In this review, we will be comparing AK7 and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Tractrix horn Tweeter
- 3" Midrange
- 15" fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn Woofer
- 34-19k Hz Frequency Response
- 103 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 100watts
- Weight:118.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1347.0" x 31-1/4" x 28-1/4"( 1347.0 x 794.0 x 718.0mm )
Klipsch Forte IV Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" horn-loaded Tweeter
- 1.75" Midrange
- 12" Fibercomposite Woofer
- 1.75" Midrange
- 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 )
AK7 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
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 and Klipsch Forte IV 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
Both AK7 and Forte IV are 3-way speakers.
| Driver |
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 |
Klipsch Forte IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 15-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
AK7 features a 1" polyimide diaphragm compression Tractrix horn Tweeter , a 3" Midrange and 1 x 15" fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 380Hz - 290Hz. 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
AK7 has a frequency range of 34-19k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the AK7 can go slightly deeper then 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
AK7 and Forte IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. AK7 sensitivity is rated at 103 dB and the Forte IV's is at 99 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 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. 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.
AK7 and Forte IV 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
Both AK7 and Forte IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch Klipschorn AK7's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
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 Klipschorn AK7's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 has external dimensions of 1347.0 x 794.0 x 718.0mm ( 53 x 31-1/4 x 28-1/4inch) 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 Klipschorn AK7 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 371mm wider, 438mm taller and 387mm deeper than Klipsch Forte IV.
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 Klipschorn AK7 is approximately 5700.9cm2 / 883.6inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The AK7 requires 307% 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 Klipschorn AK7 weighs 118.00kg / 259.6lbs and the Klipsch Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs. This makes the AK7 261% heavier than the Forte IV.
Here is a comparison of how AK7 and Forte IV'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 Klipschorn AK7?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of AK7:
2 Loudspeaker cabinets2 Subwoofer cabinets2 GrillesOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
What's in the Box of Klipsch Forte IV?
Here are the items that come with the Forte IV:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Self-adhesive rubber feetOwners ManualCongratulations letterKlipsch brochure
 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 |
 High Frequency Response |
20k Hz
vs
19k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
909mm
vs
1347mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1400cm2
vs
5700cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4998USD
vs
17998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Klipsch Heritage Klipschorn AK7 |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
| Brand |
Klipsch |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
103 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
34-19k Hz |
38-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
15" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
fiber-composite with a trihedral exponential folded horn |
Fibercomposite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Tractrix horn |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
3" |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
380Hz - 290Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1347.0mm (53") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Width |
794.0mm (31.3") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Depth |
718.0mm (28.3") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
118.00kg (259.6lbs) |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
American Auburn, Black Ash, American Walnut |
Black |
| 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 |