Short answer: the RCF ART 708-A MK5, if you are buying new. The RCF ART 708-A MK4 ranks higher than the Audiofocus VENU 8a (#37 vs #46 of 47 8-inch pa speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the RCF ART 708-A MK5, is rated 3.4/5 at $449 and is still sold new.
The ART 708-A MK4 is discontinued but affordable and straightforward. Its 22.9 lbs (10.4 kg) cabinet combines a 127dB claimed peak, a broad horn and RCF’s FiRPHASE processing. The low-quality vendor measurement is truncated and can’t produce a reliable preference score, and RCF’s own newer ART 708-A MK5 is the better buy if it’s available at a similar price, but as a budget option this MK4 is still a sound choice.
The VENU 8a costs roughly four times as much and measures far behind. Low-quality vendor data gives it a 1.68 ideal-subwoofer preference score, the weakest measured result of any speaker in this family of rankings, with bass extension only to roughly 106Hz. Its 80° x 80° horn does deliver unusually wide, symmetric coverage and a 134dB claimed peak, useful for stage-monitor work, but it’s voiced as a subwoofer-dependent top rather than a stand-alone full-range box, and at this price that’s a hard sell.
Buy the ART 708-A MK4 for value: it costs a fraction of the VENU 8a and isn’t handicapped by a documented weak measurement.
Buy the VENU 8a only if you specifically need its 80° x 80° symmetric horn coverage for stage-monitor duty and are already planning to run it with a subwoofer.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
A discontinued, affordable powered 8 inch PA speaker with a broad horn and simple setup.
A powered 8 inch stage speaker with very wide, even coverage and high peak output, meant to sit above a subwoofer.
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Specifications Side By Side
| RCF ART 708-A MK4 | Audiofocus VENU 8a | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $525.00 Discontinued | $2,100 |
| Ranked | #37 of 47 in 8-Inch PA Speakers | #46 of 47 in 8-Inch PA Speakers |
| Passive | No | No |
| Configuration | Active 2-way bass-reflex PA speaker | Active 2-way full-range PA speaker |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, 1” compression driver | 8” woofer, 1” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) | 55Hz - 20kHz (-6dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 18.9”H x 11.5”W x 10.9”D (480 x 291 x 276 mm) | 16.9”H x 10.7”W x 11.5”D (430 x 273 x 291 mm) |
| Inputs | XLR/jack combo input; XLR output | Three-pin XLR input and link output |
| Amplifier Power | 800W peak / 400W RMS (600W LF + 200W HF peak, manufacturer specified) | 430W AES / 1,720W peak (350W LF + 80W HF AES, manufacturer specified) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.6kHz (manufacturer specified) | - |
| Cabinet Material | Polypropylene composite | High-grade birch plywood with polyurea coating |
| Rigging | Two M10 fly points; 35mm pole socket | Adjustable pole mount and M8 threaded inserts |
| Coverage | 100° x 70° | 80° x 80° |
| Maximum SPL | 127dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 134dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 75Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 112Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| DSP | Yes, FiRPHASE, EQ, limiting and protection | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Weight | 22.9 lbs (10.4 kg) | 25.4 lbs (11.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | Yes | Yes |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | Yes | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | -2.04 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 1.68 |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared.
Measurement data: RCF ART 708-A MK4 (measured by the manufacturer) and Audiofocus VENU 8a (measured by the manufacturer), via spinorama.org.
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