In this review, we will be comparing S 809 and RP-8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Jamo and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 809 and Klipsch RP-8000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 809 | Klipsch RP-8000F |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber | 2 x 8" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-26k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 98 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 120 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.60kg / 29.9lbs | 27.27kg / 60lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"
1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm | 43-1/4" x 10-7/8" x 17-1/2"
1099.0 x 277.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo S 809 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* |
Jamo S 809 |
Klipsch RP-8000F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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Drivers
Both S 809 and RP-8000F are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 809Klipsch 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 |
Jamo S 809 |
Klipsch RP-8000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
S 809 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. 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
S 809 has a frequency range of 37-26k 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 S 809'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
S 809 and RP-8000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S 809 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-8000F's is at 98 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 809, 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.
RP-8000F can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the RP-8000F.
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
RP-8000F features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 809 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 809's Post terminals
Klipsch RP-8000F's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S 809 has a front firing port whereas RP-8000F has a rear firing ports. Jamo S 809's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-8000F with its rear-firing port.
Jamo S 809 Port
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 Jamo S 809's and Klipsch RP-8000F's external dimensions. Jamo S 809 has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm (41.0 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) 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 86mm wider, 57mm taller and 193mm deeper than Jamo S 809.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 809 and Klipsch RP-8000F in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 809 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 Jamo S 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-8000F is approximately 1232.7cm2 / 191.1inch2. The S 809 requires 61% 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 Jamo S 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs and the Klipsch RP-8000F weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs. This makes the RP-8000F 101% heavier than the S 809.
Here is a comparison of how S 809 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 Jamo S 809?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S 809:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Mounting feet
- 16 Screws
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
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
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional Jamo S 8 ATM Dolby Atmos upward-firing speakers
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1042mm
vs
1099mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
1232cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
634USD
vs
1658USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Jamo Studio S 809 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
120 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-26k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
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 |
2000Hz |
1750 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1042.0mm (41") |
1099.0mm (43.3") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
252.0mm (9.9") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
13.60kg (29.9lbs) |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch RP-8000F costs roughly 2.6x what Jamo S 809 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 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Klipsch RP-8000F takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 809 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-8000F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Jamo S 809: Atmos drivers; Klipsch RP-8000F: bi-amping. Klipsch RP-8000F sits in a wider range (17 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Jamo S 809 is cheaper - $634 against $1,658, about 62% less; arguably a different class. |
A Jamo S 809 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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch RP-8000F measures better, Jamo S 809 costs about about 2.6x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 37Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 809 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-8000F has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Jamo S 809 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.