In this review, we will be comparing Forte IV and S50, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Klipsch and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Forte IV and Polk S50 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Forte IV and Polk S50 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 S50 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 |
Polk S50 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 1.75-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
2 x 5.25-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 S50 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz whereas S50 has a frequency range of 33-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 33Hz, the S50 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Forte IV's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 S50 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 S50's is at 89 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk S50, 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 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the S50.
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
Both Forte IV and S50 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Forte IV has a rear firing port whereas S50 has a bottom firing ports. Polk S50's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Klipsch Forte IV with its rear-firing port.
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 Polk S50'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 Polk S50 has external dimensions of 951.0 x 262.0 x 281.0mm ( 37-7/16 x 10-5/16 x 11-1/16inch) .
Polk S50 is 161mm narrower and 50mm less deeper than Klipsch Forte IV but it is also 42mm taller.
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 Polk S50 is approximately 736.2cm2 / 114.1inch2. The Forte IV requires 90% more surface area than the S50 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 Polk S50 weighs 14.50kg / 31.9lbs. This makes the Forte IV 126% heavier than the S50.
Here is a comparison of how Forte IV and S50'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 loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
What's in the Box of Polk S50?
Here are the items that come with the S50:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Height |
909mm
vs
951mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
33 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Base Surface Area |
736cm2 (262x281mm)
vs
1400cm2 (423x331mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
General |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
Polk Audio Signature S50 |
Brand |
Klipsch |
Polk Audio |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
99 dB |
89 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Frequency Response |
38-20k Hz |
33-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
Woofer Size |
12" |
5.25" |
Woofer Composition |
Fibercomposite |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
horn-loaded |
Dome |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
1.75" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
909.0mm (35.8") |
951.0mm (37.4") |
Width |
423.0mm (16.7") |
262.0mm (10.3") |
Depth |
331.0mm (13") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
Weight |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
14.50kg (31.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
Meddite MDF |
Available Colors |
Black |
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 |