In this review, we will be comparing HDI-3800 and RP-8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL HDI-3800 and Klipsch RP-8000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL HDI-3800 | Klipsch RP-8000F |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 8" Aluminum | 2 x 8" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-30k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 92 dB | 98 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-300 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 38.08kg / 83.8lbs | 27.27kg / 60lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 45" x 11-15/16" x 16-9/16"
1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm | 43-1/4" x 10-7/8" x 17-1/2"
1099.0 x 277.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL HDI-3800 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* |
JBL HDI-3800 |
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
Both HDI-3800 and RP-8000F are 2-way speakers.
JBL HDI-3800Klipsch RP-8000F
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL HDI-3800 |
Klipsch RP-8000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
HDI-3800 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 8" Aluminum 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
HDI-3800 has a frequency range of 37-30k 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 HDI-3800's min frequency of 37Hz.
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
HDI-3800 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the RP-8000F 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 HDI-3800 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. HDI-3800 sensitivity is rated at 92 dB and the RP-8000F's is rated at 98 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL HDI-3800, 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.
HDI-3800 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 HDI-3800.
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 HDI-3800 and RP-8000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-8000F's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both HDI-3800 and RP-8000F have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 JBL HDI-3800's and Klipsch RP-8000F's external dimensions. JBL HDI-3800 has external dimensions of 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm (45 x 11-15/16 x 16-9/16inch) 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 27mm narrower and 44mm shorter than JBL HDI-3800 but it is also 24mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL HDI-3800 and Klipsch RP-8000F in scale.
Comparison image of JBL HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800 is approximately 1279.8cm2 / 198.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-8000F is approximately 1232.7cm2 / 191.1inch2. The HDI-3800 requires 4% more surface area than the RP-8000F 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 JBL HDI-3800 weighs 38.08kg / 83.8lbs and the Klipsch RP-8000F weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs. This makes the HDI-3800 40% heavier than the RP-8000F.
Here is a comparison of how HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of HDI-3800:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- 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 |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1099mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1232cm2
vs
1279cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1658USD
vs
5500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL HDI-3800 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-300 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
92 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-30k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1750 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1143.0mm (45") |
1099.0mm (43.3") |
| Width |
304.0mm (12") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
421.0mm (16.6") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
38.08kg (83.8lbs) |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
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 - JBL HDI-3800 costs roughly 3.3x 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 37Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-8000F is more sensitive (98dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch RP-8000F is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | JBL HDI-3800 takes more power (300W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL HDI-3800: 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 $5,500, about 70% less; arguably a different class. |
A JBL HDI-3800 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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take JBL HDI-3800 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 37Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate JBL HDI-3800 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.