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SVS Prime Tower vs Klipsch R-820F Comparison

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SVS Prime Tower

Passive Floor-standing | 30-25k Hz

SVS Prime Tower
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Klipsch R-820F

Passive Floor-standing | 35-21k Hz

Klipsch Reference R-820F
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SVS Prime Tower SVS Prime Tower
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Klipsch R-820F Klipsch R-820F
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SVS Prime Tower
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Klipsch R-820F
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SVS Prime Tower vs Klipsch R-820F Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Prime Tower and R-820F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from SVS and Klipsch.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of SVS Prime Tower and Klipsch R-820F first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

SVS Prime Tower Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" dome Tweeter
  • 4.5" Midrange
  • 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
  • 30-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-250watts
  • Weight:18.23kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 931.0" x 8" x 11-11/16"( 931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm )

Klipsch R-820F Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Tweeter
  • 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
  • 35-21k Hz Frequency Response
  • 97 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 150watts
  • Weight:24.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1096.0" x 10-7/8" x 16-3/4"( 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm )

What size room are the SVS Prime Tower 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:

Listening Environment* SVS Prime Tower Klipsch R-820F
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average Poor

(* 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 SVS Prime Tower 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.


**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 Prime Tower 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 SVS Prime Tower Klipsch R-820F
Driver Setup 3-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 4.5-inch -
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 2 x 8-inch

Prime Tower features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2100Hz. On the other hand, the R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .

Frequency Response

Prime Tower has a frequency range of 30-25k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Prime Tower can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the R-820F's min frequency of 35Hz.

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

Prime Tower
R-820F
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

SVS Prime Tower
Klipsch R-820F
Min
Average
Max

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

Prime Tower and R-820F have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Prime Tower sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the R-820F's is at 97 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Tower, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Prime Tower
R-820F
Min
Average
Max

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.

Prime Tower can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Prime Tower.

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

Prime Tower features Post type posts and R-820F has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

SVS Prime Tower Terminals
SVS Prime Tower's 5-Way 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 SVS Prime Tower's and Klipsch R-820F's external dimensions. SVS Prime Tower has external dimensions of 931.0 x 204.0 x 297.0mm ( 36-5/8 x 8 x 11-11/16inch) 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) .

Klipsch R-820F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 73mm wider, 165mm taller and 129mm deeper than SVS Prime Tower.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS Prime Tower and Klipsch R-820F in scale.

SVS Prime Tower vs Klipsch R-820F Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of SVS Prime Tower and Klipsch R-820F 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 SVS Prime Tower is approximately 605.9cm2 / 93.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The Prime Tower requires 49% less surface area than the R-820F 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 SVS Prime Tower weighs 18.23kg / 40.1lbs and the Klipsch R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the R-820F 35% heavier than the Prime Tower.

Here is a comparison of how Prime Tower and R-820F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
SVS Prime Tower
Klipsch R-820F
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of SVS Prime Tower?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Tower:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille (pre-installed)
  • 4 Elastomer isolation feet (pre-installed)
  • 4 Spike feet
  • 4 Nuts
  • 4 Protective discs
  • Owners Manual
  • SVS brochure
  • Online Product Registration Card
  • What's in the Box of Klipsch R-820F?

    Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille (installed)
  • 2 Feet
  • 4 Screws
  • Quick Setup Guide
  • Important Safety Instructions
  • Warranty Information
  • Loudspeaker Feet note

  • Reasons to choose SVS Prime Tower over Klipsch Reference R-820F
    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 150 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Low Frequency Response 30 Hz vs 35 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 25k Hz vs 21k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 931mm vs 1096mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 605cm2 vs 1180cm2 Takes less floor space

    Reasons to choose Klipsch Reference R-820F over SVS Prime Tower

    Sensitivity 97 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Price per pair* 1198USD vs 1400USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    SVS Prime Tower vs Klipsch R-820F Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General SVS Prime Tower Klipsch Reference R-820F
    Brand SVS Klipsch
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-250 watts up to 150 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 97 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 30-25k Hz 35-21k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 8"
    Woofer Composition Polypropylene Copper-spun IMG
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type dome n/a
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 4.5" No
    Crossover Frequency 350Hz and 2100Hz n/a
    Firing Direction rear n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 931.0mm (36.7") 1096.0mm (43.1")
    Width 204.0mm (8") 277.0mm (10.9")
    Depth 297.0mm (11.7") 426.0mm (16.8")
    Weight 18.23kg (40.1lbs) 24.55kg (54lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-grain vinyl MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Black Black
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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