Thanks Steve, I’m listening to the album “Put a spell on you” through my Forte 3’s and I’m blown away by this recording! It is amazing, so textured and alive! Thanks for all you do!
Hi Steve, just bought a pair of Forte IV’s in walnut. Auditioned many high end speakers & kept coming back to these! Forte’s are are dynamic & very robust in the bottom end. Extremely lively these are a rockers dream but it goes beyond rock as I demoed them with BURMESTER CD’s that cover the gamut of music! Absolutely blown away with pipe organs & the guttural male voices!
I love klipsch. Bought the rf7 big floor standing tower speakers. Low vol, to high... crisp detailed sound. Great experience. I bet these also sound great
Steve, I have the first Forte. Bought the pair new in the mid '80s. Still the most musical speaker I've ever heard. I have added a sub, but they are the perfect speaker for me and my tastes. Drive them with a Denon 3312 AVR, more than enough power for these very efficient loudspeakers. I have a used pair of Klipsch Chorus speakers in another room, but they are not as sweet sounding as the Forte speakers. In your review you stated that these fill a room of a certain size, and that for a larger room you would use the Cornwalls. Must be a very large room, as my Fortes will certainly fill any room I've ever had them in. Keep the reviews coming. Love to read them. Mike, Memphis, TN
Never ever sell your original fortes and never "downgrade" to the titanium drivers. However I do recommend you replace the caps. You will get the original detail back. I made the mistake recently of selling mine because I mistakenly upgraded to tekton double impacts. It was no upgrade at all. The tektons sounded like a basic hifi speaker while the fortes were dynamic, addicting and just better in every way. I returned the tektons and now looking for original fortes again. This time I will never sell them. Oh and all the later gen fortes are a down grade as well.
I've been trying to decide between the Forte and Cornwalls. Unfortunately in my area, the local dealer only has the Cornwall IVs and the Heresy IVs available for demo. My room isn't huge 12' x 16' with my listening position about 11 feet. I'm curious how the Fortes will measure up or if the Cornwalls will simply be too much for the space.
Great review. Your point about Klipsch speakers being able to play at low volumes late at night but also satisfy is so true. I would so love to own a pair of the Forte IVs. I get a full frequency music and TV experience on their cheaper little cousins - The Fives - at 1 am when everyone is asleep upstairs and it's a wonderful ability that I think comes directly from their crazy good efficiency.
I worked for a Philly area Klipsch dealer in the early 90s. I liked the Forte IIs more than the Cornwalls.. and they were easy to sell for a (1992 money) $1500 speaker. I’ll concede the situation may have changed, but the Forte’s use of a passive radiator gave them an extra bit of heft on the bottom that better complimented their lively upper octaves (for me, anyway).
I bought a cheap ($800.00)Klipsch 15" subwoofer 22 years ago. Listening to it right now. I have the largest (Best Buy)Synergy Klipsch surround from 2008 - 2010 era. Love them dearly.
You can always count on Steve Guttenberg reviews..he knows the all telling details of high end audio. I have been a follower of him since back in the day.Upon You Tube arrival we now know what he looks like and his choice of shirts..you can count on his reviews. Look for no other unless he has recommendations. Happy DB'S..to you.
@@keplermission4947 If you hate everybody so much, why do you come here, where you know there will be other people present? Is it that you also hate yourself, and want to hurt yourself by being around other people you hate? You should try finding good things to say about people sometime. More effort involved, but also more gratifying.
@@keplermission4947 If you were correct, and I actually was an admin. employed by YT, what makes you think that your hateful statements would still be posted here for anyone to see? Just remember, every hateful thing you say on this forum is a matter of public record. Same as posting something in a newspaper. Except now, anyone who wants to can take a screenshot of your verbal attacks and forward them to Steve, or Google, or even the government. Google already has a case file for you, buddy. They know your real name, where you live, where you do your banking, where you like to shop, what kind of insurance you have, who your friends and family members are, and everything else about you. You should be a lot more worried about them than about me.
My room is 12x10ft and the fortes are amazing in this room. The backwall was covered with a curtain and it changed the sound dramatically. The speakers are 6 to 7 ft from my ear and it is not too loud.
Interesting review as always. You know the ins and outs of Klipsch by now. I agree with the need to carefully position the Fortes to adjust high's and the challenge to get the speakers to "disappear". They are big and have a wide front. A bit easier with narrow speakers. But with a little bit of adjustments they will "disappear". I place the Fortes on transport dollies and decouple them from the platform with acoustic damping for large heavy speakers/amps. Then pulled them out from the front-wall by 60-70 cm. Much longer than recommended in the manual. That lifts the Fortes by 15 - 20 cm of the floor which I think is important to get your top drivers at the same hight as your ears. And they need to be "suspended" up in the air to operate right in my small room. Raking angle is slightly adjusted upwards. Adjusting the toe in have a significant effect not only of the "live direct performance" of these speakers. A slight twist in and out, effects the disappearance of speakers as well. I am practicing near field listening, and the soundstage is now absolutely great. The room is 320x450 and height is only 205 cm. It1s hope fro everyone if I get it rtight. Now the recording, cables and CD-player/record-player etc. plays a great role as usual before adjusting the speakers you got. And so far I haven't even touched on the subject of psycho-acoustics... Oh, I do like my placebo on these crazy live-efficient speakers when I put on a live concert with Bettye Lavette;- Live in London. Or to put it even more bluntly like Kevin Deal in Upscale Audio : - Now, if you want to feel you are sixteen again, buy them! What a punchline that underlines what these speakers are all about. A lot of fun. Thank God they are not balanced and not the best speakers in the world. I nearly forgot ; don't mount a high rack with steel and glass between the speakers if you want soundstage and the speakers to diseaapear... Just look at all the pictures on all the expensive soundsystems on the net. They have made a wall between the speakers...
An overrated, overpriced chinese amp made in the same chinese factory (which is fair enough) with same components as cheaper chinese amps, such as Cayin etc. Clever auto bias and valve fail detections though!
@@keplermission4947 - Dude, stfu. The entire Heritage Line is made at the Hope Arkansas FACTORY. In that same video that you’ve contorted, Roy tells Steve that they can hardly keep up with production and that he frequently goes over to the plant to help with technical issues. That FACTORY in Hope, Arkansas is doing better than ever.
@@keplermission4947 - all of the Klipsch Professional and Commercial Lines (like Cinema and Auditorium) are also manufactured at the Hope, Arkansas FACTORY. The Corporate HQ is located in Indianapolis.
What I like about horn tweeters is their ability to put an acoustic guitar over a drum kit, yet still hear each strum in detail without the tweeter sounding mushy like it's got a bit too much power going to it. Dome tweeters sound good at low and medium levels but aren't so good when you really push them, unless you get a big enough one like what Steve Meade uses in his towers. This was my experience with an Eminence APT80 and even the budget round piezo horns with the 6 ridges and the Pinnochio nose in the centre. I also want to hear the large midrange horns in these and the Cornwall IV and Jubilee because having a dedicated speaker to cover the body of the vocals is supposed to be good. I want to compare them to the 2 way RF7-III which I would expect to have a bit more of a V-shaped Metallica EQ to them. Though they are crossed over at 1300 Hz so perhaps a good bit of midrange can still come through the horn - like my 1200Hz crossover speakers still work quite well in the midrange, with a horn loaded Eminence 3012HO and Beyma CD10FE
"You can tell I'm not in my apartment by"...... the massive amount of echo. :-) Love the saying, They tend to sound better in terms of they are more "harmonically developed". That is a daily show in itself. Thumbs up Steve.
Warning channel lots of great stuff to buy this episode I got off light as I only ended up buying the 3 artists as his taste in music is spectacular. Rock on Steve Man!!!
Hey Steve, great review. I recently picked up a pair of Forte III’s at a killer price and am powering them with an upgraded Elekit 300B. Honestly I can’t listen comfortably with the volume past 12 o’clock - theses speakers are sensitive! Something you didn’t mention, being as sensitive as they are while good recordings sound good crappy ones sound like crap. They are like big magnifying glasses but I’m really digging them, especially with the 300B setup!
@@davidfromamerica1871 Jep. I agree. And then you have to work with your room for a year or so to get it right. They say that the soundquality is up to 50 % determined by the room your system is working...
Recommend a push pull tube amp. The horns can be a bit harsh. Push Pull lends a lushness that compliments the sensitivity of the horns. Just my two cents.
True steve very echoey room. I see there is a piece of fluff on the floor /rug to dampen things down well it aint working. Live rooms and horns might be to much. Anyway love your views and reviews.
I just ordered the Wilsenton R300 to pair with my Fortes. Hope it is a good match. I would love to hear your thoughts on the Wilsenton R300. Steve Huff loves it.
I personally do not understand why people say Fortes are big speaker. For me they are not big enough. I actually think they are medium size speakers and that is one of the reasons I discarded them. I would never buy Fortes knowing that Cornwall exists. If we did not have Cornwalls I would look into JBL Synthesis or something else...
I have Klipsch epic cf4's from the 90's. Run with a tube amp. Can sometimes make vocals sometimes sound eerily like someone is in the room, but they lack bass...need a subwoofer even with two 12's built in each speaker. Used to have Heresy 2's i thought they were ok...but sold to a friend and in his system i was jealous. crazy.
I remember walking down a long street towards Cambrige centre streen on a Sat' afternoon while starting to hear music coming from somewhere in the distance of my direction. About getting 80'ish (i guess) yards before turning the last corner & seeing what was making the police-attracting volume of sound, i could easily tell it was live & not re-produced music, a jazz band of 6'ish on the Town Square playing Dixie type Swing music. As as i approached & stood behind the 2 or 3-folk thick semi-circle around the band's 4'ish ft high stage, i thought "wow, if only my stereo...blah blah,etc, & i wondered then, if any top-draw stereo is capable of approaching this sound, just for aspiration sake, Mine was a pale gutless immitation & i got over that & enjoyed their last 3 numbers. 1 obvious aspect of the difference (of live vs a stereo) was hearing & ='ly feeling the physicallity & dynamics of the sudden honk from a tennor-sax taking-over the melody, or a loudly blown ckarinet even & the side-drum ..wow, feeling it esp' in the chest & all this but not uncomfortly loud. My Klipsch Forte IV speaker-related point is: I've often heard horn-speaker lovers say they get more of this "as live" dynamic range & physical feeling to the sound that & most say non-horn speakers don't give them that. Horn speakers may be my favourite type if they get noticably closer to the sound of that live jazz band i heard in dynamics & muscular physicality of that sound, when reproducing a good recording of say, like i heard live, then they may be my favourite speaker type, esp' if they loose little in late-night low vol' levels
Good description! You may want to give La Scalas a listen sometime. I have both Forte 1s and some better-than-that "Cornwall-esque" DIY speakers, but acquiring La Scala bottoms for the DIYs did some serious magic for the bass-to-mid range where horn honk and snare crack live (I'm a snare crack addict! ;-> ). FYI I'm crossing the La Scala bottoms to radial mid horns at 700hz, much higher than stock Klipsch practice, and they perform admirably in that extended range. I'm also actively DSP multiamping with tremendous gains in spatiality and tonality. Powered by a humble Onkyo AVR and rounded out by a commercial cinema sub, the sound is overall the best I've ever encountered.
Steve, I like your intensity and love of music. I do watch to see the awesome shirts your wife has made for you. Thank you for describing the room size that is appropriate for different speakers. We are building a new cottage, and I am getting a 15x9.5x24 foot listening room in basement. Turns out, that's a small room. Feeling kind of selfish having that, and wife reminds me often.
Still waiting for the right time to upgrade from my Forte II's. They still sound just like they did when I first purchased them. May do a test run of the IV's to see if "new and improved" really is new and improved. But, until then, lovin' my II's.
Steve, great review. I am an audio newbie so please forgive the question... I have the first generation Forte speakers running on my Sherwood R-965 receiver. Love the sound BUT how do I know that I'm getting the most out of them; are they working properly, etc. Short of having an experienced audiophile like yourself come for a listen is there any kind of test that can be run? They are, after all, 35 year old speakers that I acquired from an estate sale.
@@bruce8429 im sure they would sound great with modern equipment too. I just love the simplicity and the looks of the vintage gear. I own a set of JBL L100 Classics hooked up to a Sansui QRX-6500 and it sounds amazing. Im loving it. May get a more powerful receiver down the road.
@@bruce8429 also, im sure it sounds great! But 2 WPC wont cut it for me. I play my music LOUD! I got a video or 2 of some of my equipment up on my channel.
Very interesting review! I demoed and purchased a pair of Klipsch Forte II's for $1,100, in 1990. It would be cool to compare the new IV's side by side with their older versions. I have spent a lot of time with the II's and yes, speaker placement makes a huge difference, they do sound their best with a low power, high end amp played at lower, not too loud, volume. Sadly the independent Hi-Fi store is closed now since the owner retired.
Klipsch just cannot be ignored. I demoed both Hersey and Forte. I didn’t buy them. My friends miss them. But I will get one of them once I really miss the horns
I don't doubt it one bit. It just caught me off guard when I heard your voice. I literally jumped out of my seat. Love love your work! Keep it up Steve!
Impossible unless he gets them in the same room/system. To compare them under such different room and electronics circumstances would have been a discredit to him and the speakers themselves. You can probably expect the Forte IV to sound like smaller Cornwalls with slightly different bass response and slightly smaller scale.
How about these compared to the Tekton Double Impact? I'm convinced I need big speakers to get anything close to live music. thanks.....love the channel Steve.
Thanks a lot! I can mentally compare those two speakers and know the Klipsch would be more dynamically alive. The Tekton would have more balls, more kick ass bass, and a clearer top end. And image better.
one must not forget they have a 15 inch passive radiator on the backside, without that plus the gathered edge design of their woofers, not much bass, i have no idea what motivates them to put amid range design speaker for a woofer
Great review Steve! I've been contemplating these or the Heresy 4's to pair with a Yamaha AS 1200. My living room isn't that big. Right now I'm using some Linton Heritage speakers
I’m running Heresy 4’s in a 14 x 21 bedroom with a AS 2100 and a sub. The newer heritage line is superb. I could go bigger, but the Heresy’s literally disappear and the soundstage is huge.
@@keplermission4947 You don't have to be Jerk. Nothing wrong with asking to see the store since we all love to see cool gear and most people probably won't get to ever see that cool place.
Have to say, I must disagree with your wording about the Heresy in particular giving a “flat” soundstage. I have my Heresy 3’s elevated 18” and level, with slight toe in, and it’s one of the deepest 3D stages I’ve ever heard. Using Denafrips Pontus and Hegel Rost.
Hey Steve, have you ever heard/reviewed Living Voice speakers? High efficiency, but a more traditional skinny tower design. Somewhat expensive, but would love to hear your review of the lower priced Auditorium model. They are UK brand but sold through Border Patrol in the US.
Boy when you reveiw Klipsch it brings the hate. I love my Klipsch so I don't get it. I have many brands in my apartment so I am not just a fan boy. Great review Steve! I love Casey especially when he pairs up with Hailey
My first "big" speaker pair was the Cerwin-Vega U-15. $500/pair new. My next big speaker was a nice used pair Klipsch LaScala (built 1975). They were just too big for my space at the time, so I actually gave them away!
Had the Klipschhorns. Had to sell them. To small room. Got the Fortes. Still same old small room. Now it works. Have a look further up on solving the issue with the speakers. Might be of help.
Tannoys for vastly superior soundstaging and useful hf energy cutoff and rolloff. Much easier to position. Much better fit and finish. Klipsch for dynamics and fun. Both excellent and subject of your taste and your taste alone!
Can anyone help me. I heard a track of a female singer of outstandimg voice when i was driving in my car. I missed the intro & waited extra 8 mins for the track to finnish & get the name of this superb track. The radio girl just said "that was Nomie /Noami / or Nomi & was from a tittle she spoke so fast that i only caught the word 'Lagoon' & that it was either recorded in Nigeria or had Nigerian female singers doing backing. Sang in English (except a foreign line or 2 at the end) Ive no idea who Noamy is but i need to get that album very desperately. Thought a site like this, sombody will know. Anyone....?
Ive owned two sets of Icon power amps and their 845 monoblocks are the reference by which ive judged all and they frankly have no equal. However Icon imo voice their amps quite modern with only a hint of warmth and suit warmer more traditional british speakers best. For Klipsch Forte IV maybe too much excitement. I recommend Unison Research valve amps as a perfect match for Klipsch range. The Triode 25 is stunning sound, build and looks imo.
I Bought a set vintage pair scala and didn’t like it…. It sounds big, the sound is surround you. But it sounds the most like I was in a disco/ bar. That’s why it sounds ‘life’, it’s sound like the disco you always go to. PA speakers, not interesting for home use, they are also way to big for almost all rooms
For listening while sitting, if you ears are about 40" from the floor, should the Forte IV speakers be put on stands such that the tweeters are the same height?
@@ColocasiaCorm I agree to a certain extent but $5000 is a lot of money to me (about the most I would EVER spend on speakers). So, I'd want them to sound as good as possible. Interestingly, the well rated KLH Model 5 at $2000 per PAIR is said to sound best on its 8" tall 5 degree angled stand and not messed with in raising it. That makes me wonder if bass loading from floor reflections is a part of its designed sound. Something is going on there because more than one reviewer has mentioned it.
@@rosswarren436 i can relate to your search. most of the time, all we have to go off of is hearsay and reviews. is there any possible way to try both? either at the dealer or by purchasing and returning? you can even buy one of each speaker to minimize the cost of returning. you even may not like either. It's happened to me before. 'never meet your heroes' as they say. You may think $5k is a lot, but unfortunately speakers are rife with engineering compromise and imperfection. That means the Forte could be better than the KLH, and you may not even be happy with the Forte.
@@ColocasiaCorm it is all hit or miss for sure. Danny Ritchie has done comparisons and some good speakers can be found at good prices while some costing $5000 use pretty crappy crossover parts and even have a much worse frequency response than other cheaper speakers made by the same company...He just showed this using some Vienna Acoustic speakers and it was an eye opener for sure. As always the search for the Holy Grail goes on...and on, and on...LOL...
38hz is E flat ie lowest note on a bass guitar. Most recorded music doesnt require under 38hz. To make the speaker play 20hz, whixh they could, would ruin the overall sound and efficiency/loading of the speaker. Much better to get 38hz to 20khz right than 20hz to 20khz wrong. Thats why small fast sealed subs work.
I'd love to hear you review the Naim Uniti Atom. It's really convenient, integrated amp with streamer and DAC. Its noise floor isn't perfect, noticeable with the La Scala in AR's review. I'm wondering if it would work with the 98db Tekton Lore. I'm a mostly quiet listener, but I want a good sense of scale when I can turn it up. Thanks! Love your videos and your shirts!
The Tekton Lore's sensitivity is much less than claimed. The raw bass diver is Eminence factory rated as 92.5 dB at one watt one meter. The Audax tweeter is rated as 94 dB, and is padded down to meet the woofer. Add 3 dB for in-room measuring and you get 95dB, which should give you a very noticeable reduction in noise floor compared to a La Scalla. BTW, Klipsch also does in room measuring, so their true sensitivity specs are in question. Dave
There's a guy here in the UK called Scott Wainwright who sounds very much like Son of Dave, having just listened to the latter. I have a 45 RPM album of his.
Thanks Steve, I’m listening to the album “Put a spell on you” through my Forte 3’s and I’m blown away by this recording! It is amazing, so textured and alive! Thanks for all you do!
Hi Steve, just bought a pair of Forte IV’s in walnut. Auditioned many high end speakers & kept coming back to these! Forte’s are are dynamic & very robust in the bottom end. Extremely lively these are a rockers dream but it goes beyond rock as I demoed them with BURMESTER CD’s that cover the gamut of music! Absolutely blown away with pipe organs & the guttural male voices!
It's October of 2023 and my Forte IV's were just delivered. I enjoy your videos.
I love klipsch. Bought the rf7 big floor standing tower speakers.
Low vol, to high... crisp detailed sound.
Great experience.
I bet these also sound great
Steve, I have the first Forte. Bought the pair new in the mid '80s. Still the most musical speaker I've ever heard. I have added a sub, but they are the perfect speaker for me and my tastes. Drive them with a Denon 3312 AVR, more than enough power for these very efficient loudspeakers. I have a used pair of Klipsch Chorus speakers in another room, but they are not as sweet sounding as the Forte speakers.
In your review you stated that these fill a room of a certain size, and that for a larger room you would use the Cornwalls. Must be a very large room, as my Fortes will certainly fill any room I've ever had them in.
Keep the reviews coming. Love to read them.
Mike, Memphis, TN
Never ever sell your original fortes and never "downgrade" to the titanium drivers. However I do recommend you replace the caps. You will get the original detail back. I made the mistake recently of selling mine because I mistakenly upgraded to tekton double impacts. It was no upgrade at all. The tektons sounded like a basic hifi speaker while the fortes were dynamic, addicting and just better in every way. I returned the tektons and now looking for original fortes again. This time I will never sell them. Oh and all the later gen fortes are a down grade as well.
I've been trying to decide between the Forte and Cornwalls. Unfortunately in my area, the local dealer only has the Cornwall IVs and the Heresy IVs available for demo. My room isn't huge 12' x 16' with my listening position about 11 feet. I'm curious how the Fortes will measure up or if the Cornwalls will simply be too much for the space.
@@danielcaswell9945 Cornwall will work nicely if you sit as far as you can from the speakers and keep the speakers at least 8 feet apart between them.
Great review. Your point about Klipsch speakers being able to play at low volumes late at night but also satisfy is so true. I would so love to own a pair of the Forte IVs. I get a full frequency music and TV experience on their cheaper little cousins - The Fives - at 1 am when everyone is asleep upstairs and it's a wonderful ability that I think comes directly from their crazy good efficiency.
The quality of Decware's amps deserves a deeper dive into their inventory. They're not just a two watt amp company.
your right! i wish to see some reviews of their more real world wattage amps !
I've reviewed larger Decware amps in my CNET blog, please Google them. The 2 watt is the best sounding one.
@Steve Guttenberg Audiophiliac do you have any plans on living with a pair of these?
I worked for a Philly area Klipsch dealer in the early 90s. I liked the Forte IIs more than the Cornwalls.. and they were easy to sell for a (1992 money) $1500 speaker. I’ll concede the situation may have changed, but the Forte’s use of a passive radiator gave them an extra bit of heft on the bottom that better complimented their lively upper octaves (for me, anyway).
I bought a cheap ($800.00)Klipsch 15" subwoofer 22 years ago. Listening to it right now. I have the largest (Best Buy)Synergy Klipsch surround from 2008 - 2010 era. Love them dearly.
Yes Steve, “ I dig it and like what you do”. Thanks for the considered and insightful entertainment.
You can always count on Steve Guttenberg reviews..he knows the all telling details of high end audio. I have been a follower of him since back in the day.Upon You Tube arrival we now know what he looks like and his choice of shirts..you can count on his reviews. Look for no other unless he has recommendations. Happy DB'S..to you.
I think the KLH MODEL 5 May be the best trade off given size and price. However I know these are better, price no object. Great review, Thank you.
I love your music reviews as well as the equipment breakdown. Keep up the great work. From Southern Leyte.
I misread this as "perfect first speaker choice", saw the €3000 price and thought "he's abandoned us".
@@keplermission4947
If you hate everybody so much, why do you come here, where you know there will be other people present?
Is it that you also hate yourself, and want to hurt yourself by being around other people you hate?
You should try finding good things to say about people sometime.
More effort involved, but also more gratifying.
@@keplermission4947
If you were correct, and I actually was an admin. employed by YT, what makes you think that your hateful statements would still be posted here for anyone to see?
Just remember, every hateful thing you say on this forum is a matter of public record. Same as posting something in a newspaper.
Except now, anyone who wants to can take a screenshot of your verbal attacks and forward them to Steve, or Google, or even the government.
Google already has a case file for you, buddy.
They know your real name, where you live, where you do your banking, where you like to shop, what kind of insurance you have, who your friends and family members are, and everything else about you.
You should be a lot more worried about them than about me.
@@keplermission4947 you actually need meds. You know you’re a schizophrenic, right?
Wow so many hateful comments , it’s a SPEAKER 🤨
@@keplermission4947 Congratulations!! You get the jackass troll of the day award!!!
My room is 12x10ft and the fortes are amazing in this room. The backwall was covered with a curtain and it changed the sound dramatically. The speakers are 6 to 7 ft from my ear and it is not too loud.
Your room is way too small for these speakers and it sounds like crap. You have no idea what you are doing.
Interesting review as always. You know the ins and outs of Klipsch by now. I agree with the need to carefully position the Fortes to adjust high's and the challenge to get the speakers to "disappear". They are big and have a wide front. A bit easier with narrow speakers. But with a little bit of adjustments they will "disappear". I place the Fortes on transport dollies and decouple them from the platform with acoustic damping for large heavy speakers/amps. Then pulled them out from the front-wall by 60-70 cm. Much longer than recommended in the manual. That lifts the Fortes by 15 - 20 cm of the floor which I think is important to get your top drivers at the same hight as your ears. And they need to be "suspended" up in the air to operate right in my small room. Raking angle is slightly adjusted upwards. Adjusting the toe in have a significant effect not only of the "live direct performance" of these speakers. A slight twist in and out, effects the disappearance of speakers as well. I am practicing near field listening, and the soundstage is now absolutely great. The room is 320x450 and height is only 205 cm. It1s hope fro everyone if I get it rtight.
Now the recording, cables and CD-player/record-player etc. plays a great role as usual before adjusting the speakers you got. And so far I haven't even touched on the subject of psycho-acoustics... Oh, I do like my placebo on these crazy live-efficient speakers when I put on a live concert with Bettye Lavette;- Live in London. Or to put it even more bluntly like Kevin Deal in Upscale Audio : - Now, if you want to feel you are sixteen again, buy them! What a punchline that underlines what these speakers are all about. A lot of fun. Thank God they are not balanced and not the best speakers in the world. I nearly forgot ; don't mount a high rack with steel and glass between the speakers if you want soundstage and the speakers to diseaapear... Just look at all the pictures on all the expensive soundsystems on the net. They have made a wall between the speakers...
Really like the intro Steve…it fits the channel. I’m a long time Klipsch fan👍
Agreed. It's a great intro.!
A Prima Luna too! WOW!
An overrated, overpriced chinese amp made in the same chinese factory (which is fair enough) with same components as cheaper chinese amps, such as Cayin etc.
Clever auto bias and valve fail detections though!
Get a decware
Roy Delgado has done wonders for the Klipsch Heritage Line 💪
@@keplermission4947 - Dude, stfu. The entire Heritage Line is made at the Hope Arkansas FACTORY. In that same video that you’ve contorted, Roy tells Steve that they can hardly keep up with production and that he frequently goes over to the plant to help with technical issues. That FACTORY in Hope, Arkansas is doing better than ever.
@@keplermission4947 - all of the Klipsch Professional and Commercial Lines (like Cinema and Auditorium) are also manufactured at the Hope, Arkansas FACTORY. The Corporate HQ is located in Indianapolis.
What I like about horn tweeters is their ability to put an acoustic guitar over a drum kit, yet still hear each strum in detail without the tweeter sounding mushy like it's got a bit too much power going to it. Dome tweeters sound good at low and medium levels but aren't so good when you really push them, unless you get a big enough one like what Steve Meade uses in his towers.
This was my experience with an Eminence APT80 and even the budget round piezo horns with the 6 ridges and the Pinnochio nose in the centre.
I also want to hear the large midrange horns in these and the Cornwall IV and Jubilee because having a dedicated speaker to cover the body of the vocals is supposed to be good. I want to compare them to the 2 way RF7-III which I would expect to have a bit more of a V-shaped Metallica EQ to them. Though they are crossed over at 1300 Hz so perhaps a good bit of midrange can still come through the horn - like my 1200Hz crossover speakers still work quite well in the midrange, with a horn loaded Eminence 3012HO and Beyma CD10FE
"You can tell I'm not in my apartment by"...... the massive amount of echo. :-) Love the saying, They tend to sound better in terms of they are more "harmonically developed". That is a daily show in itself. Thumbs up Steve.
Thanks for all your reviews Steve :-) *vv* Please evaluate Thivanlabs Eros 9 when you have the chance, thank you. Yours Niels, Roskilde, Denmark
Warning channel lots of great stuff to buy this episode I got off light as I only ended up buying the 3 artists as his taste in music is spectacular. Rock on Steve Man!!!
Always look forward to Your Reviews
Hey Steve, great review. I recently picked up a pair of Forte III’s at a killer price and am powering them with an upgraded Elekit 300B. Honestly I can’t listen comfortably with the volume past 12 o’clock - theses speakers are sensitive! Something you didn’t mention, being as sensitive as they are while good recordings sound good crappy ones sound like crap. They are like big magnifying glasses but I’m really digging them, especially with the 300B setup!
Just built the Elekit 300B and looking at these speakers. Nice to read your comments.
@@davidfromamerica1871 nailed it
@@davidfromamerica1871 Jep. I agree. And then you have to work with your room for a year or so to get it right. They say that the soundquality is up to 50 % determined by the room your system is working...
Spot on for the imaging. I couldn't agree more after listening to the heresy, forte and cornwall.
This speaker will pry open the wallet. I will buy a pair of these in the next year. Thank You for the review.
I love your videos. You’re living my dream job!
Thank you Steve for reviewing my favorite speaker, the Forte 4.
Good luck with this one!
Klipsch must really be doing a push now. The Forte IV is reappearing everywhere!!!
Tube amp and high efficiency speakers 😉👍
Klipsch forte same as tangent via klipsch her sound very clear 3 way, tweeter 2 woofers
Recommend a push pull tube amp. The horns can be a bit harsh. Push Pull lends a lushness that compliments the sensitivity of the horns. Just my two cents.
True steve very echoey room. I see there is a piece of fluff on the floor /rug to dampen things down well it aint working. Live rooms and horns might be to much. Anyway love your views and reviews.
Steve- Nice rounded review. As an owner of an original pair of 1986 vintage Fortes- spot on observations. I suspect the IVs are impressive.
I just ordered the Wilsenton R300 to pair with my Fortes. Hope it is a good match. I would love to hear your thoughts on the Wilsenton R300. Steve Huff loves it.
Gotta love a big speaker.
The comments about price.... Don't forget they could last your lifetime. Not a bad deal if you like the sound.
I personally do not understand why people say Fortes are big speaker. For me they are not big enough. I actually think they are medium size speakers and that is one of the reasons I discarded them. I would never buy Fortes knowing that Cornwall exists. If we did not have Cornwalls I would look into JBL Synthesis or something else...
@@elvincuevas1727 I'm currently running IMF RSPM MARK IV's. They're big (to me).
@@elvincuevas1727 I don’t get it either. They’re only 36 inches tall. Just a little wide, but definitely not big at all. Lol.
I have Klipsch epic cf4's from the 90's. Run with a tube amp. Can sometimes make vocals sometimes sound eerily like someone is in the room, but they lack bass...need a subwoofer even with two 12's built in each speaker. Used to have Heresy 2's i thought they were ok...but sold to a friend and in his system i was jealous. crazy.
I remember walking down a long street towards Cambrige centre streen on a Sat' afternoon while starting to hear music coming from somewhere in the distance of my direction.
About getting 80'ish (i guess) yards before turning the last corner & seeing what was making the police-attracting volume of sound, i could easily tell it was live & not re-produced music, a jazz band of 6'ish on the Town Square playing Dixie type Swing music.
As as i approached & stood behind the 2 or 3-folk thick semi-circle around the band's 4'ish ft high stage, i thought "wow, if only my stereo...blah blah,etc, & i wondered then, if any top-draw stereo is capable of approaching this sound, just for aspiration sake,
Mine was a pale gutless immitation & i got over that & enjoyed their last 3
numbers.
1 obvious aspect of the difference (of live vs a stereo) was hearing & ='ly feeling the physicallity & dynamics of the sudden honk from a tennor-sax taking-over the melody, or a loudly blown ckarinet even & the side-drum ..wow, feeling it esp' in the chest & all this but not uncomfortly loud.
My Klipsch Forte IV speaker-related point is: I've often heard horn-speaker lovers say they get more of this "as live" dynamic range & physical feeling to the sound that & most say non-horn speakers don't give them that.
Horn speakers may be my favourite type if they get noticably closer to the sound of that live jazz band i heard in dynamics & muscular physicality of that sound, when reproducing a good recording of say, like i heard live, then they may be my favourite speaker type, esp' if they loose little in late-night low vol' levels
This happened to me many times, and again just a few days ago! That live sound, and you’re right horns do it better!
Good description! You may want to give La Scalas a listen sometime. I have both Forte 1s and some better-than-that "Cornwall-esque" DIY speakers, but acquiring La Scala bottoms for the DIYs did some serious magic for the bass-to-mid range where horn honk and snare crack live (I'm a snare crack addict! ;-> ). FYI I'm crossing the La Scala bottoms to radial mid horns at 700hz, much higher than stock Klipsch practice, and they perform admirably in that extended range. I'm also actively DSP multiamping with tremendous gains in spatiality and tonality. Powered by a humble Onkyo AVR and rounded out by a commercial cinema sub, the sound is overall the best I've ever encountered.
Steve, I like your intensity and love of music. I do watch to see the awesome shirts your wife has made for you. Thank you for describing the room size that is appropriate for different speakers. We are building a new cottage, and I am getting a 15x9.5x24 foot listening room in basement. Turns out, that's a small room. Feeling kind of selfish having that, and wife reminds me often.
Thanks Steve-I just sampled Casey & ordered the cd…
Still waiting for the right time to upgrade from my Forte II's. They still sound just like they did when I first purchased them. May do a test run of the IV's to see if "new and improved" really is new and improved. But, until then, lovin' my II's.
Steve, great review. I am an audio newbie so please forgive the question...
I have the first generation Forte speakers running on my Sherwood R-965 receiver. Love the sound BUT how do I know that I'm getting the most out of them; are they working properly, etc. Short of having an experienced audiophile like yourself come for a listen is there any kind of test that can be run? They are, after all, 35 year old speakers that I acquired from an estate sale.
I love what your Interior Designer is working with
Love the music recommendations! Keep em comin'...
Bet they would sound great with an old Marantz or a Pioneer!
Not the usual70s receiver stuff. Declware 2 watt or similar class a.
@@bruce8429 im sure they would sound great with modern equipment too. I just love the simplicity and the looks of the vintage gear. I own a set of JBL L100 Classics hooked up to a Sansui QRX-6500 and it sounds amazing. Im loving it. May get a more powerful receiver down the road.
@@bruce8429 also, im sure it sounds great! But 2 WPC wont cut it for me. I play my music LOUD! I got a video or 2 of some of my equipment up on my channel.
Steve probably dances like the Joker. Yes, I would like to see.
Great album suggestions as always! Btw Son of Dave's album is titled: o3
Casey Abrahms the most gifted artist ever on American Idol hands down!!!
@@keplermission4947
And God said to Joseph: "Come forth, and recieve eternal life."
But Joseph came in fifth, and recieved a toaster.
Very interesting review! I demoed and purchased a pair of Klipsch Forte II's for $1,100, in 1990. It would be cool to compare the new IV's side by side with their older versions. I have spent a lot of time with the II's and yes, speaker placement makes a huge difference, they do sound their best with a low power, high end amp played at lower, not too loud, volume. Sadly the independent Hi-Fi store is closed now since the owner retired.
@@keplermission4947 You’re the reason people don’t get into hifi. Congrats on that stick… I’ve yet to see one lodge so far up one’s ass.
@@keplermission4947 I’ll try when you try not to be a pompous ass for one day. Just one day.
Klipsch just cannot be ignored. I demoed both Hersey and Forte. I didn’t buy them. My friends miss them. But I will get one of them once I really miss the horns
Kepler Mission very nice
@@keplermission4947 Correct they are a lot of fun. Not ultra high end. But still fun...
Steve, being so keen on Klipsch speakers, howcome you have not reviewed neither the LaScala nor the Klipschorn yet?.
Fair question they're too big!
Wow. That room is lively!!
Please understand, the mic picks up more of that echo then you do when you’re just listening in the room. Mike’s don’t “hear” as we do do
I don't doubt it one bit. It just caught me off guard when I heard your voice. I literally jumped out of my seat. Love love your work! Keep it up Steve!
You gotta have space for those things.
I would have appreciated a comparison to the Cornwall IV and the Heresy IV.
Impossible unless he gets them in the same room/system. To compare them under such different room and electronics circumstances would have been a discredit to him and the speakers themselves. You can probably expect the Forte IV to sound like smaller Cornwalls with slightly different bass response and slightly smaller scale.
And I would have appreciated a comparison to every Klipsch speaker ever made.
How about these compared to the Tekton Double Impact? I'm convinced I need big speakers to get anything close to live music.
thanks.....love the channel Steve.
Thanks a lot! I can mentally compare those two speakers and know the Klipsch would be more dynamically alive. The Tekton would have more balls, more kick ass bass, and a clearer top end. And image better.
one must not forget they have a 15 inch passive radiator on the backside, without that plus the gathered edge design of their woofers, not much bass, i have no idea what motivates them to put amid range design speaker for a woofer
Great review Steve! I've been contemplating these or the Heresy 4's to pair with a Yamaha AS 1200. My living room isn't that big. Right now I'm using some Linton Heritage speakers
dude my LR is 14x17 w/vaulted ceiling and heresys are plenty
I’m running Heresy 4’s in a 14 x 21 bedroom with a AS 2100 and a sub. The newer heritage line is superb. I could go bigger, but the Heresy’s literally disappear and the soundstage is huge.
Great review, Steve. Next time a tour of the store would be nice!
@@keplermission4947 You don't have to be Jerk. Nothing wrong with asking to see the store since we all love to see cool gear and most people probably won't get to ever see that cool place.
@@TheRealBuddyJay look at his other comments here, he is trolling
Have to say, I must disagree with your wording about the Heresy in particular giving a “flat” soundstage. I have my Heresy 3’s elevated 18” and level, with slight toe in, and it’s one of the deepest 3D stages I’ve ever heard. Using Denafrips Pontus and Hegel Rost.
I have a pair of RP 8000 which I tweeted for better sound just right for my room measurements is Prima luna a good match
Fantastic review all around. Thanks.
Sweet... -good choice, if you have a decent size room, great albums and no neighbours.
Hey Steve should i save up for the klipsch forte to or just get the hercy 4s
Great speaker
Have you heard the Forte One's
there should be a tube cd player in the set up used for these fortes.
Which is better buy a pair of B&W 800 series diamond bookshelfs for 8000 or these forte?? I'm asking for playing music and movies
Anyone have insight on Forte II ? Just inherited a pristine pair! Thanks!
Like other big Klipsch speakers they're efficient, loud and dynamic. Refinement not so much.
Hey Steve, have you ever heard/reviewed Living Voice speakers? High efficiency, but a more traditional skinny tower design. Somewhat expensive, but would love to hear your review of the lower priced Auditorium model. They are UK brand but sold through Border Patrol in the US.
Boy when you reveiw Klipsch it brings the hate. I love my Klipsch so I don't get it. I have many brands in my apartment so I am not just a fan boy. Great review Steve!
I love Casey especially when he pairs up with Hailey
The Measurement crowds and the audio science hordes really hate Klipsch because its measurement are not a straight line.
@@limitlesssky3050 speakers that measure in a straight line sound like caca
Any chance Adkav are opening a hifi loft in Brisbane Australia? If not, beam me to NY for a spell (no use going to the airport at the moment).
My first "big" speaker pair was the Cerwin-Vega U-15. $500/pair new. My next big speaker was a nice used pair Klipsch LaScala (built 1975). They were just too big for my space at the time, so I actually gave them away!
The Forte line is like a La Scala in a smaller box. Perfect for you.
Had the Klipschhorns. Had to sell them. To small room. Got the Fortes. Still same old small room. Now it works. Have a look further up on solving the issue with the speakers. Might be of help.
Price aside, Forte IVs vs. Tannoy Cheviots?
I did this test in my home, using a PrimaLuna evo400i, Fortes all the way for me!
Tannoys for vastly superior soundstaging and useful hf energy cutoff and rolloff. Much easier to position. Much better fit and finish.
Klipsch for dynamics and fun.
Both excellent and subject of your taste and your taste alone!
Can anyone help me. I heard a track of a female singer of outstandimg voice when i was driving in my car. I missed the intro & waited extra 8 mins for the track to finnish & get the name of this superb track. The radio girl just said "that was Nomie /Noami / or Nomi & was from a tittle she spoke so fast that i only caught the word 'Lagoon' & that it was either recorded in Nigeria or had Nigerian female singers doing backing. Sang in English (except a foreign line or 2 at the end) Ive no idea who Noamy is but i need to get that album very desperately. Thought a site like this, sombody will know. Anyone....?
Are you insane?
I have a pair coming What amp would you recommend? Integrated? Thanks
its a pa speaker and thats a kool thing
Where are the volti speakers🤔
I wonder how these compare to the 5000F or the 6000F?
on second thought,keep the luxman player but bi amp the fortes with a pair of mcintosh tube power amplifiers.
Tough room, I tell ya *fingers collar, adjusts tie* tough room
Now do Klipschorns!
Son of Dave! Thanks for the heads up!
Would a tube am like an icon audio integrated amp stereo 40 or a hybrid mc ma252 be a good match with this speaker ?
Ive owned two sets of Icon power amps and their 845 monoblocks are the reference by which ive judged all and they frankly have no equal. However Icon imo voice their amps quite modern with only a hint of warmth and suit warmer more traditional british speakers best. For Klipsch Forte IV maybe too much excitement. I recommend Unison Research valve amps as a perfect match for Klipsch range. The Triode 25 is stunning sound, build and looks imo.
Did you notice like other reviewers noted that these are not as forgiving of bad recordings as the Forte III??
2 ways to know Steve isn't home. Bare walls and echo.
I Bought a set vintage pair scala and didn’t like it…. It sounds big, the sound is surround you. But it sounds the most like I was in a disco/ bar. That’s why it sounds ‘life’, it’s sound like the disco you always go to. PA speakers, not interesting for home use, they are also way to big for almost all rooms
Something is wrong with your room. Hard surfaces, windows etc. gives you problems.
For listening while sitting, if you ears are about 40" from the floor, should the Forte IV speakers be put on stands such that the tweeters are the same height?
You can try that but my current opinion is that these speakers are corvettes not ferraris. Get them sounding good enough and turn your brain off.
@@ColocasiaCorm I agree to a certain extent but $5000 is a lot of money to me (about the most I would EVER spend on speakers). So, I'd want them to sound as good as possible.
Interestingly, the well rated KLH Model 5 at $2000 per PAIR is said to sound best on its 8" tall 5 degree angled stand and not messed with in raising it. That makes me wonder if bass loading from floor reflections is a part of its designed sound.
Something is going on there because more than one reviewer has mentioned it.
@@rosswarren436 i can relate to your search. most of the time, all we have to go off of is hearsay and reviews. is there any possible way to try both? either at the dealer or by purchasing and returning? you can even buy one of each speaker to minimize the cost of returning. you even may not like either. It's happened to me before. 'never meet your heroes' as they say. You may think $5k is a lot, but unfortunately speakers are rife with engineering compromise and imperfection. That means the Forte could be better than the KLH, and you may not even be happy with the Forte.
@@ColocasiaCorm it is all hit or miss for sure. Danny Ritchie has done comparisons and some good speakers can be found at good prices while some costing $5000 use pretty crappy crossover parts and even have a much worse frequency response than other cheaper speakers made by the same company...He just showed this using some Vienna Acoustic speakers and it was an eye opener for sure.
As always the search for the Holy Grail goes on...and on, and on...LOL...
@@rosswarren436 lets chat offline. Is there a way i can find you?
Steve would a Luxman 509z integrated work well with these?
Seems like a good idea to me
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac thank you
I try to be a Klipsch fan but I can't believe they can't make a full range speaker at this price that plays lower than 38Hz
Interesting point. I got the Forte3's and I am puzzled by this fact with 15 inch woofer and this big cabinet. Better call Roy Delgado. He knows.
38hz is E flat ie lowest note on a bass guitar. Most recorded music doesnt require under 38hz. To make the speaker play 20hz, whixh they could, would ruin the overall sound and efficiency/loading of the speaker. Much better to get 38hz to 20khz right than 20hz to 20khz wrong. Thats why small fast sealed subs work.
I dont think they would be more fun than my cerwin vega sl15 😢I had kliptch la scales I sold them
would klipsch heresy iv do well in 9x10 room, or still too big...I like the idea of low watt tubes and low level listening
I think that will work
@@SteveGuttenbergAudiophiliac ok thanks and thanks for the valuable info in the review
Better late than never :-)
Steve, you should do a review of the Thieaudio Monarch in ear monitors
Hmm he rarely do iem review but I'm sure he'll give a positive impression. Monarch is a beast!!
Do you dance like Elaine?
Lol!
Do you mean Ellen?
@@raymoore8435
I think he means Elaine from Seinfeld.
The "full body dry heave".
Too bad they don’t cost more.
Steve: you voice is awfully muddy in this environment.
A lot of echo in the room
Umm no open your goddang ears idjit. Nothing muddy about the sound.
Now we are audiophiling peoples’ voices? Lmao.
I'd love to hear you review the Naim Uniti Atom. It's really convenient, integrated amp with streamer and DAC. Its noise floor isn't perfect, noticeable with the La Scala in AR's review. I'm wondering if it would work with the 98db Tekton Lore.
I'm a mostly quiet listener, but I want a good sense of scale when I can turn it up.
Thanks! Love your videos and your shirts!
The Tekton Lore's sensitivity is much less than claimed. The raw bass diver is Eminence factory rated as 92.5 dB at one watt one meter. The Audax tweeter is rated as 94 dB, and is padded down to meet the woofer. Add 3 dB for in-room measuring and you get 95dB, which should give you a very noticeable reduction in noise floor compared to a La Scalla. BTW, Klipsch also does in room measuring, so their true sensitivity specs are in question.
Dave
There's a guy here in the UK called Scott Wainwright who sounds very much like Son of Dave, having just listened to the latter. I have a 45 RPM album of his.