I must say Shaun....i have been an Audiophile for +35 years or so (i'm 51), and had followed many many various magazines, reading reviews and so forth. The last couple of years, my search for new gear and reviews has been here on YT (for the most), where i follow PS Audio, Michael Fremmer, Steve Gutenberg and all the coolest audio people on line, and of course u. You are one of the best reviewers, in terms of understandable speech, rhythm and inside, in a way that most people can understand, and that's not an easy task. Your way of communicate audio is excellent in every way, so thank you for all the time putting into this. Cheers from Denmark
You all prolly dont give a damn but does anybody know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can give me
@Aldo Gannon i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im in the hacking process now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
You are absolutely correct, these speakers are not forgiving with poor recordings. I've owned the 4's for a month now and really enjoy the live music quality along with the increased sound stage. They pair great with my Audio Research VSi60 tube amp and PH6 phono preamp along with a Michell turntable. I primarily just listen to records. Overall, very pleased with them.
Excellent review, I have the forte III paired with an Yamaha AS2100 and I love it. After having the speakers for some time already, I still play with set up from time to time trying to find the right place. For me it sounds good no matter where you place them, but indeed the sound changes :)
Can't afford the speakers, but I really like the review and the care that you put into the visual setup and presentation. I got the impression from recent videos that you were moving away from this, but I'm glad to see you did it this time. Great work, guy. It looks so good.
If you cant't afford these, watch out for klipsch quartets. Bigger than the heresey, smaller than Fortes. I have a pair of Quartets in my Livingroom. Id say they have similar characteristics like the Fortes reviewed here. Although they're older. The liveliness and dynamics are big fun. And as Zero said, its possible to make them Sound less harsh by rearranging Position or Pairing them with a high end tube amp. Its an allmost lsid back sound then ;)
I bought the original Forté when they came out in '85. Had them for 30+ years. They were amazing. Thanks for a great review. Hopefully more people will go listen to them and hear them firsthand. If you don't have room for the much larger Cornwall, then this is a fantastic choice. Thanks again Sean.
Good review Sean. I own the Forte II's (I just replaced the caps) and you hit the nail on the head when you talk about how revealing they can be. Speaker Placement makes a big difference too.
You know he did. Because I would have left them in the box, and just effortlessly flipped them up the stairs. And that's probably what he did for the other one too. 😁
I'm considering the Heresy IV's right now - do you think that what he said about the Forte IV's being less forgiving of "poor" recordings also applies here? Not sure what constitutes poor either really - I guess I'm asking about your average MP3 played through a Yamaha RX-A2A. I'll post this same thing as an individual post also in case zeroF has an opinion.
Years ago Bruce Edgar interviewed PWK for SpeakerBuilder magazine (this was when PWK owned the company). When Bruce asked Klipsch engineer Jim Hunter why they didn't make a subwoofer for the Heresy Hunter replied that was what the Cornwall was for.
Good Job! My reference speakers for the last 6 yrs are the Original Forte which are heavily modified (AK forums). Forte will not lie to you about your music :)
You're not alone. I got Forte ones in about 1995 on Craigs List. College town. Probably one of the best choices I ever made. Except that I now am a klipsch-aholic.
Honest review. Much appreciated. You're also starting to put more effort in how your videos look. Smart move. You have to play the TH-cam game. Well done!
Yes honest review as always. Just wanted to say that I purchased these and they have opened the door to enjoying music I have not listened to in a long time and have made the music I was listening to on some highly regarded speakers that I have enjoyed for years sound better . Win !!
I started listening and you did a lot of comparing between the III and IV but I never heard the III. I am grateful I continued watching and got your opinion. I think they will be filling the bill for me. I wanted Cornwalls but just didn't have the room!
was that the new KLH Model 5 peeking around the corner of this review Sean? I think these new Forte's would mate well with my Yamaha AS 1200 than the Wharfdale Linton's I'm using now. But the Model 5's!. I had a pair of the original's that I regret selling. Great review as always!
Cant wait for the Model 5 review. I got in on the ground floor when David Kelley relaunched KLH and I bought the Kendall’s. FWIW, the Kendall’s are great, but I’ve been waiting for the Model 5 to come out!
Hi, this is a GREAT review! Sean, You really explained in excellent detail how the Forte IV sounds. This is really important when a buyer is going to plunk down 5 grand ( current price). Your review hits the mark in giving us a straight on look at what to accept sound wise if we buy it. I am too old now to invest in the IV and get enough time with it to justify the cost, but I would have loved to have them. They have excellent height width and depth to fit next to my living room double door cabinet. I primarily listen to easy going classical music, strings, piano etc. I also love the NYC small club atmosphere where artists like Judy Collins or Ella Fitzgerald sing their hearts out. I think the IV’s would really put me in the room. I have a new Cambridge Audio AXA35 amp and I think it would be a great match for the IV’s. Thanks again for an excellent review!
This is about the most complete and analytical review you've done. Well done. Nearly every question I had, you answered. Very thoughtful and organized presentation. I appreciated the comparison to the Cornwall as well. If you have a moment, I think some of your audience would be curious regarding how the Forte iv compares to the Heresy iv. Is it worth the price difference? My guess is that the sonic signature is comparable to the Heresy but the Forte has more authoritative oomph with its 15" passive radiator. Your thoughts? Thanks !
The Forte 4 can sound like a Heresy 4, only bigger, more resolute, and quite a bit more natural in the midrange. If somebody has the extra cash, I'd heavily encourage em' to go for the 4's.
Thanks for the great review! I really appreciate hearing your perspective on choosing between Heresy, Forte and Cornwall at the end of the video. Super helpful!
I just refurbished a pair of Klipsch Chorus 2. And I agree with everything said. They do many things so well and many things not. When they are playing strings and horns it is magical. When they play average recorded music like rock it becomes a short listen session. I have other systems to turn to when that happens.
Your review seems accurate and well covered. I come away with a confident idea of what they offer, possibly because you seem confident. These make a review easier because they are not fussy about their amplifier, which is otherwise complicating. Their rated sensitivity (downrated ~3 dB to 96 dB by me because Klipsch uses a proprietary standard 'room' for testing this) means I mightn't have to include a new amp in the budget. And I appreciate the positioning of the product in the line. (They appear overpriced.) And, their character of exposing the bad in bad recordings. To me, that can be really annoying, but sonically honest.
Terrific review! Sean, you present the most cogent information when you review products. You just make sense. Really good. I kinda agree with you on Cornwall V Forte. If you can stretch to them you should. But, I gotta say 2k would be my limit for speakers. So, there’s no Klipsch heritage in my future...they’re pretty heavy too. I’m too old to lift them.
great review... seems like most speaker companies are betting on more realistic/honest sounding speakers revealing bad recordings flaws. i think is all good. folks, listen to better recorded recordings. the time is now!
Thank you for this honest review! The first review showing up on youtube sounds way too much like an ad. How could so much little difference between the 3s and 4s create such a huge difference? The four sound better? I can believe that. Way better? no way possible.
Other factor is the Cornwall for myself had relatively slow slightly deeper bass while the Forte can be positioned for faster yet harder hitting bass. So personal preference there as well. To me the Forte can sounds more like a baby Klipschorn then Cornwall depending on positioning in your room.
Great review as usual Sean. Thank you. I've always wanted to try a pair of these, or even the Quartets. This style appeals to me more then the Cornwall style. Although really the Cornwall's have a bit of an advantage in that they're designed to be stuffed in a corner, or against a wall (hence the name). So really they don't need all that much space when compared to most speakers that have to be pulled out from the wall. But I think these look better myself. That being said. You're right about the design of the horn being smaller, and it affecting the sound. That's why for my money. Instead of buying any of these. I would get an old pair of Klipsch Belles instead, and just update/improve them a bit. They sound very much like a K horn, and amazingly they can do a decent disappearing act too somehow? At least the pair I heard did. And they're no where near as obnoxiously large as the K Horns. Which are just so tall. And so chunky. I think they're very classy looking speakers. That can double as a couple of nice tables too. 😁
If wife acceptance factor had no bearing then I'd pony up for La Scala's or Belle Klipsch's. No speaker at any price can beat their articulation and dynamics.
@@1mctous I suppose not. I did hear a really nice pair of huge Altecs with added ribbon super tweeters that tried to do a decent imitation. But the room, and the setup (a large gathering in a wood working shop) prevented me from really hearing what they could do. That being said. I totally agree with you. For me it's the lack of space, or I would already have the Belles. Or K Horns. They are after all the same speaker for the most part. And if I had the room, despite their obnoxious size. I couldn't turn away a good deal on a pair, if I were to ever come across one. Same goes for the big Altec speakers too. The best part of any of these speakers is the fact that you would have almost unlimited choice in amps. And could get away with something like a nice 2 watt Decware SET amp one month, and then a 200 watt solid state the next.
I'm curious as to whether or not there is some kind "cover" for the passive radiator on the back? It just seems that it would be more prone to being damaged if not. Does it make sense to have at least a grill or something on the rear?
Sounds to me like the only real change from the predecessor is an upgraded crossover network. But as for the review, perfect! The comparison to other heritage models is very helpful for potential buyers like myself.
Are you able to provide song examples that fall into your categories of poorly recorded, average recorded, and well recorded so that I can listen to them on my current set of speakers? Thanks
As I have done, I think you need two different speakers for the divided musical presentations. If you can live with these guys for everything you listen to, then you are one and done.
Sean, I’m honestly not saying this to be argumentative, but on one hand you said the Forte IV’s made it sound like there really is a performance going on in your room. I’ve also heard you say something like it’s all fake sounding, so pick your fake and enjoy the music. Did the Forte’s remove some of that “fake”? I truly mean that question in a respectful manner. Top notch review as usual, Sean. Thanks, man!
Great question: In my experience, every speaker sounds like a speaker. However, some project sound in a way that better recreates the feeling of being close to a performance. Klipsch tends to make a lot of speakers like that.
Naw. They are fine as-is. If you want, you could get something about half an inch tall and slip it under the front of the speaker to tilt them up a bit more . Easy and cheap to experiment with.
Thanks....was really interested in this speaker.....now not so much....lol!Gonna go with other Klipsch speakers.Thanks for including points about the amp.....it's always a big dilemma.
Thank you for another great review! Both the Fortes & the Cornwalls are in my budget. So, having in mind my small listening space, I would like to ask you what is the minimum acceptable distance between the listener and the front baffle of those loudspeakers? And again, what is the case with the Cornwalls, i.e. same distance? perhaps less?. Thanks in advance.
That wallpaper/paint combination is absolutely lovely Sean! It look's like a 90yr old woman named "Esther" picked it out! Lmfao over here... I joke, I kid!
Close! My mom picked it out a longggg time ago. I'm basically here to get the place ready for market, and as you can tell, I'm doing an awful job! :D :D. And lord PLZZZZZ do not let my mom ever see this comment and my reply to it. :D.
Thank for an excellent review! Could you please comment on how they sound compared to the Heresey IV? The same way people could go up to the Cornwall you discuss in the review, I am in the position of wondering if I should go from the Heresey to Forte. Thank you very much.
Thanks for the excelent review. Hope in time you manage to get a sample of the new KLH Model 5, really would like your POV on them, as others saying the best sub $5k speaker....
Having dabbled in budget horn tweeters from those £5 piezo tweeters, Eminence APT80 and also my Bill Fitzmaurice Omnitop 12 I can sort of imagine what these sound like - like my PA speakers but with any honkyness or clanky upper midrange ironed out. I imagine they don't take as much use of a 31 band EQ to get to sound pleasing. The way they can do a steel guitar and hi hats and maracas at high volume without losing the top end or sounding mushy is very satisfying. I imagine if you played hardstyle on them you'd have to turn down the treble though. I would also imagine the mids and highs outrun the woofer unless you bi-amp and limit the power to the mids and tweeter.
@@jamestartaglia7686 they were good but not great, five stars out of ten but sounded amazing with Glenn Gould playing Bach on organ an good for rock and blues but not so much classical and jazz. I’m using Proac Response 3’s now which I’m still testing but beat the Klipsch and blow away the Tektons. The Tektons are all hype n
Only if your Rotel is class A/B; they won’t work well with class D amplifiers, unless it is a very expensive one like the ones designed by Bruno Putzeys. Even with a class A/B solid state amplifier the sound of the upper mids and lower highs might be bright and exhausting. I would recommend a push-pull valve amplifier or, better, a pure class A one.
Awesome review. Do the Forte IV’s deliver a sound on the lean side (to be able to be quick and dynamic) as opposed to a more meat-in the bone/rich sound? Or would that be a function of the amp paired up with? Thanks!
Sean, I sure enjoy your no nonsense but entertaining and informative videos. I can now afford them and am torn between getting the Forte 4's or Cornwall 4's. I do have just enough room space for the Cornwall's 15 x 25 feet but distance from the wall behind it may be a challenge as it seems like Forte's need more room for the different sound projections as I've heard reviewers say, they need a lot of room but some people selling them say no more then the Cornwall's. From your experience do you know how much room, feet or inches each may need from the back wall. Keep up the good work thanks Ted.
Could you clarify what you mean by "poor recording"? Are we talking compressed contemporary pop recordings? What about older recordings, like early jazz and blues (likely on CD), or even 50's era rock and roll and R&B? I currently have a pair of Heresy III's and a lot of these older recordings sound pretty good on those. But I'm curious about the Fortes.
I am curious about the CWIV. I had the CWIII and I found the upper bass resonance too much for me to bear. It simply obscured too much detail in the midrange. I am hoping the additional bracing of the CWIV addresses this problem.
Pausing : Philips screws on tweeter star screws on mid Allen screws on woofer 😨😨😨 Edit what's with the high fidelity video? Have you got some new camera gear? Quality review m8 👍
Have not heard the IV. I own the I and the II. I once owned the III. The III was improved when I replaced the Ti tweeter with a phenolic. Not a fan of metal tweeters in general. But of all of these I still like my Forte I best.
Sean, greetings from Italy.Pardon me for being a bit OT. Given your expertise on the Harbeth p3 esr would you be so kind to tip me what would be a nice pairing of the speakers with an integrated that don't cost a fortune. Some of the integrated amps that are widely available here in Europe are the Rega's, Marantz,Audiolab,Cambridge,Denon,Nad, Rotel. Thanks in advance
I have not used these speakers, but do own a pair of Heresy III's. Heresy's are amazing for vocals and synthesizers. Well produced music pops out and fills the room with sound. These speakers are also very sensitive to EQ. If you are used to cranking the treble that's a bad idea with these. When I run LPs I leave it flat with my receiver. With CDs I might bump it a small amount like 1 or 2 out of 10. Any more than that and it sounds screechy and harsh.
I must say Shaun....i have been an Audiophile for +35 years or so (i'm 51), and had followed many many various magazines, reading reviews and so forth. The last couple of years, my search for new gear and reviews has been here on YT (for the most), where i follow PS Audio, Michael Fremmer, Steve Gutenberg and all the coolest audio people on line, and of course u. You are one of the best reviewers, in terms of understandable speech, rhythm and inside, in a way that most people can understand, and that's not an easy task. Your way of communicate audio is excellent in every way, so thank you for all the time putting into this. Cheers from Denmark
How come none of these reviews are critical.
Nice!
You all prolly dont give a damn but does anybody know of a tool to log back into an Instagram account..?
I somehow lost my password. I appreciate any tips you can give me
@Aldo Gannon i really appreciate your reply. I got to the site through google and im in the hacking process now.
I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Aldo Gannon it did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D
Thank you so much you saved my account!
@Matias Wesley glad I could help :D
Love that you started with an overview and got more specific later in the video. Much appreciated
Great review! I have these on order from a local dealer, and your review confirmed all the reasons I went with these!
Can’t wait for the Klipsch Klipschhorn review! Great review Sean!
Not without a hand truck that goes up stairs.
@@homerjones3291 Forklift? 😆😂😆🤦♀️
You are absolutely correct, these speakers are not forgiving with poor recordings. I've owned the 4's for a month now and really enjoy the live music quality along with the increased sound stage. They pair great with my Audio Research VSi60 tube amp and PH6 phono preamp along with a Michell turntable. I primarily just listen to records. Overall, very pleased with them.
Thanks. Good to know.
I think this is your best review yet. No-nonsense but attractive presentation. Concise but insightful content. Thank you.
Excellent review, I have the forte III paired with an Yamaha AS2100 and I love it. After having the speakers for some time already, I still play with set up from time to time trying to find the right place. For me it sounds good no matter where you place them, but indeed the sound changes :)
I’d love to see you hauling a pair of La Scalas up the stairs.
Or Cornwalls! 😄
Can't afford the speakers, but I really like the review and the care that you put into the visual setup and presentation. I got the impression from recent videos that you were moving away from this, but I'm glad to see you did it this time. Great work, guy. It looks so good.
If you cant't afford these, watch out for klipsch quartets. Bigger than the heresey, smaller than Fortes. I have a pair of Quartets in my Livingroom. Id say they have similar characteristics like the Fortes reviewed here. Although they're older. The liveliness and dynamics are big fun. And as Zero said, its possible to make them Sound less harsh by rearranging Position or Pairing them with a high end tube amp. Its an allmost lsid back sound then ;)
I bought the original Forté when they came out in '85. Had them for 30+ years. They were amazing. Thanks for a great review. Hopefully more people will go listen to them and hear them firsthand. If you don't have room for the much larger Cornwall, then this is a fantastic choice. Thanks again Sean.
Brow a clear precise and informative review. Ive learnt plenty. Some u tubers are all over the place and leave one confused. So thanks.
These reviews are getting even better.
Good review Sean. I own the Forte II's (I just replaced the caps) and you hit the nail on the head when you talk about how revealing they can be.
Speaker Placement makes a big difference too.
Wow! Love the light! Meaning the video is so clear and sharp
I actually preferred the 3s. Cant go wrong with either if youre a klipsch fan. Great review
Did you drag that 100+ LB speaker to the park just to take a photo!??!!
..... You judging me? Because I'm sure a lot of people did.
@@ZeroFidelity Nah, I am just calling you crazy!!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
HAHAHAHAH omg Thomas, I'm dying.
@@ZeroFidelity Gotta admit I did. But it was a pretty photo.
You know he did. Because I would have left them in the box, and just effortlessly flipped them up the stairs. And that's probably what he did for the other one too. 😁
My Heresy IV s with a bad ass sub has been the most fun I’ve had in this hobby. Love it
Cornwall next but nothing goes , I’ll keep these forever.
The Cornwall is a big hollow sounding box. I did the knock test. I was terrible.
Dan, all of the heritage speakers are pretty hollow. I think they use the cabinet resonances as part of the tuning.
I'm considering the Heresy IV's right now - do you think that what he said about the Forte IV's being less forgiving of "poor" recordings also applies here? Not sure what constitutes poor either really - I guess I'm asking about your average MP3 played through a Yamaha RX-A2A. I'll post this same thing as an individual post also in case zeroF has an opinion.
Years ago Bruce Edgar interviewed PWK for SpeakerBuilder magazine (this was when PWK owned the company). When Bruce asked Klipsch engineer Jim Hunter why they didn't make a subwoofer for the Heresy Hunter replied that was what the Cornwall was for.
Great review as always - and we do appreciate you putting up with all of that lugging!
Good Job! My reference speakers for the last 6 yrs are the Original Forte which are heavily modified (AK forums). Forte will not lie to you about your music :)
I probably wouldn’t have fallen backwards down the steps with that. It’s happened with a tv and a sub.
What's up cheapaudioman
@@TexasCorgiGun what’s up
@@cheapaudioman what's up !!!! we can go on and on and on lol. This comment was when you were not famous that's why I replied 😂
I'm looking at bunch of speakers but not buying any lol, my opinion keeps changing inside my mind.
I’m running Forte ones which I got on CL for $500. Really sweet with my Icepower class D amp with a Bellari tube preamp.
You're not alone. I got Forte ones in about 1995 on Craigs List. College town. Probably one of the best choices I ever made. Except that I now am a klipsch-aholic.
I just saw some older Heresy's for 500 dollars myself but missed the opportunity while making up my mind. Stupid brain.
Honest review. Much appreciated. You're also starting to put more effort in how your videos look. Smart move. You have to play the TH-cam game. Well done!
Yes honest review as always.
Just wanted to say that I purchased these and they have opened the door to enjoying music I have not listened to in a long time and have made the music I was listening to on some highly regarded speakers that I have enjoyed for years sound better . Win !!
Great Review Sean! I wish i had the room...
one of the finest of Klipsch
I started listening and you did a lot of comparing between the III and IV but I never heard the III. I am grateful I continued watching and got your opinion. I think they will be filling the bill for me. I wanted Cornwalls but just didn't have the room!
Good review. Not something I'm really interested (not a big Klipsch fan), but I appreciate the honesty and directness. Keep it coming.
Great review Sean! So much gear so little time.
Still rocking my RF7II with anthem integrated 225 in other room. I do like the fortes would love cornwalls.
That was a great review bro. ✌️
Great review, it's definitely a plus that one doesn't have to worry about component matching .
was that the new KLH Model 5 peeking around the corner of this review Sean? I think these new Forte's would mate well with my Yamaha AS 1200 than the Wharfdale Linton's I'm using now. But the Model 5's!. I had a pair of the original's that I regret selling. Great review as always!
Yup
Cant wait for the Model 5 review. I got in on the ground floor when David Kelley relaunched KLH and I bought the Kendall’s. FWIW, the Kendall’s are great, but I’ve been waiting for the Model 5 to come out!
@ John Murray. By the way, my Kendall’s are paired to a Yamaha A-S2200. They pair really well, great synergy.
Hi, this is a GREAT review! Sean, You really explained in excellent detail how the Forte IV sounds. This is really important when a buyer is going to plunk down 5 grand ( current price). Your review hits the mark in giving us a straight on look at what to accept sound wise if we buy it. I am too old now to invest in the IV and get enough time with it to justify the cost, but I would have loved to have them.
They have excellent height width and depth to fit next to my living room double door cabinet. I primarily listen to easy going classical music, strings, piano etc. I also love the NYC small club atmosphere where artists like Judy Collins or Ella Fitzgerald sing their hearts out. I think the IV’s would really put me in the room. I have a new Cambridge Audio AXA35 amp and I think it would be a great match for the IV’s.
Thanks again for an excellent review!
This is about the most complete and analytical review you've done. Well done. Nearly every question I had, you answered. Very thoughtful and organized presentation. I appreciated the comparison to the Cornwall as well. If you have a moment, I think some of your audience would be curious regarding how the Forte iv compares to the Heresy iv. Is it worth the price difference? My guess is that the sonic signature is comparable to the Heresy but the Forte has more authoritative oomph with its 15" passive radiator. Your thoughts? Thanks !
The Forte 4 can sound like a Heresy 4, only bigger, more resolute, and quite a bit more natural in the midrange. If somebody has the extra cash, I'd heavily encourage em' to go for the 4's.
Nice
Awesome review.
Great review, as always!
Thanks for the great review! I really appreciate hearing your perspective on choosing between Heresy, Forte and Cornwall at the end of the video. Super helpful!
I just refurbished a pair of Klipsch Chorus 2. And I agree with everything said. They do many things so well and many things not. When they are playing strings and horns it is magical. When they play average recorded music like rock it becomes a short listen session. I have other systems to turn to when that happens.
Your review seems accurate and well covered. I come away with a confident idea of what they offer, possibly because you seem confident. These make a review easier because they are not fussy about their amplifier, which is otherwise complicating. Their rated sensitivity (downrated ~3 dB to 96 dB by me because Klipsch uses a proprietary standard 'room' for testing this) means I mightn't have to include a new amp in the budget. And I appreciate the positioning of the product in the line. (They appear overpriced.) And, their character of exposing the bad in bad recordings. To me, that can be really annoying, but sonically honest.
Thank you Jim!
Terrific review! Sean, you present the most cogent information when you review products. You just make sense. Really good. I kinda agree with you on Cornwall V Forte. If you can stretch to them you should. But, I gotta say 2k would be my limit for speakers. So, there’s no Klipsch heritage in my future...they’re pretty heavy too. I’m too old to lift them.
Thanks man!
Keep shopping for good used Heritage speakers. Eventually you'll find a pair for $2K.
great review... seems like most speaker companies are betting on more realistic/honest sounding speakers revealing bad recordings flaws. i think is all good. folks, listen to better recorded recordings. the time is now!
Fair review overall....these I really want to audition more than anything else, I have always loved that loud "live"sound.
Thank you for this honest review! The first review showing up on youtube sounds way too much like an ad. How could so much little difference between the 3s and 4s create such a huge difference? The four sound better? I can believe that. Way better? no way possible.
Other factor is the Cornwall for myself had relatively slow slightly deeper bass while the Forte can be positioned for faster yet harder hitting bass. So personal preference there as well. To me the Forte can sounds more like a baby Klipschorn then Cornwall depending on positioning in your room.
Great review as usual Sean. Thank you. I've always wanted to try a pair of these, or even the Quartets. This style appeals to me more then the Cornwall style. Although really the Cornwall's have a bit of an advantage in that they're designed to be stuffed in a corner, or against a wall (hence the name). So really they don't need all that much space when compared to most speakers that have to be pulled out from the wall.
But I think these look better myself. That being said. You're right about the design of the horn being smaller, and it affecting the sound. That's why for my money. Instead of buying any of these. I would get an old pair of Klipsch Belles instead, and just update/improve them a bit.
They sound very much like a K horn, and amazingly they can do a decent disappearing act too somehow? At least the pair I heard did. And they're no where near as obnoxiously large as the K Horns. Which are just so tall. And so chunky. I think they're very classy looking speakers. That can double as a couple of nice tables too. 😁
If wife acceptance factor had no bearing then I'd pony up for La Scala's or Belle Klipsch's. No speaker at any price can beat their articulation and dynamics.
@@1mctous I suppose not. I did hear a really nice pair of huge Altecs with added ribbon super tweeters that tried to do a decent imitation. But the room, and the setup (a large gathering in a wood working shop) prevented me from really hearing what they could do.
That being said. I totally agree with you. For me it's the lack of space, or I would already have the Belles. Or K Horns. They are after all the same speaker for the most part. And if I had the room, despite their obnoxious size. I couldn't turn away a good deal on a pair, if I were to ever come across one. Same goes for the big Altec speakers too. The best part of any of these speakers is the fact that you would have almost unlimited choice in amps. And could get away with something like a nice 2 watt Decware SET amp one month, and then a 200 watt solid state the next.
Great review bro, If I had the space I'd consider these
Good review man
One of my life goals is to have a room big enough for the cornwalls..
Guttenberg lives with Cornwalls in a pretty small space.
Excellent, helpful review. Thanks.
I'm curious as to whether or not there is some kind "cover" for the passive radiator on the back? It just seems that it would be more prone to being damaged if not. Does it make sense to have at least a grill or something on the rear?
Sounds to me like the only real change from the predecessor is an upgraded crossover network.
But as for the review, perfect! The comparison to other heritage models is very helpful for potential buyers like myself.
Thank you Sean ! Dang you listen to what i do angus and julie stone one of my favs
So very revealing would you say ?
Nice! Yeah man, I absolutely adore those Australians! And yep - very revealing is the best way to put it!
Thank's for this review.
It’s nice to hear a more critical review.
Are you able to provide song examples that fall into your categories of poorly recorded, average recorded, and well recorded so that I can listen to them on my current set of speakers? Thanks
I would like to hear your opinion on the Rotel A11 Tribute
As I have done, I think you need two different speakers for the divided musical presentations. If you can live with these guys for everything you listen to, then you are one and done.
I entered a contest to win a pair of these... We shall see what happens... And how they will sound on my meager Amp.
Can't wait for whenever the KLH model 5 reviews release. I can do $2k. But $4k for a pair, thats a bit rich for my blood.
Can't wait to publish it!
The Evictors.
Sean, I’m honestly not saying this to be argumentative, but on one hand you said the Forte IV’s made it sound like there really is a performance going on in your room. I’ve also heard you say something like it’s all fake sounding, so pick your fake and enjoy the music. Did the Forte’s remove some of that “fake”? I truly mean that question in a respectful manner. Top notch review as usual, Sean. Thanks, man!
Great question: In my experience, every speaker sounds like a speaker. However, some project sound in a way that better recreates the feeling of being close to a performance. Klipsch tends to make a lot of speakers like that.
Really need to go on stands, ya think? About a foot/foot and a half or so high?
Naw. They are fine as-is. If you want, you could get something about half an inch tall and slip it under the front of the speaker to tilt them up a bit more . Easy and cheap to experiment with.
Thanks....was really interested in this speaker.....now not so much....lol!Gonna go with other Klipsch speakers.Thanks for including points about the amp.....it's always a big dilemma.
Nice, now, Not taking money into account, which one to choose?
Is the Classe Delta review still on the way? Not that I can afford it lol, just gear porn for me haha 😁
I will do what I can to post it next!
Thank you for another great review! Both the Fortes & the Cornwalls are in my budget. So, having in mind my small listening space, I would like to ask you what is the minimum acceptable distance between the listener and the front baffle of those loudspeakers? And again, what is the case with the Cornwalls, i.e. same distance? perhaps less?. Thanks in advance.
Small room audio has a review of the Cornwall's you should check out
Same thing as the Cornwall IV's. You'll want to be about 5 ft away for the sound to "jell" together.
That wallpaper/paint combination is absolutely lovely Sean! It look's like a 90yr old woman named "Esther" picked it out! Lmfao over here... I joke, I kid!
Close! My mom picked it out a longggg time ago. I'm basically here to get the place ready for market, and as you can tell, I'm doing an awful job! :D :D. And lord PLZZZZZ do not let my mom ever see this comment and my reply to it. :D.
@@ZeroFidelity I'm certain you're Mother is sweet woman and I take it all back, lol!
Sean, are you going to review the La Scalas?
Don't forget to mention how they tell you how good your amplifier is. They will let you know all about the dreaded hiss. Just like the 3s do.
Thank for an excellent review! Could you please comment on how they sound compared to the Heresey IV? The same way people could go up to the Cornwall you discuss in the review, I am in the position of wondering if I should go from the Heresey to Forte. Thank you very much.
Thanks for the excelent review. Hope in time you manage to get a sample of the new KLH Model 5, really would like your POV on them, as others saying the best sub $5k speaker....
Having dabbled in budget horn tweeters from those £5 piezo tweeters, Eminence APT80 and also my Bill Fitzmaurice Omnitop 12 I can sort of imagine what these sound like - like my PA speakers but with any honkyness or clanky upper midrange ironed out. I imagine they don't take as much use of a 31 band EQ to get to sound pleasing.
The way they can do a steel guitar and hi hats and maracas at high volume without losing the top end or sounding mushy is very satisfying.
I imagine if you played hardstyle on them you'd have to turn down the treble though.
I would also imagine the mids and highs outrun the woofer unless you bi-amp and limit the power to the mids and tweeter.
nice railing on that staircase!
I know right? Makes life way easier!
How about review of Forte 2
Finally, an honest review of the Forte...s
Are they any good with classical music?
I just bought these and am dumping my brand new Tekton Double Impacts. I sure hope I like the Fortes.
@@jamestartaglia7686 they were good but not great, five stars out of ten but sounded amazing with Glenn Gould playing Bach on organ an good for rock and blues but not so much classical and jazz. I’m using Proac Response 3’s now which I’m still testing but beat the Klipsch and blow away the Tektons. The Tektons are all hype n
My next speakers for sure! What do you think about pairing with Rotel?
Only if your Rotel is class A/B; they won’t work well with class D amplifiers, unless it is a very expensive one like the ones designed by Bruno Putzeys. Even with a class A/B solid state amplifier the sound of the upper mids and lower highs might be bright and exhausting. I would recommend a push-pull valve amplifier or, better, a pure class A one.
Awesome review. Do the Forte IV’s deliver
a sound on the lean side (to be able to be quick and dynamic) as opposed to a more meat-in the bone/rich sound? Or would that be a function of the amp paired up with? Thanks!
Both. Depends on setup more than the amp.
Sean, I sure enjoy your no nonsense but entertaining and informative videos. I can now afford them and am torn between getting the Forte 4's or Cornwall 4's. I do have just enough room space for the Cornwall's 15 x 25 feet but distance from the wall behind it may be a challenge as it seems like Forte's need more room for the different sound projections as I've heard reviewers say, they need a lot of room but some people selling them say no more then the Cornwall's. From your experience do you know how much room, feet or inches each may need from the back wall. Keep up the good work thanks Ted.
Thinking of pairing these with a Naim Uniti Nova. It should have ample power for such a sensitive speaker.
Could you clarify what you mean by "poor recording"? Are we talking compressed contemporary pop recordings? What about older recordings, like early jazz and blues (likely on CD), or even 50's era rock and roll and R&B? I currently have a pair of Heresy III's and a lot of these older recordings sound pretty good on those. But I'm curious about the Fortes.
I am curious about the CWIV. I had the CWIII and I found the upper bass resonance too much for me to bear. It simply obscured too much detail in the midrange. I am hoping the additional bracing of the CWIV addresses this problem.
You are still...one of the best reviuwers on a TH-cam👌🙂🍀🖖👋
Good review but $1500 is no small matter to jump to Cornwalls, not to mention, they're 2ft wide. It's for this reason I stuck with the Forte IV
Hi Sean! Thanks for the informative reviews. Can you review the Quad S-2 Speakers?
Do you feel like the steep slope Network helped improve the bass output?
Hi Sean
Have you ever encountered audiophiles who primarily listen to the radio as opposed to CDs, Records or streamed music.?
Just wondered...
Well done!
Great review Sean, now I get it.
Just curious if you can say what speaker you mentioned in one of your most recent live streams that was coming out that week?
I would love to hear more about the design philosophy of sizing a passive radiator. Specifically one 15" P.R. vs two (or more) smaller P.R.
Pausing : Philips screws on tweeter star screws on mid Allen screws on woofer 😨😨😨
Edit what's with the high fidelity video? Have you got some new camera gear?
Quality review m8 👍
Hmm maybe they're crude preproductions? My Heresy IVs all have the same screws
What would be a good laid back mellow alternative to these?
Martin Logan’s
Turn down the volume.
Unless I missed it...Why didn't you mention the passive 15" woofer on the back of the cabinet? ^^
Have not heard the IV. I own the I and the II. I once owned the III. The III was improved when I replaced the Ti tweeter with a phenolic. Not a fan of metal tweeters in general. But of all of these I still like my Forte I best.
Is that snow outside your window?
Sean, greetings from Italy.Pardon me for being a bit OT. Given your expertise on the Harbeth p3 esr would you be so kind to tip me what would be a nice pairing of the speakers with an integrated that don't cost a fortune. Some of the integrated amps that are widely available here in Europe are the Rega's, Marantz,Audiolab,Cambridge,Denon,Nad, Rotel. Thanks in advance
Try Mastersound Box integrated made in Italy.
Still no VOLTI SPEAKERS...
I have not used these speakers, but do own a pair of Heresy III's. Heresy's are amazing for vocals and synthesizers. Well produced music pops out and fills the room with sound. These speakers are also very sensitive to EQ. If you are used to cranking the treble that's a bad idea with these. When I run LPs I leave it flat with my receiver. With CDs I might bump it a small amount like 1 or 2 out of 10. Any more than that and it sounds screechy and harsh.