In this review, we will be comparing HDI-3800 and R-820F, 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 R-820F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL HDI-3800 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL HDI-3800 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.
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Drivers
Both HDI-3800 and R-820F are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
JBL HDI-3800 |
Klipsch R-820F |
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 R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .
Frequency Response
HDI-3800 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F can go slightly deeper then the HDI-3800's min frequency of 37Hz.
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
HDI-3800 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the R-820F 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 R-820F's is rated at 97 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F 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. 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.
HDI-3800 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 HDI-3800.
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
HDI-3800 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-820F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 JBL HDI-3800's and Klipsch R-820F'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 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) .
Klipsch R-820F is 27mm narrower and 47mm shorter than JBL HDI-3800 but it is also 5mm deeper.
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 R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The HDI-3800 requires 8% more surface area than the R-820F 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 R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the HDI-3800 55% heavier than the R-820F.
Here is a comparison of how HDI-3800 and R-820F'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 loudspeakerGrille2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)4 Spike feetOwners Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-820F?
Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
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
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Sensitivity |
97 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 |
35 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Height |
1096mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
1180cm2 (277x426mm)
vs
1279cm2 (304x421mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
5500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
JBL HDI-3800 |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
25-300 watts |
up to 150 watts |
Sensitivity |
92 dB |
97 dB |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
37-30k Hz |
35-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
Aluminum |
Copper-spun IMG |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1143.0mm (45") |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
Width |
304.0mm (12") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
Depth |
421.0mm (16.6") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
Weight |
38.08kg (83.8lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
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 |