In this review, we will be comparing RP-280F and RP-8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-280F and Klipsch RP-8000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-280F | Klipsch RP-8000F |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Cerametallic | 2 x 8" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-25k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 98 dB | 98 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 28.41kg / 62.5lbs | 27.27kg / 60lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-1/16" x 10-9/16" x 17-3/8"
1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm | 43-1/4" x 10-7/8" x 17-1/2"
1099.0 x 277.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
RP-280F and RP-8000F are members of Klipsch's Reference Premiere (RP) series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Reference Premiere (RP) Series
History
What size room are the Klipsch RP-280F 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* |
Klipsch RP-280F |
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 RP-280F and RP-8000F are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-280FKlipsch 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 |
Klipsch RP-280F |
Klipsch RP-8000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
RP-280F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1750 Hz. 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
RP-280F and RP-8000F has exactly the same frequency range of 32-25k Hz.
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
RP-280F and RP-8000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 98 dB.
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-280F and RP-8000F have the same power range of up to 150 watts.
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 RP-280F and RP-8000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-280F's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RP-8000F's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-280F 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 Klipsch RP-280F's and Klipsch RP-8000F's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-280F has external dimensions of 1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm (43-1/16 x 10-9/16 x 17-3/8inch) 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 8mm wider, 5mm taller and 3mm deeper than Klipsch RP-280F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-280F and Klipsch RP-8000F in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-280F 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 Klipsch RP-280F is approximately 1189.0cm2 / 184.3inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-8000F is approximately 1232.7cm2 / 191.1inch2. The RP-280F requires 4% 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 Klipsch RP-280F weighs 28.41kg / 62.5lbs and the Klipsch RP-8000F weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs. This makes the RP-280F 4% heavier than the RP-8000F.
Here is a comparison of how RP-280F 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 Klipsch RP-280F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-280F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker (Ebony)
- Speaker base
- Detachable magnetic grille
- Four 1-inch #6 Wood screws
- 4 Spike feet
- 6 Rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Instructions
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
 Height |
1094mm
vs
1099mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1189cm2
vs
1232cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1658USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1750 Hz |
1750 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1094.0mm (43.1") |
1099.0mm (43.3") |
| Width |
269.0mm (10.6") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
442.0mm (17.4") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
28.41kg (62.5lbs) |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, 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 |
Siblings in Klipsch's Reference Premiere (RP) series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (32Hz vs 32Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (98dB vs 98dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom |
evenly matched |
Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Klipsch RP-280F: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-8000F: bi-amping. |
| Price |
A |
Klipsch RP-280F is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,658, about 28% less. |
A Klipsch RP-280F
B Klipsch RP-8000F
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $460 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.