In this review, we will be comparing Nostala LB12 and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Emotiva and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Emotiva Nostala LB12 and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Emotiva Nostala LB12 | Klipsch Forte IV |
|---|
| Brand | Emotiva
United States · founded 2003 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.1" Soft-Dome | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Paper | 12" Fibercomposite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-32k Hz | 38-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100-350 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 32.20kg / 70.8lbs | 32.73kg / 72lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 30" x 15-1/2" x 14-1/2"
762.0 x 394.0 x 368.0mm | 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13"
909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Nostala LB12 and Forte IV are 3-way speakers.
Emotiva Nostala LB12Klipsch Forte IV
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Emotiva Nostala LB12 |
Klipsch Forte IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
Nostala LB12 features a 1.1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 200Hz and 2000Hz. On the other hand, the Forte IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter, a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fibercomposite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Nostala LB12 has a frequency range of 40-32k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Forte IV can go slightly deeper then the Nostala LB12's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Nostala LB12 and Forte IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Nostala LB12 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Forte IV's is at 99 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Emotiva Nostala LB12, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Nostala LB12 can handle a max power of 350 watts RMS, whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 250 watts less than the Nostala LB12.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Nostala LB12 and Forte IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Nostala LB12 and Forte IV have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Emotiva Nostala LB12's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Emotiva Nostala LB12 has external dimensions of 762.0 x 394.0 x 368.0mm (30 x 15-1/2 x 14-1/2inch) whereas Klipsch Forte IV has external dimensions of 909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm (35-3/4 x 16-5/8 x 13inch).
Emotiva Nostala LB12 is 29mm narrower and 147mm shorter than Klipsch Forte IV but it is also 37mm deeper.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Near-identical footprints. Emotiva Nostala LB12 is 37mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch Forte IV is 147mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Emotiva Nostala LB12 is approximately 1449.9cm2 / 224.7inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The Nostala LB12 requires 4% more surface area than the Forte IV which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The Emotiva Nostala LB12 weighs 32.20kg / 70.8lbs and the Klipsch Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs. This makes the Forte IV 2% heavier than the Nostala LB12.
Here is a comparison of how Nostala LB12 and Forte IV's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Klipsch Forte IV?
Here are the items that come with the Forte IV:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
350 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
32k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
762mm
vs
909mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
3299USD
vs
4998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Base Surface Area |
1400cm2
vs
1449cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Emotiva Nostala LB12 |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
| Brand |
Emotiva |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100-350 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-32k Hz |
38-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Fibercomposite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1.1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
200Hz and 2000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
762.0mm (30") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Width |
394.0mm (15.5") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Depth |
368.0mm (14.5") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
32.20kg (70.8lbs) |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
A generation apart: Emotiva Nostala LB12 is the newer design, against a 2021 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (40Hz vs 38Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch Forte IV is more sensitive (99dB vs 91dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Emotiva Nostala LB12 takes more power (350W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Emotiva Nostala LB12: bi-amping; Klipsch Forte IV: bi-amping. Klipsch Forte IV sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Emotiva Nostala LB12 is cheaper - $3,299 against $4,998, about 34% less. |
A Emotiva Nostala LB12 B Klipsch Forte IV
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch Forte IV is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $1,699 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.