In this review, we will be comparing RP-8060FA II and Concord, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and KLH.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RP-8060FA II and KLH Concord first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RP-8060FA II | KLH Concord |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch United States · founded 1946 | KLH United States · founded 1957 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Tractrix Horn | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Cerametallic | 2 x 6.5" Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-25k Hz | 28-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 98 dB | 94 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 34.40kg / 75.7lbs | 20.45kg / 45lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-1/8" x 10-7/8" x 20-13/16" 1099.0 x 277.0 x 528.0mm | 40-3/8" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16" 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both RP-8060FA II and Concord are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch RP-8060FA IIKLH Concord
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-8060FA II |
KLH Concord |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
RP-8060FA II features a 1" titanium Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1630 Hz. On the other hand, the Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer.
Frequency Response
RP-8060FA II has a frequency range of 35-25k Hz whereas Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-8060FA II's min frequency of 35Hz.
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-8060FA II and Concord have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RP-8060FA II sensitivity is rated at 98 dB and the Concord's is at 94 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8060FA II a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Concord, 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.
Concord can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas RP-8060FA II has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Concord.
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-8060FA II features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Concord has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-8060FA II's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
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-8060FA II's and KLH Concord's external dimensions. Klipsch RP-8060FA II has external dimensions of 1099.0 x 277.0 x 528.0mm (43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 20-13/16inch) whereas KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm (40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch).
Klipsch RP-8060FA II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 65mm wider, 73mm taller and 148mm deeper than KLH Concord.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch RP-8060FA II and KLH Concord in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch RP-8060FA II and KLH Concord 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-8060FA II is approximately 1462.6cm2 / 226.7inch2 and base area of the KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The RP-8060FA II requires 82% more surface area than the Concord 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-8060FA II weighs 34.40kg / 75.7lbs and the KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the RP-8060FA II 68% heavier than the Concord.
Here is a comparison of how RP-8060FA II and Concord'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-8060FA II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RP-8060FA II:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Stabilizer feet (pre-installed)
- Front grille
- Top grille (pre-installed)
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Rubber cap (pre-installed)
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of KLH Concord?
Here are the items that come with the Concord:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Rubber feet
- Port plug
- Manual
- ATTENTION! note
Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
94 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Built-in one 6.5 inch woofer and one 1-inch tweeter
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Height |
1026mm
vs
1099mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1462cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
2998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8060FA II |
KLH Concord |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
98 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-25k Hz |
28-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix Horn |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
1630 Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1099.0mm (43.3") |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
528.0mm (20.8") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
34.40kg (75.7lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Ebony |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Klipsch RP-8060FA II costs roughly 3x what KLH Concord 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 | B | KLH Concord digs deeper - 28Hz against 35Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RP-8060FA II is more sensitive (98dB vs 94dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | KLH Concord takes more power (225W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | KLH Concord is easier to place; Klipsch RP-8060FA II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Klipsch RP-8060FA II: bi-amping and Atmos drivers. |
| Price | B | KLH Concord is cheaper - $1,000 against $2,998, about 67% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch RP-8060FA II B KLH Concord
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 35Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RP-8060FA II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Concord 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.