In this review, we will be comparing kO-R2 and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by Klipsch
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- " Compression Horn Tweeter
- 15" Paper Woofer
- 39-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 97 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 300watts
- Weight:54.65kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 45-1/2" x 25-3/8" x 22-1/4" ( 1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm )
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): 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13" ( 909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm )
kO-R2 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 OJAS kO-R2 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that kO-R2 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.
| Driver |
Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 |
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
|
kO-R2 features a " K-706 driver Compression Horn Tweeter and 1 x 15" Paper Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 760Hz. 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
kO-R2 has a frequency range of 39-20k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Forte IV can go slightly deeper then the kO-R2's min frequency of 39Hz.
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
kO-R2 and Forte IV have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. kO-R2 sensitivity is rated at 97 dB and the Forte IV's is at 99 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Klipsch OJAS kO-R2, 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.
kO-R2 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the kO-R2.
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. kO-R2 has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
kO-R2 has a front firing port whereas Forte IV has a rear firing ports. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2'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
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 OJAS kO-R2's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Klipsch OJAS kO-R2 has external dimensions of 1156.0 x 645.0 x 565.0mm ( 45-1/2 x 25-3/8 x 22-1/4inch) 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 OJAS kO-R2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 222mm wider, 247mm taller and 234mm 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 OJAS kO-R2 is approximately 3644.3cm2 / 564.9inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The kO-R2 requires 160% more surface area than the Forte IV which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.