In this review, we will be comparing Forte IV and HDI-3800, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Forte IV and JBL HDI-3800 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Forte IV | JBL HDI-3800 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" horn-loaded | 1" |
|---|
| Midrange | 1.75" | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Fibercomposite | 3 x 8" Aluminum |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-20k Hz | 37-30k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 92 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | 25-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 32.73kg / 72lbs | 38.08kg / 83.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13"
909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm | 45" x 11-15/16" x 16-9/16"
1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Forte IV is a 3-way design whereas the HDI-3800 is a 2-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.
Klipsch Forte IVJBL HDI-3800
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 |
JBL HDI-3800 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
3 x 8-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 HDI-3800 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 8" Aluminum Woofer.
Frequency Response
Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz whereas HDI-3800 has a frequency range of 37-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the HDI-3800 can go slightly deeper then the Forte IV's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the HDI-3800 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the HDI-3800 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Forte IV sensitivity is rated at 99 dB and the HDI-3800's is rated at 92 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL HDI-3800, 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.
HDI-3800 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the HDI-3800.
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 HDI-3800 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Forte IV and HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800'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 JBL HDI-3800 has external dimensions of 1143.0 x 304.0 x 421.0mm (45 x 11-15/16 x 16-9/16inch).
Klipsch Forte IV is 234mm shorter and 90mm less deeper than JBL HDI-3800 but it is also 119mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Forte IV and JBL HDI-3800 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch Forte IV and JBL HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800 is approximately 1279.8cm2 / 198.4inch2. The Forte IV requires 9% more surface area than the HDI-3800 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 JBL HDI-3800 weighs 38.08kg / 83.8lbs. This makes the HDI-3800 16% heavier than the Forte IV.
Here is a comparison of how Forte IV and HDI-3800'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 JBL HDI-3800?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-3800:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- 4 Spike feet
- Owners Manual
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
92 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
909mm
vs
1143mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
4998USD
vs
5500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
1279cm2
vs
1400cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
JBL HDI-3800 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
25-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
92 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-20k Hz |
37-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fibercomposite |
Aluminum |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
909.0mm (35.8") |
1143.0mm (45") |
| Width |
423.0mm (16.7") |
304.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
331.0mm (13") |
421.0mm (16.6") |
| Weight |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
38.08kg (83.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Gloss Black |
| 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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (38Hz vs 37Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch Forte IV is more sensitive (99dB vs 92dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Klipsch Forte IV is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | B | JBL HDI-3800 takes more power (300W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch Forte IV: bi-amping; JBL HDI-3800: bi-amping. Klipsch Forte IV sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($4,998 vs $5,500 a pair). |
A Klipsch Forte IV B JBL HDI-3800
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch Forte IV is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.