In this review, we will be comparing Forte IV and BW 603, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Bowers Wilkins.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Forte IV and B&W 603 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Forte IV | B&W 603 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" horn-loaded | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 1.75" | 6" |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Fibercomposite | 2 x 6.5" Paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-20k Hz | 48-28k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 88.5 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 32.73kg / 72lbs | 24.14kg / 53.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13"
909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm | 38.7" x 7.4" x 13.3"
985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both Forte IV and BW 603 are 3-way speakers.
Klipsch Forte IVB&W 603
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Klipsch Forte IV |
B&W 603 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Forte IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter, a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fibercomposite Woofer. On the other hand, the BW 603 features a 1" Tweeter, a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz whereas BW 603 has a frequency range of 48-28k 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 BW 603's min frequency of 48Hz.
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
Forte IV and BW 603 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Forte IV sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the BW 603's is at 88.5 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 603, 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.
BW 603 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the BW 603.
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 Forte IV and BW 603 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Forte IV and BW 603 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 Klipsch Forte IV's and B&W 603's external dimensions. Klipsch Forte IV has external dimensions of 909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm (35-3/4 x 16-5/8 x 13inch) whereas B&W 603 has external dimensions of 985.0 x 190.0 x 340.0mm (38.7 x 7.4 x 13.3inch).
Klipsch Forte IV is 76mm shorter and 9mm less deeper than B&W 603 but it is also 233mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Forte IV and B&W 603 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch Forte IV and B&W 603 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 Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2 and base area of the B&W 603 is approximately 646.0cm2 / 100.1inch2. The Forte IV requires 117% more surface area than the BW 603 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 Klipsch Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs and the B&W 603 weighs 24.14kg / 53.1lbs. This makes the Forte IV 36% heavier than the BW 603.
Here is a comparison of how Forte IV and BW 603'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 are included inside the box of Forte IV:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
What's in the Box of B&W 603?
Here are the items that come with the BW 603:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- Plinith (base)
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Hex-nuts
- 4 Screws
- 4 Washers
- 4 Lock-washers
- Two-piece foam port plug
- Hex-key
- Manual
- Bowers & Wilkins brochure
- Warranty Information
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
48 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
909mm
vs
985mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
 High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
646cm2
vs
1400cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
Bowers & Wilkins 603 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
88.5 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-20k Hz |
48-28k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fibercomposite |
Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
909.0mm (35.8") |
985.0mm (38.8") |
| Width |
423.0mm (16.7") |
190.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
331.0mm (13") |
340.0mm (13.4") |
| Weight |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
24.14kg (53.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black, White, Oak |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
A |
Klipsch Forte IV digs deeper - 38Hz against 48Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Klipsch Forte IV is more sensitive (99dB vs 89dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
B |
B&W 603 takes more power (200W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
B&W 603 is easier to place; Klipsch Forte IV is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Klipsch Forte IV: bi-amping; B&W 603: bi-amping. Klipsch Forte IV sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
A Klipsch Forte IV
B B&W 603
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Klipsch Forte IV has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 48Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch Forte IV has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, B&W 603 is the easier speaker to get right.
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.