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.
| Key Specs | Klipsch RF-7 III | Definitive BP-9080X |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.75" dome | 1" dome |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 4 x 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 10" Cerametallic | 12" Polypropelene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-25k Hz | 16-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 100 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 250 watts | 50-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 44.10kg / 97lbs | 28.18kg / 62lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 49-1/16" x 13-15/16" x 17-15/16"
1247.0 x 355.0 x 456.0mm | 51-1/2" 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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.
Klipsch RF-7 IIIDefinitive BP-9080X
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| 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.
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
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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
BP-9080X can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas RF-7 III has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the BP-9080X.
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. 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
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 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.
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 RF-7 III weighs 44.10kg / 97lbs and the Definitive BP-9080X weighs 28.18kg / 62lbs. This makes the RF-7 III 56% heavier than the BP-9080X.
Here is a comparison of how RF-7 III and BP-9080X'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 RF-7 III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RF-7 III:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Plinth
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- 2 Jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Machine screws
- Owners Manual
What's in the Box of Definitive BP-9080X?
Here are the items that come with the BP-9080X:
- Tower loudspeaker
- 6.5-feet AC power cord
- Top-grille (installed)
- Stabilizer base
- 4 Floor guides
- 4 Carpet spikes
- 4 Screws
- 4 Nuts
- Owners Manual
- What Obsession Sounds Like card
 Sensitivity |
100 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
1247mm
vs
1309mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
|
Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
2 x 12-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Built-in 1 x 5-1/4
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Base Surface Area |
1303cm2
vs
1618cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
3998USD
vs
4398USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Reference RF-7 III |
Definitive Technology BP-9080X |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Definitive Technology |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
50-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
100 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
32-25k Hz |
16-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Cerametallic |
Polypropelene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.75" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1300Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1247.0mm (49.1") |
1309.0mm (51.5") |
| Width |
355.0mm (14") |
318.0mm (12.5") |
| Depth |
456.0mm (18") |
410.0mm (16.1") |
| Weight |
44.10kg (97lbs) |
28.18kg (62lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Aluminum/Cloth |
| Available Colors |
Black ash, Cherry, Walnut |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Definitive BP-9080X digs deeper - 16Hz against 32Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch RF-7 III is more sensitive (100dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (250W vs 300W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch RF-7 III: bi-amping; Definitive BP-9080X: Atmos drivers. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($4,398 vs $3,998 a pair). |
A Klipsch RF-7 III B Definitive BP-9080X
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 32Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Definitive BP-9080X the better fit for a very large room; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.