In this review, we will be comparing SE 8000F and RP-6000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Paradigm and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Paradigm SE 8000F and Klipsch RP-6000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Paradigm SE 8000F and Klipsch RP-6000F 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 Paradigm SE 8000F and Klipsch RP-6000F 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SE 8000F is a 3-way design whereas the RP-6000F is a 2-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 |
Paradigm SE 8000F |
Klipsch RP-6000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
SE 8000F features a 1" Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the RP-6000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
SE 8000F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz whereas RP-6000F has a frequency range of 34-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the RP-6000F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the SE 8000F's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
SE 8000F and RP-6000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SE 8000F sensitivity is rated at 95 dB and the RP-6000F's is at 97 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-6000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Paradigm SE 8000F, 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.
SE 8000F can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-6000F has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the SE 8000F.
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
RP-6000F features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. SE 8000F has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE 8000F's Post terminals
Klipsch RP-6000F's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SE 8000F and RP-6000F have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Paradigm SE 8000F's and Klipsch RP-6000F's external dimensions. Paradigm SE 8000F has external dimensions of 1169.0 x 299.0 x 451.0mm ( 46 x 11-3/4 x 17-3/4inch) whereas Klipsch RP-6000F has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 237.0 x 432.0mm ( 39-3/4 x 9-5/16 x 17inch) .
Paradigm SE 8000F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 62mm wider, 159mm taller and 19mm deeper than Klipsch RP-6000F.
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 Paradigm SE 8000F is approximately 1348.5cm2 / 209.0inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-6000F is approximately 1023.8cm2 / 158.7inch2. The SE 8000F requires 32% more surface area than the RP-6000F 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 Paradigm SE 8000F weighs 31.36kg / 69lbs and the Klipsch RP-6000F weighs 22.27kg / 49lbs. This makes the SE 8000F 41% heavier than the RP-6000F.
Here is a comparison of how SE 8000F and RP-6000F'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 Paradigm SE 8000F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SE 8000F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Rubber feet
4 Spike feet
Owner's Manual
Online Registration Card
Unboxing Instructions
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-6000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-6000F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (installed)Grille (installed)2 Terminal jumpers (installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
95 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
45 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 |
 Height |
1010mm
vs
1169mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1023cm2 (237x432mm)
vs
1348cm2 (299x451mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1378USD
vs
1700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Monitor SE 8000F |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-150 watts |
up to 125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-21k Hz |
34-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mineral-filled polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1169.0mm (46") |
1010.0mm (39.8") |
| Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
237.0mm (9.3") |
| Depth |
451.0mm (17.8") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
31.36kg (69lbs) |
22.27kg (49lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |