These speakers totally bring me back to my college days. My friend had a pair of Forte speakers with Adcom amps and a Sony CD player in his dorm room! Their sound was totally addictive. Big, bold and effortless. I'm so glad Klipsch decided to re-launch this amazing speaker.
I still have my original fortes, still rock, still sound great! I listen to them every single day. However, I am itching to upgrade to the forte IV. I believe in a every 35 year upgrade path. ;) many thanks for this review, perfectly done.
I’m on a journey here! I’ve owned the RP-600 M’s for a year and looking forward to upgrading in the near future. I have had many brands before including DALI, Monitor Audio and find something quite unique with KLIPSCH. I listen to vinyl and stream too. Brand loyalty does exist !
Cannot wait to buy these! This will be my next upgrade! Heresy’s are just a bit too small and Cornwall’s are a bit too big! The Forte’s are just right in the “Goldilocks zone”. Great review!
The Klipschorns were among the first speakers that got my attention when I first became interested in home audio. The Forte IV looks to provide most of the things that attracted me back then, while taking up a fraction of the space. Great review.
These Klipsch "legacy" speakers are legendary, as are all the models. First heard Klipsch in the mid1970' and when I saw them in a hall, auditorium or club ever since knowing of them, I knew the sound was going to be spectacular. These Forte's would do justice to any living space. These look like the perfect "mama bear" size of Klipsch speakers for the home. Need help spouse convincing? Suggesting dancing lessons to go along with a new set of speakers has worked for me in the past. Fingers crossed for this time! Thanks for the comprehensive review Audio Advice!
Seems like the price increase from the Forte III's is justified, given the improvements to the midrange driver, tweeter and crossover. I had been eyeballing the III's for a long time, but looks like I will finally pull the trigger on the IV's. Can't wait to hear 'em!
I'd be interested to hear a comparison after a few months once the IV's break in some. I just purchased the Heritage Forte IV's last Friday 2/5/21 and have been happily listening to them everyday since. This is my first pair of Klipsch speakers so I don't have a III vs. IV comparison for anyone. I owned Duevel speakers prior to the Forte. However, I did demo the III's and they really impressed me. My set-up is an Audio Research VSi60 tube amp paired with an Audio Research PH6 phono preamp and a Michell TecnoDec turntable. I listen to mostly vinyl. After set-up and positioning, the speakers immediately jumped out at me with an increase to my sound stage (18ft X 16ft room). They produce an inspiring live music quality and have superb sonic versatility. It's fun to own speakers that will play any genre of music and not lack in performance. Thus far, that's got me very excited because I truly enjoy a wide range of music. Overall, I'm very pleased and feel these are a solid choice especially when you start comparing speaker quality vs. price. I now understand why the Forte's receive great feedback in high fidelity world.
I wonder if it had to do with the veneer on the Forte III base being really susceptible to damage when the speaker gets moved around? Either way, I agree it looks better!
"...it appears that Klipsch tried to improve the crossover to try to match aftermarket crossover versions that so easily made cheap Klipsch crossover parts apparent." Is that what he said?
Had both Heresy and Forte back in the day. Heresy have that history. Like those small glorious Fender Tweed Amps. Another story. But those Forte sit in the sweetspot. Forte iv will sit nicely in my living room. It's a hard choice. Those Heresy pull on my heart strings. Klispch did good to bring back those Classics with reboot. Klispch are like a Harley really. Big and Bold but love those imperfections.
Thanks for sharing, yes, they can rock. If you can swing it, go for the Forte- you might be interested to know we are running a sale on the Forte III, www.audioadvice.com/klipsch-forte-iii-floor-standing-speaker+color-White~Oak Not much more than the current price on Heresy. We have several finishes in stock. Thanks for watching
While the Corns tempted me being not much dearer, the size and maneuverability along with the better audio of the Forte in a 4x5m attic room means i made the right choice!
Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for the best advice on the Klipsch speakers. Since they are so easy to drive, you do not need a big power amp, but any high-quality amp like your NAD will work well with them. Thank you for watching.
You are much better off buying directly from Audio Advice--the price is the same everywhere. There are several reasons why. First, you can talk to our team on the phone and coordinate everything from delivery to making sure you have the right color, etc. Second, you can be 100% sure they are authentic and you are getting the authorized warranty. Third, they get shipped in a way that totally protects them. Finally, you get lifetime support. So when you receive them and have a question, we are there to answer as you set them up and if you ever move them. There is no one to call at Amazon and you run the risk of receiving comingled product (which often is what happens when you either get product that is not authentic or has been opened or used, etc.). Here is the link to get them on the Audio Advice site: www.audioadvice.com/klipsch-forte-iv-floorstanding-speakers-pair+color-American~Walnut. If you have any questions, just chat or give us a call at www.audioadvice.com.
@@quantumdecoherence1289 btw you know crossover parts literally cost like a couple bucks max and there were already ridiculous margins on the Forte’s, right? This is much more of an “upgrade” for Klipsch than for the consumer - now the price of entry is $4,500. It’s not as though you have a choice between a standard forte and an upgraded forte dude lol
Why are they lower? Shouldnt they be higher? The mid and tweeter in the forte aim at the listeners chest when sitting on a standard height couch. Why isnt klipsch selling 10" stands to bring the mid up to ear level? I just bought a pair of forte i and love them but I believe klipsch made a huge mistake by not selling factory matching stands. Now Im forced to build some or spend a few hundred dollars with another company when klipsch could have gotten that cash.
Want a good solid base?...Try using cement wall blocks for your stands. Cover the top with a piece of cardboard or carpet to keep from scratching the bottom of the speakers. I use this very set up...works great. ^^
Why does USA $500 increase becomes $1200 increase in Europe, please? they are sold at more than $6000 here... I understand VAT and expensive export shipping, but come on, it's absolutely not justified!
The main thing that changed is the price, and there's no way it's justified. I got pretty turned off to this Heritage price gouging when I ordered a pair of Klipsch AL5's and opened the box upside, exposing the base of the speaker and one of the parts was marked for assemble with someone's name spray painted on... "Becky" I think it was. Unacceptable for any speaker, let alone something Klipsch charges $12,000 for lol.
Doesn’t matter. Let your ears tell you what’s good. These guys trying to sell you a perfectly flat frequency response are either missing the point or being disingenuous. The coloration and voicing on these speakers is intentional - speakers without coloration, bloom, and cabinet interaction simply sound different and it’s a matter of what you prefer.
I bought a pair of Forté the first year they came out. Had them for 30+ years. They were amazing. At that time they were $1500. Now they are $4500. Which is $500 more than last model. Come on Klipsch. That's getting a bit greedy. Your parent company (Voxx International) is jacking up prices left and right. Not cool.
The speaker wire binding post assembly limits the performance of the Forte 4s dramatically. Specifically, if using spade lugs to connect the speaker wire, anything more than finger-tight will cause the posts to auto-loosen which compromises the contact of the internal connections. Also, my Forte 4 used thin stainless-steel straps (two thousandths of an inch thick) to pass the signal to the crossover feed wire. I replaced these straps (8 total) with much thicker solid-copper equivalents which radically opened up the soundstage and fleshed everything out (these parts are inside the speaker and part of the binding post assembly). BTW, one of my speakers was assembled with the woofer bi-wire posts wired out of phase with the positive wire on the negative terminal. Finally, Klipsch cheaped out by using the 5-cent pound-in steel floor protectors instead of screw-in rubber feet or spikes. I installed some spikes and now have actual high-end speakers. Lord, save us from the bean counters.
Very interesting. When we tested these as with all of the speakers in our showroom we use banana plugs but we understand exactly what you mean about posts that can self loosen. It appears Klipsch took this to heart as the new RP MkIi series has better binding posts and actual speaker wire for the jumpers. Thanks very much for sharing what you found and we will pass this on to the Klipsch engineers.
I own the III's. They're my favorite speaker I've owned, but no way they're worth $3K let alone $4,500. These speakers should be $1,999 max. I prefer their sound over speakers that are $10,000+, but from the standpoint of build complexity and quality, they're cheap speakers - basically just drivers in a basic wooden box.
@@IcyDeath91 we aren’t talking about whether or not the price will be validated demand, we’re talking as consumers about whether or not they’re worth the price set by Klipsch. They’re not.
I'm not really sure what the big deal is all about the forte model 3s. Give a huge presence in a large room. . Mid-range is perfect very easily understood and listened to with steps A recently obtained two full grade A pair of the 1403 new in the box never used never opened.. in a warehouse sale about 8 months ago.. I did listen to the 14 model 4.. upgrade.. if you use a decent sound processor ..😊 what's the difference between the model 3 and the model 4 will disappear.. for some it's all about the cost of upgrade.. saving coin is an absolute in this economy.. beyond the hunt for prices on the model 3 new in the box and if they're used negotiate the price and make absolutely sure that the model 3s are no older with a manufactured date of 2017 .. get the serial numbers for both right and left channel speaker in advance of paying for them and then contact Klipsch to give you the original sale date or even the supplier date to the retailer.. they do keep these records and everybody needs to know exactly what they're buying . What's being stated in this post is a very important thing to remember.. I've enjoyed Klipsch for many decades and know the heritage series very very well... 😊😊😊😊😊
Please do yourself a favor and listen to the Alan Parsons project tales of mystery and imagination in the forte 3 and 4 if you can at the same time. Switching between periodically to prove to yourself that there is literally no real difference between the 43 and the 4.. OMG guys at 95 DB or better you will never tell the difference between the two as well as when you run both speakers model 3 and model 4 let's say 60 DB or less the imaging is approximately the same with that particular Alan Parsons project album Having owned the Klipsch 14 model 3 number approximately 10 years I'd never change them out there's no reason to.. they will rock your house your ears and your smile will be always very enjoyable ones so enjoy
We are glad you are enjoying your speakers. We did have them symmetrically side by side and preferred the new ones but to each his own. Thanks for watching.
These speakers totally bring me back to my college days. My friend had a pair of Forte speakers with Adcom amps and a Sony CD player in his dorm room! Their sound was totally addictive. Big, bold and effortless. I'm so glad Klipsch decided to re-launch this amazing speaker.
I still have my original fortes, still rock, still sound great! I listen to them every single day. However, I am itching to upgrade to the forte IV. I believe in a every 35 year upgrade path. ;) many thanks for this review, perfectly done.
I’m on a journey here! I’ve owned the RP-600 M’s for a year and looking forward to upgrading in the near future. I have had many brands before including DALI, Monitor Audio and find something quite unique with KLIPSCH. I listen to vinyl and stream too. Brand loyalty does exist !
Speakers are like wine. Everyone has a different taste.
Cannot wait to buy these! This will be my next upgrade! Heresy’s are just a bit too small and Cornwall’s are a bit too big! The Forte’s are just right in the “Goldilocks zone”. Great review!
You could say the Forte IVs are "Just right!".
The Klipschorns were among the first speakers that got my attention when I first became interested in home audio. The Forte IV looks to provide most of the things that attracted me back then, while taking up a fraction of the space. Great review.
These Klipsch "legacy" speakers are legendary, as are all the models. First heard Klipsch in the mid1970' and when I saw them in a hall, auditorium or club ever since knowing of them, I knew the sound was going to be spectacular. These Forte's would do justice to any living space. These look like the perfect "mama bear" size of Klipsch speakers for the home. Need help spouse convincing? Suggesting dancing lessons to go along with a new set of speakers has worked for me in the past. Fingers crossed for this time! Thanks for the comprehensive review Audio Advice!
Who doesn't like to dance to the music!
Seems like the price increase from the Forte III's is justified, given the improvements to the midrange driver, tweeter and crossover. I had been eyeballing the III's for a long time, but looks like I will finally pull the trigger on the IV's. Can't wait to hear 'em!
Same here.
The IV’s are a step back TBH.
Reviews just don’t get better than this! Focused, articulate, and answers the questions we all seem to have. Thank you so much!
Considering how solid the Forte 3's were already, the 4's will take the lineup to new heights.
I'd be interested to hear a comparison after a few months once the IV's break in some. I just purchased the Heritage Forte IV's last Friday 2/5/21 and have been happily listening to them everyday since. This is my first pair of Klipsch speakers so I don't have a III vs. IV comparison for anyone. I owned Duevel speakers prior to the Forte. However, I did demo the III's and they really impressed me. My set-up is an Audio Research VSi60 tube amp paired with an Audio Research PH6 phono preamp and a Michell TecnoDec turntable. I listen to mostly vinyl. After set-up and positioning, the speakers immediately jumped out at me with an increase to my sound stage (18ft X 16ft room). They produce an inspiring live music quality and have superb sonic versatility. It's fun to own speakers that will play any genre of music and not lack in performance. Thus far, that's got me very excited because I truly enjoy a wide range of music. Overall, I'm very pleased and feel these are a solid choice especially when you start comparing speaker quality vs. price. I now understand why the Forte's receive great feedback in high fidelity world.
Not "polymide", but "polyimide" (Kapton) as opposed to "polyamide" (nylon).
Love the new base that makes the speakers appear to be floating!
I wonder if it had to do with the veneer on the Forte III base being really susceptible to damage when the speaker gets moved around?
Either way, I agree it looks better!
"...it appears that Klipsch tried to improve the crossover to try to match aftermarket crossover versions that so easily made cheap Klipsch crossover parts apparent." Is that what he said?
I’m thinking about selling my RF-7II’s n buying the forte’s.
Thank you, a speaker comparison with the speakers arranged correctly, finally someone gets it.
Cant wait to give them an audition!
Just fluked across your video. You have a new subscriber!! Excellent presentation and facts!!
You really are an interior expert!
Thank you
This looks like a speaker that can rock the house
Had both Heresy and Forte back in the day.
Heresy have that history.
Like those small glorious Fender Tweed Amps. Another story.
But those Forte sit in the sweetspot.
Forte iv will sit nicely in my living room.
It's a hard choice.
Those Heresy pull on my heart strings.
Klispch did good to bring back those Classics with reboot.
Klispch are like a Harley really.
Big and Bold but love those imperfections.
Thanks for sharing, yes, they can rock. If you can swing it, go for the Forte- you might be interested to know we are running a sale on the Forte III, www.audioadvice.com/klipsch-forte-iii-floor-standing-speaker+color-White~Oak Not much more than the current price on Heresy. We have several finishes in stock. Thanks for watching
While the Corns tempted me being not much dearer, the size and maneuverability along with the better audio of the Forte in a 4x5m attic room means i made the right choice!
Nice move! Thanks for sharing
Please compare the forte I’ve to the Cornwall iv
One issue..Heritage series started earlier than 2016...my Heresy III hail from 2012.
I guess you could call them the FOURte's...I'm sorry.
Excellent review. ^^
Thank you and thanks for watching!
What will be the price in europe?
Sorry, we do not know, but thanks for watching
I own an NAD M23 amplifier and not sure the Forte IV is the right speaker. Don't the Klipsch Heritage speakers do better with low watt amplifiers?
Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com for the best advice on the Klipsch speakers. Since they are so easy to drive, you do not need a big power amp, but any high-quality amp like your NAD will work well with them. Thank you for watching.
I'm wondering how the Cornwallis and Forte would be for home theater
Excellent.
Do you sell your Forte IV's thru Amazon or would I need to order directly from you?
You are much better off buying directly from Audio Advice--the price is the same everywhere. There are several reasons why. First, you can talk to our team on the phone and coordinate everything from delivery to making sure you have the right color, etc. Second, you can be 100% sure they are authentic and you are getting the authorized warranty. Third, they get shipped in a way that totally protects them. Finally, you get lifetime support. So when you receive them and have a question, we are there to answer as you set them up and if you ever move them. There is no one to call at Amazon and you run the risk of receiving comingled product (which often is what happens when you either get product that is not authentic or has been opened or used, etc.). Here is the link to get them on the Audio Advice site: www.audioadvice.com/klipsch-forte-iv-floorstanding-speakers-pair+color-American~Walnut. If you have any questions, just chat or give us a call at www.audioadvice.com.
Is it possible down the road swap in the La Scala tweeter compression driver into the Forte IV since they are both 1 inch?
Probably not a great idea. Thanks for watching
will the price be the same as the Forte iii's
@Matt H $500 for USA, but in Europe it's more like $1200 increase... I don't understand why... :-(
What is the price difference between the III and IV?
500?
@@patrikbjorling4391 Yes. I have since discovered that you are probably correct. About 500 dollars USD above the Forte III.
Powerful sound, classic look!
Seems like the main thing that changed was the price.
two new drivers upper ranges and new crossover/better components isn't worth something? whether that's $5oo is debatable.
@@quantumdecoherence1289 it’s a negligible
Difference and clearly an excuse to align the ‘IV’ and overall aesthetic with other heritage speakers
@@quantumdecoherence1289 btw you know crossover parts literally cost like a couple bucks max and there were already ridiculous margins on the Forte’s, right? This is much more of an “upgrade” for Klipsch than for the consumer - now the price of entry is $4,500. It’s not as though you have a choice between a standard forte and an upgraded forte dude lol
@@Sloimer Chill man, no one's forcing you to buy them. But you do have a choice to still buy the III, retailers still stock them or used.
@@quantumdecoherence1289 I’m just stating facts buddy. Lol. Go pay $5k for some wood boxes with 2 cent transistors in them - I don’t care
Beautiful speakers
Great video!
Marvin Gaye Live and Bill Withers Live Albums are easily some are the best all around sound testing albums I've every heard...
Why are they lower? Shouldnt they be higher? The mid and tweeter in the forte aim at the listeners chest when sitting on a standard height couch. Why isnt klipsch selling 10" stands to bring the mid up to ear level? I just bought a pair of forte i and love them but I believe klipsch made a huge mistake by not selling factory matching stands. Now Im forced to build some or spend a few hundred dollars with another company when klipsch could have gotten that cash.
Want a good solid base?...Try using cement wall blocks for your stands. Cover the top with a piece of cardboard or carpet to keep from scratching the bottom of the speakers. I use this very set up...works great. ^^
Who knew as Napoleon Dynamite got older that he was an audiophile 😂
Same midrange as cornwalls 👌🏽👍🏽
Really excited about these...I'm ready to piss off my neighbors :)
I hope I'm not your neighbour. Lol
Oi, watch it you.
Certainly dont mean to be rude but I wish you would keep your hands still
Why does USA $500 increase becomes $1200 increase in Europe, please? they are sold at more than $6000 here... I understand VAT and expensive export shipping, but come on, it's absolutely not justified!
This video sounds like the Rockwell Retro Encabulator.
is it $2,500 aud better??? in AU iii is $9.5K vs iv is $12.5K.....big jump
The main thing that changed is the price, and there's no way it's justified. I got pretty turned off to this Heritage price gouging when I ordered a pair of Klipsch AL5's and opened the box upside, exposing the base of the speaker and one of the parts was marked for assemble with someone's name spray painted on... "Becky" I think it was. Unacceptable for any speaker, let alone something Klipsch charges $12,000 for lol.
Does not appear the quality is great in the crossover according to GR Research's video. Not sure how much that improves the sound of these babies.
Doesn’t matter. Let your ears tell you what’s good. These guys trying to sell you a perfectly flat frequency response are either missing the point or being disingenuous. The coloration and voicing on these speakers is intentional - speakers without coloration, bloom, and cabinet interaction simply sound different and it’s a matter of what you prefer.
The famous Fortes
The base is less elegant and looks less supportive, like it may tilt over. I'm sure it sounds better, but it looks worse.
你不必在乎它显示什么， 但关心它听起来。
Are you planning on tackling the speaker?
I bought a pair of Forté the first year they came out. Had them for 30+ years. They were amazing. At that time they were $1500. Now they are $4500. Which is $500 more than last model. Come on Klipsch. That's getting a bit greedy. Your parent company (Voxx International) is jacking up prices left and right. Not cool.
It's actually $80 cheaper than when you bought one 30 years ago.
Someone doesn't understand the concept of inflation obviously ...
Don't you just want to trash your 3s and get the 4s????
Audio Advice 👍
Nice!
The speaker wire binding post assembly limits the performance of the Forte 4s dramatically. Specifically, if using spade lugs to connect the speaker wire, anything more than finger-tight will cause the posts to auto-loosen which compromises the contact of the internal connections. Also, my Forte 4 used thin stainless-steel straps (two thousandths of an inch thick) to pass the signal to the crossover feed wire. I replaced these straps (8 total) with much thicker solid-copper equivalents which radically opened up the soundstage and fleshed everything out (these parts are inside the speaker and part of the binding post assembly). BTW, one of my speakers was assembled with the woofer bi-wire posts wired out of phase with the positive wire on the negative terminal.
Finally, Klipsch cheaped out by using the 5-cent pound-in steel floor protectors instead of screw-in rubber feet or spikes. I installed some spikes and now have actual high-end speakers.
Lord, save us from the bean counters.
Very interesting. When we tested these as with all of the speakers in our showroom we use banana plugs but we understand exactly what you mean about posts that can self loosen. It appears Klipsch took this to heart as the new RP MkIi series has better binding posts and actual speaker wire for the jumpers. Thanks very much for sharing what you found and we will pass this on to the Klipsch engineers.
The 70s called, they want their hairdo back.
That hair tho’
Danny Partridge called...
@@phnelson033 yo mama called….
I like klipsch but have to admit something. The parts are cheap. If this was made in China it would be 2500 dollar the most....
I own the III's. They're my favorite speaker I've owned, but no way they're worth $3K let alone $4,500. These speakers should be $1,999 max. I prefer their sound over speakers that are $10,000+, but from the standpoint of build complexity and quality, they're cheap speakers - basically just drivers in a basic wooden box.
@@Sloimer prices aren't based on cost. They're based on demand.
@@IcyDeath91 we aren’t talking about whether or not the price will be validated demand, we’re talking as consumers about whether or not they’re worth the price set by Klipsch. They’re not.
@@Sloimer ya but you're basing your argument on the cost of the raw inputs. Which economically makes no sense.
@@IcyDeath91 I’m telling you as a consumer that the speaker is not worth the price and the improvements are marginal at best. That’s it.
the bass driver is the cheapest stamp frame eminence driver you can get
They need to get RID of that recessed base and bring it out like the original Klipsch and raise the height slightly more. It looks UGHLEE like that.
😱😱😱😱
Review? Paid advertisement.
wow.... yummy!
That room really echoes ALOT!!!
Bla bla bla. Even for an advertise ...
I'm not really sure what the big deal is all about the forte model 3s. Give a huge presence in a large room. . Mid-range is perfect very easily understood and listened to with steps
A recently obtained two full grade A pair of the 1403 new in the box never used never opened.. in a warehouse sale about 8 months ago.. I did listen to the 14 model 4.. upgrade.. if you use a decent sound processor
..😊 what's the difference between the model 3 and the model 4 will disappear.. for some it's all about the cost of upgrade.. saving coin is an absolute in this economy.. beyond the hunt for prices on the model 3 new in the box and if they're used negotiate the price and make absolutely sure that the model 3s are no older with a manufactured date of 2017
.. get the serial numbers for both right and left channel speaker in advance of paying for them and then contact Klipsch to give you the original sale date or even the supplier date to the retailer.. they do keep these records and everybody needs to know exactly what they're buying . What's being stated in this post is a very important thing to remember.. I've enjoyed Klipsch for many decades and know the heritage series very very well...
😊😊😊😊😊
Thanks for sharing! 😁
Please do yourself a favor and listen to the Alan Parsons project tales of mystery and imagination in the forte 3 and 4 if you can at the same time. Switching between periodically to prove to yourself that there is literally no real difference between the 43 and the 4.. OMG guys at 95 DB or better you will never tell the difference between the two as well as when you run both speakers model 3 and model 4 let's say 60 DB or less the imaging is approximately the same with that particular Alan Parsons project album
Having owned the Klipsch 14 model 3 number approximately 10 years I'd never change them out there's no reason to.. they will rock your house your ears and your smile will be always very enjoyable ones so enjoy
We are glad you are enjoying your speakers. We did have them symmetrically side by side and preferred the new ones but to each his own. Thanks for watching.