In this review, we will be comparing RF-7 III and BP-9080X, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Definitive Technology.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch RF-7 III and Definitive BP-9080X first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch RF-7 III Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1.75" dome Tweeter
- 2 x 10" Cerametallic Woofer
- 32-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 100 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 250watts
- Weight:44.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1247.0" x 13-15/16" x 17-15/16"( 1247.0 x 355.0 x 456.0mm )
Definitive BP-9080X Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Midrange
- 12" Polypropelene Woofer
- 5.25" Midrange
- 16-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 92 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:50-300watts
- Weight:28.18kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1309.0" x 12-1/2" x 16-1/8"( 1309.0 x 318.0 x 410.0mm )
What size room are the Klipsch RF-7 III and Definitive BP-9080X 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 RF-7 III |
Definitive BP-9080X |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Are you nuts? |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Good |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch RF-7 III and Definitive BP-9080X compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that RF-7 III is a 2-way design whereas the BP-9080X 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 RF-7 III |
Definitive BP-9080X |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
4 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 10-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
RF-7 III features a 1.75" titanium dome Tweeter and 2 x 10" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1300Hz. On the other hand, the BP-9080X features a 1" annealed aluminum dome Tweeter , a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Polypropelene Woofer .
Frequency Response
RF-7 III has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz whereas BP-9080X has a frequency range of 16-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the BP-9080X can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RF-7 III's min frequency of 32Hz.
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
Impedance and Sensitivity
RF-7 III and BP-9080X have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RF-7 III sensitivity is rated at 100 dB and the BP-9080X's is at 92 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RF-7 III a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive BP-9080X, 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.
RF-7 III can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RF-7 III has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the BP-9080X.
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. BP-9080X has a 5-Way post, RCA which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch RF-7 III's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Definitive BP-9080X's 5-Way post, RCA terminals
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 RF-7 III's and Definitive BP-9080X's external dimensions. 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) whereas Definitive BP-9080X has external dimensions of 1309.0 x 318.0 x 410.0mm ( 51-1/2 x 12-1/2 x 16-1/8inch) .
Definitive BP-9080X is 37mm narrower and 46mm less deeper than Klipsch RF-7 III but it is also 62mm taller.
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 RF-7 III is approximately 1618.8cm2 / 250.9inch2 and base area of the Definitive BP-9080X is approximately 1303.8cm2 / 202.1inch2. The RF-7 III requires 24% more surface area than the BP-9080X which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.