In this review, we will be comparing S60 and RP-8000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-8000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-8000F 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 Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-8000F 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
Both S60 and RP-8000F are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk S60 |
Klipsch RP-8000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
S60 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the RP-8000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
S60 has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz whereas RP-8000F has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the S60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RP-8000F'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
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
S60 and RP-8000F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S60 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-8000F's is at 98 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-8000F a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk S60, 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.
S60 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RP-8000F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the S60.
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
Both S60 and RP-8000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Polk S60's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Klipsch RP-8000F's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S60 has a bottom firing port whereas RP-8000F has a rear firing ports. Polk S60's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch RP-8000F with its rear-firing port.
Polk S60 Port
Klipsch RP-8000F Port
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 Polk S60's and Klipsch RP-8000F's external dimensions. Polk S60 has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm ( 44-1/2 x 11-3/4 x 15-3/4inch) whereas Klipsch RP-8000F has external dimensions of 1099.0 x 277.0 x 445.0mm ( 43-1/4 x 10-7/8 x 17-1/2inch) .
Klipsch RP-8000F is 22mm narrower and 32mm shorter than Polk S60 but it is also 44mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-8000F in scale.
Comparison image of Polk S60 and Klipsch RP-8000F 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 Polk S60 is approximately 1199.0cm2 / 185.8inch2 and base area of the Klipsch RP-8000F is approximately 1232.7cm2 / 191.1inch2. The S60 requires 3% less surface area than the RP-8000F 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 Polk S60 weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs and the Klipsch RP-8000F weighs 27.27kg / 60lbs. This makes the RP-8000F 16% heavier than the S60.
Here is a comparison of how S60 and RP-8000F'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 Polk S60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-8000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-8000F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (installed)Grille (installed)2 Terminal jumpers (installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1199cm2 (299x401mm)
vs
1232cm2 (277x445mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
898USD
vs
1658USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1099mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature S60 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-8000F |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-300 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
26-40k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
1099.0mm (43.3") |
| Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
401.0mm (15.8") |
445.0mm (17.5") |
| Weight |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
27.27kg (60lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
Meddite MDF |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |