The Klipsch Forte IV at a Glance
The Klipsch Forte IV is part of the storied Heritage line that Klipsch has built by hand in Hope, Arkansas, carrying forward the horn loaded philosophy Paul W. Klipsch established in 1946. It is a three way, horn loaded floorstanding loudspeaker that manages to deliver a big, effortless Heritage presentation from a cabinet slim enough to live comfortably against a wall in a real listening room. If you love the immediacy of horns but do not have space for the largest Heritage models, the Forte IV is where the range really opens up.
Design and Technology
Two of the three drivers are true compression drivers on Tractrix horns. A 1 inch Titanium diaphragm compression driver handles the highs, and a 1.75 inch Titanium diaphragm compression driver covers the midrange, both mounted on Klipsch Tractrix horns that control dispersion and reduce reflections for a clean, direct sound. Below them a 12 inch fiber composite cone woofer carries the low end, reinforced by a 15 inch rear firing passive radiator in a sealed plywood enclosure. Crossover points sit at 375 Hz and 4500 Hz, and the quoted frequency response runs from 38 Hz to 20 kHz plus or minus 3 dB.
The headline number for any Heritage listener is sensitivity: 99 dB at 2.83V / 1m. That is a very efficient loudspeaker. With an 8 ohm compatible nominal impedance, the Forte IV produces satisfying volume from very little power, which is exactly why horn loaded Klipsch designs pair so happily with low wattage tube amplifiers as well as with capable solid state.
Sound Character
The Forte IV has the dynamic ease that horn systems are known for. Because so little amplifier effort is required to reach lifelike levels, transients arrive quickly and instruments seem to start and stop on a dime. Voices and acoustic instruments come through with directness and body, and the Tractrix horns keep the top end open without the sound feeling scattered around the room. The sealed enclosure with rear firing passive radiator gives a taut, articulate bass that stays tuneful rather than boomy, and the rear firing radiator means a little breathing room behind the speaker helps it sing.
Where It Sits in the Heritage Range
The Heritage line is a family of horn loaded designs, and each model reflects a different design goal and use case rather than a simple ranking. The Klipsch Heresy IV is the compact, stand or riser mounted member, ideal where floor footprint is tight. The Forte IV steps up to a full floorstander with a larger woofer and the rear firing passive radiator for deeper reach. Above it, the Klipsch Cornwall IV is a larger cabinet still, moving more air for bigger rooms.
From there the range moves into the fully horn loaded bass designs. The Klipsch La Scala AL6 and the corner horn Klipschorn AK7 are the classic all horn statements, and the Klipsch Jubilee is a horn system with an active DSP crossover and bi-amplification, a different architecture aimed at the most ambitious installations. If your interests lean toward home theater rather than the Heritage aesthetic, the Klipsch RF-7 III is a horn loaded Reference floorstander designed with that goal in mind. The Forte IV occupies a lovely middle ground: real Heritage horns and a genuine floorstanding presentation in a size most rooms can accommodate.
Building the Ideal System
The Forte IV is a passive loudspeaker, so it needs amplification and a source. The good news is that its 99 dB sensitivity gives you enormous freedom in what you pair with it.
Amplification
If you want an all in one heart for the system, the Cambridge Audio EVO 150 SE combines amplification and streaming in one elegant chassis and drives the Forte IV with ease. For a refined solid state integrated with plenty of finesse, the Parasound HALO HINT6 is a natural match. Listeners who want to explore separates and monoblock power can look at the Advance Paris X-A220 EVO Mono Amplifier for a bold, driven presentation. And because these are such an efficient horn design, you do not need to chase big wattage to get them moving; modest, high quality power is often all it takes.
For a multi room or home theater angle, the Yamaha RX-A8A gives you surround capability and processing, while the Yamaha XDA-QS5400RK MusicCast Streaming Amplifier suits distributed, multi zone setups.
Source
For dedicated streaming and digital duties, the EverSolo DMP-A10 is a flagship streamer, DAC and preamplifier that partners beautifully with a power amp. The Audiolab 9000N Network Streamer is another excellent way to feed an integrated. For disc based listening, the Magnetar UDP900 MKII SACD and Media Player is a versatile high quality source.
Comparing Within the Category
AEA carries several other fine floorstanders, and the right choice comes down to what you want from the presentation. The MoFi SourcePoint 888 takes a concentric driver approach with its own imaging philosophy. The KLH Model Seven is a classically voiced design with a vintage inspired character. The Spendor A4.2 and the two way Spendor A7.2 pursue the traditional British monitor ideal of refinement and balance. Where the Forte IV distinguishes itself is that horn loaded directness and very high sensitivity, which make it uniquely at home with low wattage tube amplification and give it that lively, dynamic character horn enthusiasts seek out.
Come Have a Listen
AEA is an authorized Klipsch dealer with a showroom in Timonium, Maryland. Demo units rotate and not every model is always set up, so we invite you to contact us to arrange a listen to the Forte IV and hear how it fits with the amplification and sources that suit your room and your taste.