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.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-8000F II | ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | ELAC
Germany · founded 1926 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 5.25" Aramid fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-25k Hz | 42-35k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 98 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 28.00kg / 61.6lbs | 16.77kg / 36.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-3/16" x 10-7/8" x 17-9/16"
1097.0 x 277.0 x 447.0mm | 40-9/16" x 9-1/8" x 11-1/8"
1031.0 x 232.0 x 283.0mm |
|---|
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:
| Listening Environment* |
Klipsch RP-8000F II |
ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 |
| 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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.
Klipsch RP-8000F IIELAC Debut Ref DFR52
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
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-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.
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-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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
RP-8000F II can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas DFR52 has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 10 watts less than the RP-8000F II.
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 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
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-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 loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (pre-installed)
- Grille
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Rubber cap (pre-installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut Ref DFR52?
Here are the items that come with the DFR52:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outrigger feet (spikes installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Dials
- 8 Screws
- Hex-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
vs
1238cm2
|
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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II digs deeper - 32Hz against 42Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II is more sensitive (98dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 140W). |
| Size | depends | ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-8000F II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II: bi-amping and Atmos drivers. Klipsch RP-8000F II sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is cheaper - $1,400 against $1,798, about 22% less. |
A Klipsch RP-8000F II B ELAC Debut Ref DFR52
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?
Klipsch RP-8000F II leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-8000F II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, ELAC Debut Ref DFR52 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.