In this review, we will be comparing RP-8000F II and Heresy IV, 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 IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-8000F II | Klipsch Heresy IV |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Cerametallic cone | 12" Fiber-composite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-25k Hz | 48-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 98 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 28.00kg / 61.6lbs | 20.45kg / 45lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 24-13/16" x 15-1/2" x 13-1/4"
631.0 x 394.0 x 337.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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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 IV 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 IIKlipsch Heresy IV
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 |
Klipsch Heresy IV |
|
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 IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded 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 IV has a frequency range of 48-20k 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 IV's min frequency of 48Hz.
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 and Heresy IV 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 IV's is at 99 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch Heresy IV 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. 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 Heresy IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 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
Both RP-8000F II and Heresy IV 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 Klipsch Heresy IV'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 IV has external dimensions of 631.0 x 394.0 x 337.0mm (24-13/16 x 15-1/2 x 13-1/4inch).
Klipsch Heresy IV is 466mm shorter and 110mm 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 IV in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-8000F II and Klipsch Heresy IV 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 IV is approximately 1327.8cm2 / 205.8inch2. The RP-8000F II requires 7% less surface area than the Heresy IV 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 IV weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the RP-8000F II 37% heavier than the Heresy IV.
Here is a comparison of how RP-8000F II and Heresy IV'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 Klipsch Heresy IV?
Here are the items that come with the Heresy IV:
- 2 Floor-standing loudspeakers
- 2 Detachable grilles (installed)
- 2 Base risers (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- 4 Jumper-straps (installed)
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch 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
48 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
vs
1327cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1798USD
vs
3198USD
|
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 |
631mm
vs
1097mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II |
Klipsch Heritage Heresy IV |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
48-20k 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 |
horn-loaded |
| 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") |
631.0mm (24.8") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
394.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
447.0mm (17.6") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Weight |
28.00kg (61.6lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch Heresy IV costs roughly 1.8x what Klipsch RP-8000F II 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 48Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (98dB vs 99dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch Heresy IV 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 Heresy IV: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Klipsch RP-8000F II is cheaper - $1,798 against $3,198, about 44% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-8000F II B Klipsch Heresy IV
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 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Klipsch Heresy IV if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. 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, Klipsch Heresy IV 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.