In this review, we will be comparing R-820F and R-625FA, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-820F and Klipsch R-625FA first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-820F | Klipsch R-625FA |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG | 2 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-21k Hz | 38-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 97 dB | 96 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 24.55kg / 54lbs | 22.20kg / 48.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-1/8" x 10-7/8" x 16-3/4"
1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm | 40-3/16" x 9-3/8" x 16-3/4"
1021.0 x 239.0 x 426.0mm |
|---|
R-820F and R-625FA are members of Klipsch's Reference (R) Floor-standing series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Reference (R) Floor-standing Series
History
What size room are the Klipsch R-820F and Klipsch R-625FA 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 R-820F |
Klipsch R-625FA |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 R-820F and R-625FA are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-820FKlipsch R-625FA
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 R-820F |
Klipsch R-625FA |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer. On the other hand, the R-625FA features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz whereas R-625FA has a frequency range of 38-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F can go slightly deeper then the R-625FA's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
R-820F and R-625FA have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R-820F sensitivity is rated at 97 dB and the R-625FA's is at 96 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch R-625FA, 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.
R-820F can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas R-625FA has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the R-820F.
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
R-820F features Post type posts and R-625FA has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-625FA's 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 R-820F's and Klipsch R-625FA's external dimensions. Klipsch R-820F has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm (43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 16-3/4inch) whereas Klipsch R-625FA has external dimensions of 1021.0 x 239.0 x 426.0mm (40-3/16 x 9-3/8 x 16-3/4inch).
Klipsch R-625FA is 38mm narrower and 75mm shorter than Klipsch R-820F but they have the same thickness of 426.0mm.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-820F and Klipsch R-625FA in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-820F and Klipsch R-625FA 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 R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-625FA is approximately 1018.1cm2 / 157.8inch2. The R-820F requires 16% more surface area than the R-625FA 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 R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs and the Klipsch R-625FA weighs 22.20kg / 48.8lbs. This makes the R-820F 11% heavier than the R-625FA.
Here is a comparison of how R-820F and R-625FA'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 R-820F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-820F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (installed)
- 2 Feet
- 4 Screws
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
- Loudspeaker Feet note
What's in the Box of Klipsch R-625FA?
Here are the items that come with the R-625FA:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 2 Feet
- 4 Screws
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
- Loudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
96 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1658USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Built-in 1 x 5.25
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1021mm
vs
1096mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1018cm2
vs
1180cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
Klipsch Reference R-625FA |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
97 dB |
96 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-21k Hz |
38-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Copper-spun IMG |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
1021.0mm (40.2") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
239.0mm (9.4") |
| Depth |
426.0mm (16.8") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
22.20kg (48.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in Klipsch's Reference (R) Floor-standing series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch R-820F digs deeper - 35Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (97dB vs 96dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch R-820F takes more power (150W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | B | Klipsch R-625FA: Atmos drivers. |
| Price | A | Klipsch R-820F is cheaper - $1,198 against $1,658, about 28% less. |
A Klipsch R-820F B Klipsch R-625FA
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 R-820F has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch R-820F the better fit for a large room, and Klipsch R-625FA for a small room. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $460 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.