In this review, we will be comparing Concord and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Concord and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
KLH Concord Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer
- 28-23k Hz Frequency Response
- 94 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 225watts
- Weight:20.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1026.0" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"( 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm )
Klipsch Forte IV Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" horn-loaded Tweeter
- 1.75" Midrange
- 12" Fibercomposite Woofer
- 1.75" Midrange
- 38-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 99 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:32.73kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 909.0" x 16-5/8" x 13"( 909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the KLH Concord 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Concord is a 2-way design whereas the Forte IV is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
KLH Concord |
Klipsch Forte IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar 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
Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord 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
Concord and Forte IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Concord sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the Forte IV's is at 99 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to KLH Concord, 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.
Concord can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concord has a max power handling value of watts RMS , 100 watts less than the Forte IV.
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. Concord has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
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 KLH Concord's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) 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 117mm shorter and 49mm less deeper than KLH Concord but it is also 211mm 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 KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The Concord requires 42% less surface area than the Forte IV which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.