In this review, we will be comparing RP-8000F II and A190, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-8000F II and JBL Stage A190 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-8000F II | JBL Stage A190 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Cerametallic cone | 2 x 8" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-25k Hz | 36-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 98 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 28.00kg / 61.6lbs | 22.61kg / 49.7lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 43-15/16" x 13-1/4" x 17-1/2"
1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Klipsch RP-8000F II and JBL Stage A190 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 |
JBL Stage A190 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both RP-8000F II and A190 are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-8000F IIJBL Stage A190
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-8000F II |
JBL Stage A190 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-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 A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-8000F II has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz whereas A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-8000F II can go slightly deeper then the A190's min frequency of 36Hz.
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 A190 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 A190's is rated at 91 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A190, 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.
A190 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas RP-8000F II has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the A190.
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-8000F II and A190 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-8000F II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 JBL Stage A190'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 JBL Stage A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm (43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch).
Klipsch RP-8000F II is 60mm narrower and 20mm shorter than JBL Stage A190 but it is also 2mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-8000F II and JBL Stage A190 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-8000F II and JBL Stage A190 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 JBL Stage A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2. The RP-8000F II requires 17% less surface area than the A190 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-8000F II weighs 28.00kg / 61.6lbs and the JBL Stage A190 weighs 22.61kg / 49.7lbs. This makes the RP-8000F II 24% heavier than the A190.
Here is a comparison of how RP-8000F II and A190'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 JBL Stage A190?
Here are the items that come with the A190:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outriggers
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spikes
- 8 Screws
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1097mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1238cm2
vs
1499cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
1798USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II |
JBL Stage A190 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
91 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
36-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1097.0mm (43.2") |
1117.0mm (44") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Depth |
447.0mm (17.6") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
28.00kg (61.6lbs) |
22.61kg (49.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch RP-8000F II costs roughly 1.8x what JBL Stage A190 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II digs deeper - 32Hz against 36Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II is more sensitive (98dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | JBL Stage A190 takes more power (225W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II: bi-amping and Atmos drivers; JBL Stage A190: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A190 is cheaper - $1,000 against $1,798, about 44% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-8000F II B JBL Stage A190
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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch RP-8000F II measures better, JBL Stage A190 costs about about 80% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch RP-8000F II the better fit for a mid-size room, and JBL Stage A190 for a very large room. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch RP-8000F II is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.