In this review, we will be comparing Klipschorn 80th and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary | Klipsch Forte IV |
|---|
| Brand | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | Compression Horn | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 15" Paper | 12" Fibercomposite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-20k Hz | 38-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 103 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100-400 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 65.70kg / 144.5lbs | 32.73kg / 72lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 51-15/16" x 31-1/2" x 24"
1320.0 x 800.0 x 610.0mm | 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13"
909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm |
|---|
Klipschorn 80th and Forte IV 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Klipschorn 80th is a 2-way design whereas the Forte IV is a 3-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 Heritage Klipschorn 80th AnniversaryKlipsch Forte IV
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 Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary |
Klipsch Forte IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
Klipschorn 80th features a " K-692 with K-5-K aluminium horn Compression Horn Tweeter and 1 x 15" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz. On the other hand, the Forte IV features a 1" titanium-diaphragm compression horn-loaded Tweeter, a 1.75" Midrange and 1 x 12" Fibercomposite Woofer.
Frequency Response
Klipschorn 80th has a frequency range of 34-20k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the Klipschorn 80th 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
Klipschorn 80th and Forte IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Klipschorn 80th sensitivity is rated at 103 dB and the Forte IV's is at 99 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary 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.
Klipschorn 80th can handle a max power of 400 watts RMS, whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 300 watts less than the Klipschorn 80th.
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.
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Klipschorn 80th and Forte IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Klipschorn 80th has a front firing port whereas Forte IV has a rear firing ports. Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary's front-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
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 Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary has external dimensions of 1320.0 x 800.0 x 610.0mm (51-15/16 x 31-1/2 x 24inch) whereas Klipsch Forte IV has external dimensions of 909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm (35-3/4 x 16-5/8 x 13inch).
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 377mm wider, 411mm taller and 279mm deeper than Klipsch Forte IV.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary needs about 249% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is 279mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is 411mm 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 Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is approximately 4880.0cm2 / 756.4inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The Klipschorn 80th requires 249% more surface area than the Forte IV 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 Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary weighs 65.70kg / 144.5lbs and the Klipsch Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs. This makes the Klipschorn 80th 101% heavier than the Forte IV.
Here is a comparison of how Klipschorn 80th and Forte IV's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary
What's in the Box of Klipsch Forte IV?
Here are the items that come with the Forte IV:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Congratulations letter
- Klipsch brochure
 Max Input Power |
400 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
103 dB
vs
99 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
15 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
909mm
vs
1320mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1400cm2
vs
4880cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4998USD
vs
20000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
100-400 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
103 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
34-20k Hz |
38-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Fibercomposite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Compression Horn |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
350Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1320.0mm (52") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Width |
800.0mm (31.5") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Depth |
610.0mm (24") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
65.70kg (144.5lbs) |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Horn Loaded |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
19 mm MDF with real wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Tigerwood |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 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 Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary digs deeper - 34Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is more sensitive (103dB vs 99dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary takes more power (400W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch Forte IV is easier to place; Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary: bi-amping; Klipsch Forte IV: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Klipsch Forte IV is cheaper - $4,998 against $20,000, about 75% less; arguably a different class. |
A Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary B Klipsch Forte IV
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?
The usual trade-off: Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary measures better, Klipsch Forte IV costs about about 4x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary 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. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn 80th Anniversary 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.