In this review, we will be comparing Triton Three+ and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from GoldenEar and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of GoldenEar Triton Three+ and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the GoldenEar Triton Three+ and Klipsch Forte IV compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Triton Three+ and Forte IV are 3-way speakers.
Driver |
GoldenEar Triton Three+ |
Klipsch Forte IV |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 4.5-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
Triton Three+ features a " High-Velocity Folded Ribbon Tweeter , a 4.5" Midrange and 1 x 5" Polymer Woofer . 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
Triton Three+ has a frequency range of 21-35k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 21Hz, the Triton Three+ can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Forte IV's min frequency of 38Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Triton Three+ and Forte IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Triton Three+ sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Forte IV's is at 99 dB. This 9 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to GoldenEar Triton Three+, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
Triton Three+ can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Triton Three+.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Forte IV features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Triton Three+ has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare GoldenEar Triton Three+'s and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. GoldenEar Triton Three+ has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 296.0 x 447.0mm ( 44-1/2 x 11-5/8 x 17-9/16inch) 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) .
Klipsch Forte IV is 222mm shorter and 116mm less deeper than GoldenEar Triton Three+ but it is also 127mm wider.
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 GoldenEar Triton Three+ is approximately 1323.1cm2 / 205.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The Triton Three+ requires 5% less surface area than the Forte IV which gives it a small advantage 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 GoldenEar Triton Three+ weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the Klipsch Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs. This makes the Forte IV 60% heavier than the Triton Three+.
Here is a comparison of how Triton Three+ 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 GoldenEar Triton Three+?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Triton Three+:
Floorstanding loudspeaker9-feet AC power cordBase4 Rubber feet (pre-installed on base)4 Spikes4 Locking nuts4 Screws4 WashersOwners Manual
What's in the Box of Klipsch Forte IV?
Here are the items that come with the Forte IV:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Low Frequency Response |
21 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
35k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
1323cm2 (296x447mm)
vs
1400cm2 (423x331mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
2998USD
vs
4998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Height |
909mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
General |
GoldenEar Triton Three+ |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
Brand |
GoldenEar |
Klipsch |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
20-400 watts |
up to 100 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
99 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
21-35k Hz |
38-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
5" |
12" |
Woofer Composition |
Polymer |
Fibercomposite |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
High-Velocity Folded Ribbon |
horn-loaded |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
4.5" |
1.75" |
Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
Width |
296.0mm (11.7") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
Depth |
447.0mm (17.6") |
331.0mm (13") |
Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black |
Black |
Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |