Klipsch Forte IV Speaker Review - As good as it gets?
Klipsch Forte IV review by Andrew Robinson
Klipsch Forte IV Speaker Review - As good as it gets?
I’ve been on a journey when it comes to Klipsch loudspeakers. It started with the Heresy IIIs, followed by the IVs and a few of the brand’s Reference Premieres before coming to a head with the iconic LaScala. Those of you that saw our LaScala review know that it wasn’t your typical review, and that’s partially because the LaScala is not your typical loudspeaker.
IS THE LA SCALA THE BEST KLIPSCH HERITAGE SPEAKER?
The LaScala, for me, is not so much a speaker as it is a musical instrument in its own unique way. Something I don’t say often because few speakers manage to bring me closer to the feeling of the BEING THERE quite like a Klipsch loudspeaker does. This does not make Klipsch speakers perfect, but it does make them unique. As a result, I'm still on the hunt for my perfect Klipsch.
Before I dive into the Forte review know I’m already a fan and this journey has always been about finding THE RIGHT Klipsch speaker. If money and living space were no object I already know which speaker I would choose, the LaScala. Overall, it’s the perfect Klipsch for me. But as great as it is, I could not justify all of the other concessions I’d have to make in order to keep it -so I returned them. This is where the Forte comes in. Now before you start shouting CORNWALL, YOU IDIOT! Stick with me, everything will make sense in the end.
The Forte IV really doesn’t require much of an introduction. It’s a three-way, horn loaded, floorstanding loudspeaker that uses a 1 inch titanium tweeter, a one and three quarter inch horn-loaded midrange and a 12 inch woofer. There is a 15 inch passive bass radiator located around the back, which helps to give the Forte IV its reported frequency response of 38Hz to 20kHz. The Forte IV has a reported in-room sensitivity of 99dB with an impedance of 8 Ohms.
In terms of styling, the Forte IV isn’t what I would call unique, though like its siblings, the real wood veneer and complementary color grille goes a long way in dressing up its otherwise benign shape; you’re seeing the Distressed Oak with Lambswool Grille in this video. The Forte feels like a tall Heresy or narrow Cornwall, depending on who you talk to, but it lacks the arresting visual quality of the LaScala or Klipschorn. While I still prefer the overall dimensions and subtle visual style of our Heresy IVs, I can’t deny there are some clear advantages to the Forte’s size and driver complement when it comes to sound quality.
I’ve learned I am of two minds when it comes to speakers. With the LaScalas, I’m very much on team, go big or go home. But having gone big, in my home, I’ve also come to realize that I like a slightly more manageable setup -dare I say -a smaller one. So you would think that I would run back to the Heresy IVs and leave well enough alone. While I could do that and more than likely be happy FOREVER, there is one aspect of the LaScala’s performance that I miss more than anything and that is scale.
Don’t get me wrong, the Heresy IVs can play loud and sound big, far bigger than their size would have you believe, but in listening to larger Klipsch speakers, you get a sense for some of their limitations as it relates to scale. So with the Forte IVs we have a speaker that is in no way as large as the LaScala, but does have a larger driver complement, that should give me that more open, transparent and true to life sound. So the question is, does the Forte IV deliver? Hell, yes! And in one key area -BASS - it delivers MORE!
FOR THE FULL REVIEW OF THE KLIPSCH HERITAGE FORTE IV LOUDSPEAKERS, WATCH THE VIDEO!
TESTING THE FORTE IV LOUDSPEAKER
We used a variety of amplifiers, turntables and other sources for testing the Forte IV loudspeaker during our review. The best amplifier for the Forte IV was the Decware Zen amp followed by the Yamaha A-S3200. Here is a complete list of components and music used during the Klipsch Forte IV review.
POWER / PROCESSORS
Yamaha A-S3200
Decware Zen
LTA Z10
Musical Fidelity M5si
NAD C338
Naim Uniti Atom
Pioneer SX-780
XTZ A2-400: USA; EU
Emotiva MC-700
Technics R1000
TURNTABLES
Audio Technica LP140XP
Cambridge Audio Alva
OTHER SOURCES
SONY A90J OLED TV
VIZIO OLED TV
VIZIO P Series Quantum X TV
PS4
MUSIC
Alabama Shakes, Sound & Color
Dave Matthew’s Band, “Say Goodbye” - Crash
Fiona Apple, Fetch the Bolt Cutters
George Shearing, Blue Chiffon
