Short answer: the Polk Audio Reserve R700. It ranks #32 of 68 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $1199; the Klipsch RP-8000F II ranks #52 and costs $1800, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Polk Audio Reserve R700 offers: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. On-axis frequency response holds within about ±2dB across most of its range, with genuinely deep bass extension (F3 40Hz) reaching into the mid-30s Hz in-room. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70°, giving a strong, enveloping stereo width and stage-extension effect on well-recorded tracks. Good low-level dynamics - solid bass thump at quiet listening volumes without over-accentuation. Strong distortion and compression control through the bass and midrange. Real nominal impedance closer to 4 ohms than the marketed 8 ohms, so with the right amplifier it can be driven hard - a $3,000 two-channel integrated brought out significantly more life than a budget $300 unit could. Excellent value at its roughly $2,200/pair MSRP, ranking among the reviewer’s top picks under $2,500; outperforms the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-8000F II in bass extension and overall smoothness. Watch for: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output - a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers. Horizontal directivity mismatch around 4-5kHz, where the tweeter flares wider than the midrange, can sound a bit forward - especially noticeable when toed out further into the room; sidewall absorption or curtains help tame it. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 7kHz at 96dB output, possibly contributing to that same forward quality at high volume. Narrow vertical sweet spot (about ±15° from the tweeter axis), typical of non-coaxial tower designs - more of a consideration for multi-row home theater seating than single-row listening. The ring-radiator tweeter narrows noticeably above about 7-8kHz, and toeing the speaker out more than about 20° causes the top end to fall off quickly. Needs at least 2 feet of clearance from the rear wall to avoid boomy, exaggerated bass, since it lacks the bass-shelf tuning some rivals use to allow closer wall placement. Compared to the pricier KEF R5 Meta, has narrower horizontal (and much narrower vertical) directivity, so seating flexibility is more limited.
What the Klipsch RP-8000F II offers: Highest sensitivity of the RP II floorstander line (~92dB measured) and the best dynamics/compression behavior of the three under load - the cleanest at high output. Dual 8-inch woofers and the highest power handling in the line. Watch for: Mid-bass sounds lean despite the dual 8-inch woofers, and bass extension disappointed for its size - expected to reach 50Hz, didn’t get there in-room. Has its own edgy upper-mid bump (2-6kHz) that’s harder to EQ out than the other two models’ issues, since it stems from the vertical horn/woofer offset rather than simple tonal balance. The most placement-critical of the three, with the narrowest horizontal (~40-50 degrees) and vertical (+5/-10 degrees) dispersion.
Buy the Polk Audio Reserve R700. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Klipsch RP-8000F II and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Klipsch RP-8000F II. It ranks near the bottom of the 68 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio Reserve R700 | Klipsch RP-8000F II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,199.00 | $1800 |
| Ranked | #32 of 68 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #52 of 68 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 92dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 2x 8" polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5" turbine cone midrange, 1x 1" Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter | 1" titanium tweeter with 90x90 Tractrix horn, dual 8" cerametallic woofers |
| Weight | 102.1 lbs / 46.3 kg | 61.3 lbs / 27.8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing | ported, rear |
| Dimensions | 45"H x 12.6"W x 16.9"D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) | 43.1" x 10.8" x 18.3" (1095 x 275 x 464 mm) |
| Frequency Response | - | 35Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1630Hz |
| Output Power | - | 150W continuous, 600W peak |
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- Klipsch RP-5000F II vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
- Q Acoustics 5040 vs Klipsch RP-8000F II
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The Two Speakers In Full
Polk Audio Reserve R700: $1,199.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: Three-way design with a 1” ring radiator tweeter, 6.5” mid-range, and dual 8” mid-bass drivers in a ported, down-firing cabinet. On-axis frequency response holds within about ±2dB across most of its range, with genuinely deep bass extension (F3 40Hz) reaching into the mid-30s Hz in-room. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±70°, giving a strong, enveloping stereo width and stage-extension effect on well-recorded tracks. Good low-level dynamics - solid bass thump at quiet listening volumes without over-accentuation. Strong distortion and compression control through the bass and midrange. Real nominal impedance closer to 4 ohms than the marketed 8 ohms, so with the right amplifier it can be driven hard - a $3,000 two-channel integrated brought out significantly more life than a budget $300 unit could. Excellent value at its roughly $2,200/pair MSRP, ranking among the reviewer’s top picks under $2,500; outperforms the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-8000F II in bass extension and overall smoothness.
Cons: Compression in the high frequencies rises sharply between 96dB and 102dB output - a real limitation only at very high volumes (around 100dB at 3 meters), but a clear step down from pricier ($5,000+) towers. Horizontal directivity mismatch around 4-5kHz, where the tweeter flares wider than the midrange, can sound a bit forward - especially noticeable when toed out further into the room; sidewall absorption or curtains help tame it. Harmonic distortion crosses the reviewer’s 3% threshold around 7kHz at 96dB output, possibly contributing to that same forward quality at high volume. Narrow vertical sweet spot (about ±15° from the tweeter axis), typical of non-coaxial tower designs - more of a consideration for multi-row home theater seating than single-row listening. The ring-radiator tweeter narrows noticeably above about 7-8kHz, and toeing the speaker out more than about 20° causes the top end to fall off quickly. Needs at least 2 feet of clearance from the rear wall to avoid boomy, exaggerated bass, since it lacks the bass-shelf tuning some rivals use to allow closer wall placement. Compared to the pricier KEF R5 Meta, has narrower horizontal (and much narrower vertical) directivity, so seating flexibility is more limited.
Full Polk Audio Reserve R700 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 40Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 45"H x 12.6"W x 16.9"D (1143.8 x 320.7 x 428.3 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 8" polypropylene cone woofers, 1x 6.5" turbine cone midrange, 1x 1" Pinnacle ring radiator tweeter |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured above 80Hz, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB (measured average 300Hz-3kHz @ 2.83V/1m, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 102.1 lbs / 46.3 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, down-firing |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Top 5 Just Changed: Polk Audio Reserve R700 Review More from Erin’s Audio Corner →
- Erin’s Audio Corner: My Absolute Favorite Products of 2024 Revealed
- Erin’s Audio Corner Website: Polk Audio Reserve R700
- Erin’s Audio Corner Measurements (spinorama.org)
- Reddit Search for Polk Audio Reserve R700 Review
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs Q Acoustics 5040
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- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs Polk Reserve R500
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs JBL HDI-3600
- Polk Audio Reserve R700 vs KEF R11 Meta
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- See all 27 comparisons
Klipsch RP-8000F II: $1800 Amazon eBay
Pros: Highest sensitivity of the RP II floorstander line (~92dB measured) and the best dynamics/compression behavior of the three under load - the cleanest at high output. Dual 8-inch woofers and the highest power handling in the line.
Cons: Mid-bass sounds lean despite the dual 8-inch woofers, and bass extension disappointed for its size - expected to reach 50Hz, didn’t get there in-room. Has its own edgy upper-mid bump (2-6kHz) that’s harder to EQ out than the other two models’ issues, since it stems from the vertical horn/woofer offset rather than simple tonal balance. The most placement-critical of the three, with the narrowest horizontal (~40-50 degrees) and vertical (+5/-10 degrees) dispersion.
Full Klipsch RP-8000F II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1630Hz |
| Dimensions | 43.1" x 10.8" x 18.3" (1095 x 275 x 464 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" titanium tweeter with 90x90 Tractrix horn, dual 8" cerametallic woofers |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Output Power | 150W continuous, 600W peak |
| Sensitivity | 92dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 61.3 lbs / 27.8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs Dynaudio Emit 30
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs Klipsch RP-6000F II
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs Polk T50
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs Klipsch RP-5000F II
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs KLH Model Five
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Klipsch RP-8000F II vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- See all 29 comparisons