Klipsch’s Reference Premiere II flagship floorstanders, side by side. Here is the Atmos-enabled RP-8060FA II alongside the standard RP-8000F II and the RP-6000F II, showing what your money buys and where they differ.

The RP-8060FA II is the RP-8000F II with a trick built in: a second, up-firing speaker in the top of each cabinet, angled to bounce sound off the ceiling and create the overhead Dolby Atmos height channel without ceiling speakers. In every other respect it is the flagship of Klipsch’s Reference Premiere II range, dual 8-inch Cerametallic woofers and the titanium LTS Tractrix tweeter in a big, dynamic, high-efficiency tower. It is aimed above all at home cinema, where the integrated height module earns its keep, but it works as a full-range stereo floorstander too, with the up-firing module simply left unused.

Brief product overview

A floorstander combining two speaker systems in one cabinet. The main tower is a 2.5-way with a 1-inch titanium LTS vented tweeter in a 90 by 90 degree hybrid Tractrix horn and two 8-inch Cerametallic woofers with Faraday rings, 98dB sensitive into 8 ohms, 150 watts continuous, reaching 35Hz, vented through dual rear Tractrix ports. Integrated into the top is a separate up-firing Dolby Atmos module, a 6.5-inch Cerametallic woofer and 1-inch Tractrix-horn tweeter in a sealed acoustic-suspension enclosure, handling up to 100 watts, with its own binding posts. That means each speaker has two sets of terminals: the main tower’s dual bi-wire/bi-amp posts, and the height module’s single pair, which needs its own amplifier channel from an Atmos-capable processor. The main tower’s terminals also carry Atmos passthrough for add-on modules. It measures 1,095 x 275 x 528mm and weighs 34.35kg each, in ebony or walnut vinyl.

How it sounds

As a main speaker the RP-8060FA II is the RP-8000F II, high-impact, cinematic and dynamic, with dual 8-inch woofers delivering tight, powerful bass to 35Hz and the Tractrix horn keeping dialogue and detail sharp, all with the very high efficiency that lets it fill a large room on modest power. What it adds is height: fed by an Atmos-capable receiver or processor, the up-firing module places effects convincingly overhead, and because it uses the same Cerametallic-and-Tractrix technology as the main tower, those height effects match the tonal character of everything below them, which is the point of building it in rather than bolting on a generic module. In stereo, the height module simply stays silent and you have a flagship Klipsch floorstander.

What we’d partner it with

The RP-8060FA II is built for home cinema, so its fullest use is with an Atmos-capable AV receiver or processor that can drive the height modules. But it also makes a formidable two-channel speaker, and that is how the systems below treat it, using the main tower with a stereo amplifier and leaving the height module for a cinema build.

The Arcam A50 Signature is a fitting flagship partner: a dual-mono Class G integrated delivering 150 watts into 8 ohms and 220 into 4, with a Class A phono stage and a balanced XLR input. The RP-8060FA II’s 98dB sensitivity means that power is never remotely stretched, so the pairing is effortless. Good alternatives from brands we carry are integrateds from Atoll, Audiolab and Rega, or, for the full Atmos experience, an AV receiver or processor.

For network streaming, note the A50 has Bluetooth but no Wi-Fi, so a streamer such as Arcam’s ST25 or ST5 completes the digital side. For vinyl, the A50’s Class A phono stage handles both moving-magnet and moving-coil cartridges, so a turntable connects directly: the Rega Planar 3 RS Edition, fitted with a Rega moving-magnet cartridge, runs straight in and earths through its phono lead.

On cabling, use a well-made speaker cable of appropriate gauge for the run; the main tower’s dual terminals allow bi-wiring, and the height module has its own terminals for a cinema build. AudioQuest and Chord are the cable brands we stock.

Who shouldn’t buy it

If you only listen in stereo and will never build an Atmos system, the standard RP-8000F II is the same main speaker without the height module, for less. If your room is medium-sized, the RP-6000F II covers much of the same ground at a smaller scale. And if you want a laid-back presentation, this is the most dynamic, forward speaker in the range, so hear it first.

The RP-8060FA II weighs over 34kg each, so positioning is a two-person job; fit the moulded feet and level each cabinet. The dual rear ports mean space behind the speakers improves the bass, and the horn is directional, so toe the towers towards the listening seat. For stereo, connect only the main tower’s terminals to the Arcam; the up-firing height module’s separate terminals are used only in an Atmos system, driven by a height channel from a compatible receiver or processor. For vinyl, connect the Planar 3 RS to the phono input; as a Rega turntable it earths through its phono lead. The main tower’s dual binding posts allow bi-wiring if you wish.