In this review, we will be comparing Concord and SE 8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Paradigm.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Concord and Paradigm SE 8000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KLH Concord Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 28-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 225watts
- Weight:20.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1026.0" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"( 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm )
Paradigm SE 8000F Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 6.5" Midrange
- 3 x 8" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer
- 6.5" Midrange
- 45-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 95 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:15-150watts
- Weight:31.36kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1169.0" x 11-3/4" x 17-3/4"( 1169.0 x 299.0 x 451.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Concord and Paradigm SE 8000F 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 Concord is a 2-way design whereas the SE 8000F is a 3-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 |
KLH Concord |
Paradigm SE 8000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6.5-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 8-inch
|
Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer . On the other hand, the SE 8000F features a 1" Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz whereas SE 8000F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SE 8000F's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Concord and SE 8000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Concord sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the SE 8000F's is at 95 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Paradigm SE 8000F a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Concord, 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.
Concord can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concord has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 150 watts less than the SE 8000F.
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
Concord features Post type posts and SE 8000F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
Paradigm SE 8000F'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 KLH Concord's and Paradigm SE 8000F's external dimensions. KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) whereas Paradigm SE 8000F has external dimensions of 1169.0 x 299.0 x 451.0mm ( 46 x 11-3/4 x 17-3/4inch) .
Paradigm SE 8000F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 87mm wider, 143mm taller and 71mm deeper than KLH Concord.
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 KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2 and base area of the Paradigm SE 8000F is approximately 1348.5cm2 / 209.0inch2. The Concord requires 40% less surface area than the SE 8000F which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.