KLIPSCH FORTE IV, the perfect first big speaker choice

Steve lets the good times roll with the KLIPSCH Forte IV speakers!

Specifications

Frequency Response (+/- 3 dB): 38 Hz – 20 kHz
Sensitivity: 99 dB @ 2.83 V / 1 m
Power Handling (Cont/Peak): 100 W / 400 W
Maximum SPL: 116 dB Continuous
Nominal Impedance: 8 ohm Compatible
Crossover Frequency: HF 5.2 kHz, MF 650 Hz
High-Frequency Driver: K-100-TI 1” Titanium diaphragm compression driver on a K-79T horn
Midrange: K-70 1.75” Polyimide compression driver on a K-703-M horn
Low-Frequency Driver: K-281 12” Fiber-composite cone woofer, KD-15 15” Passive cone radiator
Enclosure Material: 3/4” MDF
Inputs: Dual binding posts / bi-wire / bi-amp
Dimensions (WDH): 16.5" x 36” x 13”
Weight: 72 lb

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Looking for great sounding FREE, not compressed or processed music? Check out these videos about the two MA Recordings samplers:

[davidh.]

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!

[firebearva]

It's October of 2023 and my Forte IV's were just delivered. I enjoy your videos.

[jamesnelson]

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!

[hjb]

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

[timd]

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.

[DavidSchroeter]

I love your music reviews as well as the equipment breakdown. Keep up the great work. From Southern Leyte.

[michaelgriffith]

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

[ajn]

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).

[kenanderson]

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.

[paulpavlou]

Yes Steve, “ I dig it and like what you do”. Thanks for the considered and insightful entertainment.

[michaelvaladez]

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.

[philhunter]

The quality of Decware's amps deserves a deeper dive into their inventory. They're not just a two watt amp company.

[theklipschcave]

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...

[jessd]

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.

[nicoastylehifiman]

Tube amp and high efficiency speakers 😉👍

[supergranular]

I misread this as "perfect first speaker choice", saw the €3000 price and thought "he's abandoned us".

[andrewforsythe]

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.

[nielsepoulsen]

Thanks for all your reviews Steve :-) *vv* Please evaluate Thivanlabs Eros 9 when you have the chance, thank you. Yours Niels, Roskilde, Denmark

[arliecrumpler]

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.

[FraggerTux]

Steve, being so keen on Klipsch speakers, howcome you have not reviewed neither the LaScala nor the Klipschorn yet?.