In this review, we will be comparing Everest DD67000 and AK7, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Everest DD67000 and Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Everest DD67000 | Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 4" Compression Driver | 1" Tractrix horn |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 3" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 15" Pure Pulp sandwich | 15" fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn |
|---|
| Frequency response | 29-60k Hz | 34-19k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 96 dB | 103 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 500 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 142.10kg / 312.6lbs | 118.18kg / 260lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-11/16" x 38" x 18-1/2"
1109.0 x 965.0 x 470.0mm | 53" x 31-1/4" x 28-1/4"
1347.0 x 794.0 x 718.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Everest DD67000 and AK7 are 3-way speakers.
JBL Everest DD67000Klipsch Klipschorn AK7
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Everest DD67000 |
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
4-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 3-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 15-inch
|
1 x 15-inch
|
Everest DD67000 features a 4" Beryllium Compression Driver Tweeter and 2 x 15" Pure Pulp sandwich Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 150Hz, 850Hz and 20000Hz. On the other hand, the AK7 features a 1" polyimide diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter, a 3" Midrange and 1 x 15" fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz - 290Hz.
Frequency Response
Everest DD67000 has a frequency range of 29-60k Hz whereas AK7 has a frequency range of 34-19k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Everest DD67000 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the AK7's min frequency of 34Hz.
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
Everest DD67000 and AK7 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Everest DD67000 sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the AK7's is at 103 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Everest DD67000, 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.
Everest DD67000 can handle a max power of 500 watts RMS, whereas AK7 has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 400 watts less than the Everest DD67000.
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 Everest DD67000 and AK7 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7'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 JBL Everest DD67000's and Klipsch Klipschorn AK7's external dimensions. JBL Everest DD67000 has external dimensions of 1109.0 x 965.0 x 470.0mm (43-11/16 x 38 x 18-1/2inch) whereas Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 has external dimensions of 1347.0 x 794.0 x 718.0mm (53 x 31-1/4 x 28-1/4inch).
JBL Everest DD67000 is 238mm shorter and 248mm less deeper than Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 but it is also 171mm wider.
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 Klipschorn AK7 needs about 26% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is 248mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is 238mm 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 JBL Everest DD67000 is approximately 4535.5cm2 / 703.0inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is approximately 5700.9cm2 / 883.6inch2. The Everest DD67000 requires 20% less surface area than the AK7 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 JBL Everest DD67000 weighs 142.10kg / 312.6lbs and the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 weighs 118.18kg / 260lbs. This makes the Everest DD67000 20% heavier than the AK7.
Here is a comparison of how Everest DD67000 and AK7'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 Klipsch Klipschorn AK7?
Here are the items that come with the AK7:
- 2 Loudspeaker cabinets
- 2 Subwoofer cabinets
- 2 Grilles
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
500 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
60k Hz
vs
19k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1109mm
vs
1347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
4535cm2
vs
5700cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
103 dB
vs
96 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Price per pair* |
17998USD
vs
75000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Everest DD67000 |
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn AK7 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 500 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
96 dB |
103 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
29-60k Hz |
34-19k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pure Pulp sandwich |
fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
4" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Compression Driver |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
3" |
| Crossover Frequency |
150Hz, 850Hz and 20000Hz |
380Hz - 290Hz |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1109.0mm (43.7") |
1347.0mm (53") |
| Width |
965.0mm (38") |
794.0mm (31.3") |
| Depth |
470.0mm (18.5") |
718.0mm (28.3") |
| Weight |
142.10kg (312.6lbs) |
118.18kg (260lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
American Auburn, Black Ash, American Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - JBL Everest DD67000 costs roughly 4.2x what Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 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 | A | JBL Everest DD67000 digs deeper - 29Hz against 34Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is more sensitive (103dB vs 96dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | JBL Everest DD67000 takes more power (500W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | JBL Everest DD67000 is easier to place; Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL Everest DD67000: bi-amping; Klipsch Klipschorn AK7: bi-amping. Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 is cheaper - $17,998 against $75,000, about 76% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL Everest DD67000 B Klipsch Klipschorn AK7
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?
JBL Everest DD67000 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 4.2x the price. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the JBL Everest DD67000 appeals to you. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 34Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, JBL Everest DD67000 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.