Klipsch RP-8000F II Review

Klipsch has been quietly working away updating its Reference Premiere (RP) line of speakers. We were mightily impressed last month when we tested the flagship RP-8060FA, a monstrous sounding speaker with some very unique tricks used to optimize them for use in a Dolby Atmos system. The speaker we will review today is the new Klipsch RP-8000F. Missing from this designation is the A at the end and that’s important. This is in effect a standard floor-standing speaker, one more suited to traditional music listening as opposed to watching movies and TV. They are priced competitively as well with an RRP of around $999 USD for the pair, so how do they perform? what do they sound like and do we have any suggestions for alternatives? Read on to find out how they faired.

The Concept

The RP-8000F II is a traditionally styled tower loudspeaker. They sit second from the top in the Klipsch Reference Premier line just below the Flagship Heritage models. I say second from the top but after reviewing the 8060 I see them more suited to home theater duties rather than a Hifi speaker. The 8060 throws its sound up and over through the opening in the top where the RP-8000F II fires sound directly forward using a combination of its Horn and woofers.

The big selling point of tech here comes from two areas material choices and refinement of long-standing tradition.

The drivers of the 8000F are all based in some way on metal. The 1-inch tweeter uses titanium as its weapon of choice while the two transducers below are something Klipsch is calling Cerametal. The goal for both of these materials is to create a diaphragm that is both extremely hard (to be free of deformation) and light (to move quickly and efficiently).

It seems the focus on the 8000 is to really cut down on unwanted impurities in the sound and the tweeter has been redesigned to be a massive 90x90mm open horn that lets music pass more freely with less interference. There is also some new venting to the tweeter section that will cut down on standing waves and leave a purer end product.

Specifications

Frequency: 35-25kHz +/- 3dB

Sensitivity: 98dB @ 2.83V / 1m*

Power (Continuous/ Peak): 150W / 600W

Impedance: 8 Ohms

Tweeter: 1" Titanium LTS Vented Tweeter with Hybrid Cross-Section Expanded Tractrix® Horn

Transducers: Dual 8” Cerametallic Cone Woofers with Faraday rings

Enclosure Material: MDF

Dimensions: H-43.10" (109.5 cm) x W- 10.84" (27.5 cm) x D- 18.25" (46.3 cm)

Weight: 27.85kg

Build and Aesthetic

The first thing I thought when I laid my eyes on the Klipsch RP-8000F II is unsurprising that they look just like the MKI. The second thing I thought is that they look distinctively like a set of Klipsch speakers for better or worse. I’m not a fan of the designs but I know many people who love them. The heritage line was always more classy and appealing to me and the burnt orange cones of the more consumer focussed lines was a little gaudy. Yet at the same time, I have to admire that Klipsch has managed to distinctively brand its products so effectively. At this point, if you walk into a room and see those cones anyone with a slight interest in audio can probably identify them as a set of Klipsch.

They are big and imposing especially since there are no light color options at this moment. The black monolithic slabs are imposing and familiar at the same time. With is spot on but the depth is fair, deep. The speaker needs a fair amount of space so sitting level with a cabinet they tend to look better than when hooked up to a flatscreen against a wall.

The build is undoubted. The quality and high level of finishing are there in abundance. If it was anything else I would compare the Klipsch Reference Premiere speakers to it would be anything by apple. Although these speakers are mass produced I have never seen one come through the office with imperfection and have never sent one back. Klipsch makes quality stuff and seems to have very capable quality controls before they ever leave the factory.

Sound

The sound definitely falls into that Klipsch house sound category that everyone likes to talk about. It’s rather a grand sounding, not flat nor neutral, and generally a lot of fun while working with most genres but maybe not quite right for classical. Having heard lesser speakers in the Klipsch catalog I can vouch that there is a similar theme running throughout when it comes to how they sound.

A lot of that I think has to be down to the commonality of horn technology that Klipsch uses. Many companies use a standard dome tweeter, some use ribbons but there is something very special about the way a horn sounds. It’s full and airy and very clear in the way the top notes are presented. I enjoyed listening to jazz on the 8000F more than I ever thought I would They seemed to nail snares very well and do it with cohesion to the other frequencies.

Within that genre bass also stood out, it was fairly impactful despite me not using them in conjunction with a dedicated subwoofer. Yet the detail in nuance was really what got my toes tapping. Moving off of jazz and into EDM and house saw them really come alive and balance the ability to create deep sub bass and yet retain detail in the mid-bass with great speed and clarity.

Mids if I’m honest were a little dry, not necessarily a bad thing as it lets the bass and highs shine with greater potency but I have become accustomed to a warmer midrange and greater natural tones that I got when I reviewed the Klipsch Heresy IV (I guess I’m spoiled at this point). It’s an accurate sound that many will enjoy, for me as I get older I can about other characteristics more than pure reference tuning.

In regards to openness, imaging, and placement when set up correctly in a room with moderate sound planning they sound fantastic. Really you are able to push them in this regard and they aren’t too dependent on the source material. It’s both ruthless and forgiving overall which I found to be odd. It allowed you to dissect a track and position instruments yet at the same time doesn’t too harshly punish poor masterings.

Final Thoughts

As is the theme of this website there’s a strong theme of ending with what would I do. Honesty is the best policy and that allows you to find other speakers I like and follow along just know my tastes might not match yours. Now with that sound as a pure music speaker, the RP-80000F II is very capable but not optimal. For me, I will get more value out of a Magnepan or Martin Logan. However, where they are designed to shine is where they really shine. As an all-rounder.

The movie performance when set up as part of a Dolby Atmos system is amazing, it takes a lot of tweaking to set them upright and a little room planning was thrown in but when you dial it all in they come alive. Movies id say outstanding one of the best you can get, pure music listing very good to excellent. The thing is most audiophile speakers don’t handle movie as well as these so if you want a system capable of both duties the RP8000II are well worth it, especially if you have a large room.

Official Website of the Klipsch RP8000 II: www.klipsch.com