In this review, we will be comparing RP-8000F II and Heresy III, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-8000F II and Klipsch Heresy III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch RP-8000F II and Klipsch Heresy III 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 Heresy III 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 |
Klipsch Heresy III |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 12-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 Heresy III features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fiber-composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
RP-8000F II has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz whereas Heresy III has a frequency range of 58-20k 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 Heresy III's min frequency of 58Hz.
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 and Heresy III have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-8000F II sensitivity is rated at 98 dB and the Heresy III's is at 99 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch Heresy III a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch RP-8000F II, 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 Heresy III has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 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
Both RP-8000F II and Heresy III 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
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 Klipsch Heresy III'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 Klipsch Heresy III has external dimensions of 607.0 x 394.0 x 342.0mm ( 23-7/8 x 15-1/2 x 13-7/16inch) .
Klipsch Heresy III is 490mm shorter and 105mm less deeper than Klipsch RP-8000F II but it is also 117mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-8000F II and Klipsch Heresy III in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-8000F II and Klipsch Heresy III 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 Klipsch Heresy III is approximately 1347.5cm2 / 208.9inch2. The RP-8000F II requires 8% less surface area than the Heresy III 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 Klipsch Heresy III weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs. This makes the RP-8000F II 40% heavier than the Heresy III.
Here is a comparison of how RP-8000F II and Heresy III'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 Klipsch Heresy III?
Here are the items that come with the Heresy III:
Floor-standing loudspeakerDetachable grille (installed)Base riser (installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Base Surface Area |
1238cm2 (277x447mm)
vs
1347cm2 (394x342mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1798USD
vs
2346USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
98 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
607mm
vs
1097mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II |
Klipsch Capitol Heresy III |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
58-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
Fiber-composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Treated cloth |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
Tractrix horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1097.0mm (43.2") |
607.0mm (23.9") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
447.0mm (17.6") |
342.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
28.00kg (61.6lbs) |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Blonde Cherry |
| 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 |