In this review, we will be comparing RP-8000F II and DFR52, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and ELAC. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-8000F II and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Klipsch RP-8000F II and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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-8000F II and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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-8000F II is a 2-way design whereas the DFR52 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-8000F II |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
RP-8000F II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1630 Hz. On the other hand, the DFR52 features a 1" cloth dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
RP-8000F II has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz whereas DFR52 has a frequency range of 42-35k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-8000F II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the DFR52's min frequency of 42Hz.
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-8000F II is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the DFR52 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-8000F II sensitivity is rated at 98 dB and the DFR52's is rated at 87 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to ELAC Debut Ref DFR52, 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-8000F II can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas DFR52 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the RP-8000F II.
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-8000F II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. DFR52 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-8000F II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both RP-8000F II and DFR52 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.
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-8000F II's and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-8000F II has external dimensions of 1097.0 x 277.0 x 447.0mm ( 43-3/16 x 10-7/8 x 17-9/16inch) whereas ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 has external dimensions of 1031.0 x 232.0 x 283.0mm ( 40-9/16 x 9-1/8 x 11-1/8inch) .
Klipsch RP-8000F II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 45mm wider, 66mm taller and 164mm deeper than ELAC Debut Ref DFR52.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-8000F II and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-8000F II and ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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-8000F II is approximately 1238.2cm2 / 191.9inch2 and base area of the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is approximately 656.6cm2 / 101.8inch2. The RP-8000F II requires 89% more surface area than the DFR52 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 Klipsch RP-8000F II weighs 28.00kg / 61.6lbs and the ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 weighs 16.77kg / 36.9lbs. This makes the RP-8000F II 67% heavier than the DFR52.
Here is a comparison of how RP-8000F II and DFR52'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-8000F II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-8000F 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 ELAC Debut Ref DFR52?
Here are the items that come with the DFR52:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet (spikes installed)4 Rubber feet4 Dials8 ScrewsHex-key
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1031mm
vs
1097mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
656cm2 (232x283mm)
vs
1238cm2 (277x447mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1400USD
vs
1798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II |
ELAC Debut Reference DFR52 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
42-35k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Aramid fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1097.0mm (43.2") |
1031.0mm (40.6") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
| Depth |
447.0mm (17.6") |
283.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
28.00kg (61.6lbs) |
16.77kg (36.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
White Baffle / Oak Cabinet or Black Baffle / Walnut Cabinet |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
3 Years |