In this review, we will be comparing R-820F and RF-7 III, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch R-820F and Klipsch RF-7 III first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
R-820F and RF-7 III 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 RF-7 III 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 R-820F and Klipsch RF-7 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
Both R-820F and RF-7 III are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch R-820F |
Klipsch RF-7 III |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 10-inch
|
R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer . On the other hand, the RF-7 III features a 1.75" titanium dome Tweeter and 2 x 10" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1300Hz.
Frequency Response
R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz whereas RF-7 III has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RF-7 III can go slightly deeper then the R-820F's min frequency of 35Hz.
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
R-820F and RF-7 III 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 RF-7 III's is at 100 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch RF-7 III a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch R-820F, 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.
R-820F can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the RF-7 III.
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
RF-7 III features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-820F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RF-7 III'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 R-820F's and Klipsch RF-7 III'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 RF-7 III has external dimensions of 1247.0 x 355.0 x 456.0mm ( 49-1/16 x 13-15/16 x 17-15/16inch) .
Klipsch RF-7 III is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 78mm wider, 151mm taller and 30mm deeper than Klipsch R-820F.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch R-820F and Klipsch RF-7 III in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch R-820F and Klipsch RF-7 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 R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RF-7 III is approximately 1618.8cm2 / 250.9inch2. The R-820F requires 27% less surface area than the RF-7 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 R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs and the Klipsch RF-7 III weighs 44.10kg / 97lbs. This makes the RF-7 III 80% heavier than the R-820F.
Here is a comparison of how R-820F and RF-7 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 R-820F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R-820F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
What's in the Box of Klipsch RF-7 III?
Here are the items that come with the RF-7 III:
Floorstanding loudspeakerPlinthGrille4 Spike feet4 Rubber feet2 Jumpers (pre-installed)4 Machine screwsOwners Manual
 Height |
1096mm
vs
1247mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1180cm2 (277x426mm)
vs
1618cm2 (355x456mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
4398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
100 dB
vs
97 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
Klipsch Reference RF-7 III |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 150 watts |
up to 250 watts |
| Sensitivity |
97 dB |
100 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-21k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Copper-spun IMG |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1.75" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1300Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
1247.0mm (49.1") |
| Width |
277.0mm (10.9") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
426.0mm (16.8") |
456.0mm (18") |
| Weight |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
44.10kg (97lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black ash, Cherry, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |