In this review, we will be comparing RP-8000F II and Sonetto V, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Sonus Faber. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-8000F II and Sonus Sonetto V first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Klipsch RP-8000F II and Sonus Sonetto V 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 Sonus Sonetto V 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 Sonetto V 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 |
Sonus Sonetto V |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.15-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 7-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 Sonetto V features a 1.15" high definition DAD Dome Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 7" aluminum cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 235 and 3.000 Hz.
Frequency Response
RP-8000F II has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz whereas Sonetto V has a frequency range of 38-25k 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 Sonetto V's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Sonetto V which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Sonetto V can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. RP-8000F II sensitivity is rated at 98 dB and the Sonetto V's is rated at 90 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F II a more sensitive speaker compared to Sonus Sonetto V, 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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-8000F II has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Sonetto V.
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 Sonetto V 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
Sonus Sonetto V's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
RP-8000F II has a rear firing port whereas Sonetto V has a bottom firing ports. Sonus Sonetto V's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-8000F II with its rear-firing port.
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 Sonus Sonetto V'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 Sonus Sonetto V has external dimensions of 1072.0 x 258.0 x 409.0mm ( 42 x 10 x 16inch) .
Klipsch RP-8000F II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 25mm taller and 38mm deeper than Sonus Sonetto V.
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 Sonus Sonetto V is approximately 1055.2cm2 / 163.6inch2. The RP-8000F II requires 17% more surface area than the Sonetto V 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 Sonus Sonetto V weighs 22.60kg / 49.7lbs. This makes the RP-8000F II 24% heavier than the Sonetto V.
Here is a comparison of how RP-8000F II and Sonetto V'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 Sonus Sonetto V?
Here are the items that come with the Sonetto V:
8 Spikes8 Under Spikes8 Spike locks2 Masks2 Fabric dust guards2 Basis16 Locking screws2 Jumpers1 Allen Wrench1 Manual
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
7 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Height |
1072mm
vs
1097mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1055cm2 (258x409mm)
vs
1238cm2 (277x447mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F II |
Sonus Faber Sonetto V |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Sonus Faber |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
38-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
7" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic cone |
aluminum cone |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.15" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
high definition DAD Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
235 and 3.000 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1097.0mm (43.2") |
1072.0mm (42.2") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
447.0mm (17.6") |
409.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
28.00kg (61.6lbs) |
22.60kg (49.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black |
Wood, White, Black, Wenge |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
|
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
|