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Klipsch Heresy III vs Wharfedale Dovedale Comparison

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Klipsch Heresy III

Passive Floor-standing | 58-20k Hz

Klipsch Capitol Heresy III
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Wharfedale Dovedale

Passive Bookshelf | 36-20K HZ

Wharfedale Dovedale
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Klipsch Heresy III Klipsch Heresy III
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Wharfedale Dovedale Wharfedale Dovedale
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Klipsch Heresy III
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Wharfedale Dovedale
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Klipsch Heresy III vs Wharfedale Dovedale Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers . Klipsch Capitol Heresy III is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Dovedale is a Bookshelf speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Klipsch Heresy III and Wharfedale Dovedale 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 )

Wharfedale Dovedale Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" soft dome Tweeter
  • 5" Midrange
  • 10" black woven Kevlar cone Woofer
  • 5" Midrange
  • 36-20K HZ Frequency Response
  • 89 DB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6.5ohms
  • Power Range:25-250watts
  • Weight:26.20kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 660.0" x 14.6" x 16.4"( 660 x 370 x 417mm )

Heresy III and Dovedale are members of Wharfedale's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Klipsch Heritage Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
Klipsch Forte IV
  
Floor-standing 38-20k Hz 99 dB8Ω 1 x 12"
Klipsch Cornwall IV
  
Floor-standing 34-20k Hz 102 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch La Scala AL6
  
Floor-standing 40-19k Hz 103 dB8Ω 1 x 12"
Klipsch Heresy IV
  
Floor-standing 48-20k Hz 99 dB8Ω 1 x 12"
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7
  
Floor-standing 34-19k Hz 103 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch La Scala AL5
  
Floor-standing 51-20k Hz 105 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch Klipschorn AK6
  
Floor-standing 33-20k Hz 105 dB8Ω 1 x 15"
Klipsch Heresy III
Floor-standing 58-20k Hz 99 dB8Ω 1 x 12"

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Heresy III and Wharfedale Dovedale compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Heresy III and Dovedale are 3-way speakers.

Driver Klipsch Heresy III Wharfedale Dovedale
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange 1 x 1.75-inch 1 x 5-inch
Woofer 1 x 12-inch 1 x 10-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 Dovedale features a 1" soft dome Tweeter , a 5" Midrange and 1 x 10" black woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560Hz and 2900Hz.

Frequency Response

Heresy III has a frequency range of 58-20k Hz whereas Dovedale has a frequency range of 36-20K HZ. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Dovedale 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

Heresy III
Dovedale
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Klipsch Heresy III
Wharfedale Dovedale
Min
Average
Max

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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Dovedale which has a nominal impedance of 6.5 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Heresy III sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the Dovedale's is rated at 89 DB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch Heresy III a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Dovedale, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Heresy III
Dovedale
Min
Average
Max

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.

Heresy III can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Heresy III has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 150 watts less than the Dovedale.

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

Heresy III features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Dovedale has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale DovedalePost Terminals
Wharfedale Dovedale's 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 Klipsch Heresy III's and Wharfedale Dovedale'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 Wharfedale Dovedale has external dimensions of 660 x 370 x 417mm ( 23.6 x 14.6 x 16.4 inch) .

Klipsch Heresy III is 53mm shorter and 75mm less deeper than Wharfedale Dovedale but it is also 24mm wider.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Heresy III and Wharfedale Dovedale in scale.

Klipsch Heresy III vs Wharfedale Dovedale Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Klipsch Heresy III and Wharfedale Dovedale Size and External Dimensions

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 Wharfedale Dovedale is approximately 1542.9cm2 / 239.1inch2. The Heresy III requires 13% less surface area than the Dovedale which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of Klipsch Heresy III?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Heresy III:
  • Floor-standing loudspeaker
  • Detachable grille (installed)
  • Base riser (installed)
  • 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • Owners Manual
  • Congratulations letter
  • Klipsch brochure

  • Reasons to choose Klipsch Capitol Heresy III over Wharfedale Dovedale
    Sensitivity 99 dB vs 89 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6.5 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 12 inches vs 10 inches Larger woofer
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    Height 607mm vs 660mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 1347cm2 vs 1542cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 2346USD vs 5000USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Wharfedale Dovedale over Klipsch Capitol Heresy III

    Max Input Power 250 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Low Frequency Response 36 Hz vs 58 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Klipsch Heresy III vs Wharfedale Dovedale Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Klipsch Capitol Heresy III Wharfedale Dovedale
    Brand Klipsch Wharfedale
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 100 watts 25-250 watts
    Sensitivity 99 dB 89 DB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6.5 ohms
    Impedance n/a 3.6 ohms
    Frequency Response 58-20k Hz 36-20K HZ
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 12" 10"
    Woofer Composition Fiber-composite black woven Kevlar cone
    Woofer Surround Material Treated cloth Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Tractrix horn soft dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver 1.75" 5"
    Crossover Frequency n/a 560Hz and 2900Hz
    Firing Direction n/a rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 607.0mm (23.9") 660.0mm (26")
    Width 394.0mm (15.5") 370.0mm (14.6")
    Depth 342.0mm (13.5") 417.0mm (16.4")
    Weight 20.00kg (44lbs) 26.20kg (57.6lbs)
    Enclosure Acoustic Suspension Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood veneer MDF/Wood Veneer
    Available Colors Blonde Cherry Walnut
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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