides8 Lock-rings8 ScrewsCleaning clothOwners Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-620F?
Here are the items that come with the R-620F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille (installed) 2 Feet 4 Screws Quick Setup Guide Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information Loudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
22k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Sensitivity |
96 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1086mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
881cm2 (239x369mm)
vs
978cm2 (261x375mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
998USD
vs
2798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Definitive Technology Demand D17 |
Klipsch Reference R-620F |
| Brand |
Definitive Technology |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-300 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
42-22k Hz |
38-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Carbon-fiber |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.0" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1086.0mm (42.8") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
261.0mm (10.3") |
239.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
375.0mm (14.8") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
29.10kg (64lbs) |
18.64kg (41lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Aluminum |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |