In this review, we will be comparing Heresy III and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Heresy III and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch Heresy III Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tractrix horn Tweeter
- 1.75" Midrange
- 12" Fiber-composite Woofer
- 58-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 99 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:100watts
- Weight:20.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 607.0" x 15-1/2" x 13-7/16"( 607.0 x 394.0 x 342.0mm )
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 )
Heresy III and Forte IV are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Heritage Series
History
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Heresy III 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 Heresy III and Forte IV are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch Heresy III |
Klipsch Forte IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
Heresy III features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter , a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fiber-composite 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
Heresy III has a frequency range of 58-20k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Forte IV can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Heresy III's min frequency of 58Hz.
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
Heresy III and Forte IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 99 dB.
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.
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
Both Heresy III and Forte IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 Klipsch Heresy III's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Klipsch Heresy III has external dimensions of 607.0 x 394.0 x 342.0mm ( 23-7/8 x 15-1/2 x 13-7/16inch) 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 Heresy III is 29mm narrower and 302mm shorter than Klipsch Forte IV but it is also 11mm deeper.
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 Klipsch Heresy III is approximately 1347.5cm2 / 208.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The Heresy III requires 4% 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 Klipsch Heresy III weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the Klipsch Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs. This makes the Forte IV 64% heavier than the Heresy III.
Here is a comparison of how Heresy III 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 Heresy III?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Heresy III:
Floor-standing loudspeakerDetachable grille (installed)Base riser (installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
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
 Height |
607mm
vs
909mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1347cm2
vs
1400cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
2346USD
vs
4998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
58 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
| General |
Klipsch Capitol Heresy III |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
58-20k Hz |
38-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiber-composite |
Fibercomposite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Treated cloth |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
1.75" |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
607.0mm (23.9") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Width |
394.0mm (15.5") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Depth |
342.0mm (13.5") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Blonde Cherry |
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 |