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.
| Key Specs | Klipsch R-820F | Klipsch RF-7 III |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1.75" dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG | 2 x 10" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-21k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 97 dB | 100 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 150 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 24.55kg / 54lbs | 44.10kg / 97lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 49-1/16" x 13-15/16" x 17-15/16"
1247.0 x 355.0 x 456.0mm |
|---|
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:
| Listening Environment* |
Klipsch R-820F |
Klipsch RF-7 III |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 RF-7 III are 2-way speakers.
Klipsch R-820FKlipsch RF-7 III
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 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.
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 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
RF-7 III can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the RF-7 III.
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
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
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 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 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 RF-7 III?
Here are the items that come with the RF-7 III:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Plinth
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Machine screws
- Owners Manual
 Height |
1096mm
vs
1247mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1180cm2
vs
1618cm2
|
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 |
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 | B | Klipsch RF-7 III digs deeper - 32Hz against 35Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RF-7 III is more sensitive (100dB vs 97dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Klipsch RF-7 III takes more power (250W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-820F is easier to place; Klipsch RF-7 III is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | Klipsch RF-7 III: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Klipsch R-820F is cheaper - $1,198 against $4,398, about 73% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch R-820F B Klipsch RF-7 III
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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch RF-7 III measures better, Klipsch R-820F costs about about 3.7x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch R-820F the better fit for a mid-size room, and Klipsch RF-7 III for a very large room. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch RF-7 III has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch R-820F 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.