In this review, we will be comparing SE 8000F and R-820F, 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 R-820F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Paradigm SE 8000F and Klipsch R-820F 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 R-820F 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 R-820F 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 R-820F |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6.5-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
SE 8000F features a 1" Tweeter , a 6.5" Midrange and 3 x 8" Mineral-filled polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .
Frequency Response
SE 8000F has a frequency range of 45-21k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F 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 R-820F 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 R-820F's is at 97 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F 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.
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
SE 8000F features Post type posts and R-820F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Paradigm SE 8000F's Post 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 Paradigm SE 8000F's and Klipsch R-820F'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 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) .
Paradigm SE 8000F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 73mm taller and 25mm deeper than Klipsch R-820F.
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 R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The SE 8000F requires 14% more surface area than the R-820F 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 R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the SE 8000F 28% heavier than the R-820F.
Here is a comparison of how SE 8000F and R-820F'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 R-820F?
Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 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 |
35 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1096mm
vs
1169mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1180cm2 (277x426mm)
vs
1348cm2 (299x451mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1700USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Paradigm Monitor SE 8000F |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
| Brand |
Paradigm |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
15-150 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
95 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-21k Hz |
35-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mineral-filled polypropylene |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
6.5" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1169.0mm (46") |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
451.0mm (17.8") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| Weight |
31.36kg (69lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |