In this review, we will be comparing RP-5000F II and BP-9020, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-5000F II and Definitive BP-9020 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Klipsch RP-5000F II and Definitive BP-9020 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 Klipsch RP-5000F II and Definitive BP-9020 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 RP-5000F II is a 2-way design whereas the BP-9020 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 |
Klipsch RP-5000F II |
Definitive BP-9020 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
3 x 3.5-inch |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
RP-5000F II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1900 Hz. On the other hand, the BP-9020 features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 3.5" Midrange and 1 x 8" Polypropelene Woofer .
Frequency Response
RP-5000F II has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz whereas BP-9020 has a frequency range of 28-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the BP-9020 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-5000F II's min frequency of 35Hz.
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
RP-5000F II and BP-9020 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-5000F II sensitivity is rated at 95 dB and the BP-9020's is at 92 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-5000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive BP-9020, 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.
RP-5000F II can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-5000F II has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the BP-9020.
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
RP-5000F II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. BP-9020 has a 5-Way post, RCA 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 Klipsch RP-5000F II's and Definitive BP-9020's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-5000F II has external dimensions of 918.0 x 208.0 x 364.0mm ( 36-1/8 x 8-3/16 x 14-5/16inch) whereas Definitive BP-9020 has external dimensions of 904.0 x 281.0 x 351.0mm ( 35-9/16 x 11-1/16 x 13-13/16inch) .
Definitive BP-9020 is 14mm shorter and 13mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-5000F II but it is also 73mm wider.
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-5000F II is approximately 757.1cm2 / 117.4inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9020 is approximately 986.3cm2 / 152.9inch2. The RP-5000F II requires 23% less surface area than the BP-9020 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-5000F II weighs 17.50kg / 38.5lbs and the Definitive BP-9020 weighs 13.64kg / 30lbs. This makes the RP-5000F II 28% heavier than the BP-9020.
Here is a comparison of how RP-5000F II and BP-9020'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-5000F II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-5000F II:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (pre-installed)Grille2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Rubber cap (pre-installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9020?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9020:
Tower loudspeaker6.5-feet AC power cordTop-plate (installed)Stabilizer base4 Floor guides4 Carpet spikes4 Screws4 NutsOwners ManualWhat Obsession Sounds Like card
Sensitivity |
95 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Base Surface Area |
757cm2 (208x364mm)
vs
986cm2 (281x351mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
904mm
vs
918mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-5000F II |
Definitive Technology BP-9020 |
Brand |
Klipsch |
Definitive Technology |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
50-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
95 dB |
92 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
35-25k Hz |
28-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
8" |
Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Polypropelene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
3.5" |
Crossover Frequency |
1900 Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
918.0mm (36.1") |
904.0mm (35.6") |
Width |
208.0mm (8.2") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Depth |
364.0mm (14.3") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
Weight |
17.50kg (38.5lbs) |
13.64kg (30lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |