In this review, we will be comparing Forte IV and La Scala AL5, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Forte IV and Klipsch La Scala AL5 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Forte IV | Klipsch La Scala AL5 |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" horn-loaded | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 1.75" | 2" |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Fibercomposite | 15" fiber-composite cone with folded horn |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-20k Hz | 51-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 99 dB | 105 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 32.73kg / 72lbs | 91.36kg / 201lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13"
909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm | 40" x 24-1/4" x 25-5/16"
1016.0 x 616.0 x 643.0mm |
|---|
Forte IV and La Scala AL5 are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
Klipsch Heritage Series
History
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Forte IV and La Scala AL5 are 3-way speakers.
Klipsch Forte IVKlipsch La Scala AL5
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 |
Klipsch La Scala AL5 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
1 x 2-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
1 x 15-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 La Scala AL5 features a 1" polyimide diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter, a 2" Midrange and 1 x 15" fiber-composite cone with folded horn Woofer.
Frequency Response
Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz whereas La Scala AL5 has a frequency range of 51-20k 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 La Scala AL5's min frequency of 51Hz.
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 La Scala AL5 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 La Scala AL5's is at 105 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the Klipsch La Scala AL5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch Forte IV, 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.
Forte IV and La Scala AL5 have the same power range of up to 100 watts.
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 La Scala AL5 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
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 Klipsch La Scala AL5'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 Klipsch La Scala AL5 has external dimensions of 1016.0 x 616.0 x 643.0mm (40 x 24-1/4 x 25-5/16inch).
Klipsch La Scala AL5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 193mm wider, 107mm taller and 312mm deeper than Klipsch Forte IV.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Klipsch Forte IV and Klipsch La Scala AL5 in scale.
Comparison image of Klipsch Forte IV and Klipsch La Scala AL5 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 Klipsch La Scala AL5 is approximately 3960.9cm2 / 613.9inch2. The Forte IV requires 65% less surface area than the La Scala AL5 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 Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs and the Klipsch La Scala AL5 weighs 91.36kg / 201lbs. This makes the La Scala AL5 179% heavier than the Forte IV.
Here is a comparison of how Forte IV and La Scala AL5'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 Klipsch La Scala AL5?
Here are the items that come with the La Scala AL5:
- 2 Loudspeaker cabinets
- 2 Subwoofer cabinets
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
51 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
909mm
vs
1016mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1400cm2
vs
3960cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4998USD
vs
12998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
105 dB
vs
99 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
Klipsch Heritage La Scala AL5 |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
99 dB |
105 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-20k Hz |
51-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
15" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fibercomposite |
fiber-composite cone with folded horn |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
2" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
909.0mm (35.8") |
1016.0mm (40") |
| Width |
423.0mm (16.7") |
616.0mm (24.3") |
| Depth |
331.0mm (13") |
643.0mm (25.3") |
| Weight |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
91.36kg (201lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Woof veneer |
| Available Colors |
Black |
American Walnut, Black Ash, Natural Cherry |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
10 Years |
Siblings in Klipsch's Heritage series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Klipsch Forte IV digs deeper - 38Hz against 51Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch La Scala AL5 is more sensitive (105dB vs 99dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (100W vs 100W). |
| Size | depends | Klipsch Forte IV is easier to place; Klipsch La Scala AL5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Sealed. Sealed is tighter and happier near a wall; ported digs lower but wants space behind it. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch Forte IV: bi-amping; Klipsch La Scala AL5: bi-amping. |
| Price | A | Klipsch Forte IV is cheaper - $4,998 against $12,998, about 62% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch Forte IV B Klipsch La Scala AL5
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 51Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch La Scala AL5 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Klipsch Forte IV 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.