In this review, we will be comparing Forte IV and R-625FA, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Forte IV and Klipsch R-625FA first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch Forte IV Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" horn-loaded Tweeter
- 1.75" Midrange
- 12" Fibercomposite Woofer
- 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 )
Klipsch R-625FA Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 38-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 96 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:22.20kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1021.0" x 9-3/8" x 16-3/4"( 1021.0 x 239.0 x 426.0mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Forte IV and Klipsch R-625FA 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Forte IV is a 3-way design whereas the R-625FA 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.
| Driver |
Klipsch Forte IV |
Klipsch R-625FA |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-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 R-625FA features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz whereas R-625FA has a frequency range of 38-21k Hz.
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
Forte IV and R-625FA 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 R-625FA's is at 96 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch R-625FA, 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. 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.
Forte IV and R-625FA has the same power range of up to 100 watts.
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
Forte IV features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-625FA has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Klipsch R-625FA's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Forte IV and R-625FA 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
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 Forte IV's and Klipsch R-625FA'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 R-625FA has external dimensions of 1021.0 x 239.0 x 426.0mm ( 40-3/16 x 9-3/8 x 16-3/4inch) .
Klipsch Forte IV is 112mm shorter and 95mm less deeper than Klipsch R-625FA but it is also 184mm wider.
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 R-625FA is approximately 1018.1cm2 / 157.8inch2. The Forte IV requires 38% more surface area than the R-625FA which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.