In this review, we will be comparing L800 and Forte IV, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk L800 and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk L800 | Klipsch Forte IV |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 2 x 5.25" | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 10" Polypropylene | 12" Fibercomposite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 32-38k Hz | 38-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-300 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 68.50kg / 150.7lbs | 32.73kg / 72lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 48-5/8" x 18" x 17-7/16"
1236.0 x 458.0 x 443.0mm | 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13"
909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both L800 and Forte IV are 3-way speakers.
Polk L800Klipsch 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 |
Polk L800 |
Klipsch Forte IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
2 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 10-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
L800 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 2 x 10" Polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 370Hz and 2800Hz. 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
L800 has a frequency range of 32-38k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the L800 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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
L800 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Forte IV which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L800 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. L800 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Forte IV's is rated at 99 dB. This 12 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk L800, 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.
L800 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 200 watts less than the L800.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both L800 and Forte IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Polk L800's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
L800 has a down firing port whereas Forte IV has a rear firing ports.
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 Polk L800's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Polk L800 has external dimensions of 1236.0 x 458.0 x 443.0mm (48-5/8 x 18 x 17-7/16inch) 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).
Polk L800 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 327mm taller and 112mm deeper than Klipsch Forte IV.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk L800 and Klipsch Forte IV in scale.
Comparison image of Polk L800 and Klipsch Forte IV Size and External Dimensions
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 Polk L800 is approximately 2028.9cm2 / 314.5inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The L800 requires 45% 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 Polk L800 weighs 68.50kg / 150.7lbs and the Klipsch Forte IV weighs 32.73kg / 72lbs. This makes the L800 109% heavier than the Forte IV.
Here is a comparison of how L800 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 Polk L800?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L800:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Large Grilles
- 2 Small grilles
- Two 15-feet SDA interconnect cables
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Spike feet
- 2 Jumper-wires (pre-installed)
- 2 Cleaning cloths
- 2 Hex-keys
- Owners Manual
- Online Registration
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 |
300 watts
vs
100 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
38k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional L900 Height Module Speaker
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Sensitivity |
99 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Passive Radiator |
rear-firing 15-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
909mm
vs
1236mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1400cm2
vs
2028cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
4998USD
vs
5998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Legend L800 |
Klipsch Heritage Forte IV |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-300 watts |
up to 100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
99 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
2.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
32-38k Hz |
38-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Fibercomposite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
horn-loaded |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
1.75" |
| Crossover Frequency |
370Hz and 2800Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
down |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1236.0mm (48.7") |
909.0mm (35.8") |
| Width |
458.0mm (18") |
423.0mm (16.7") |
| Depth |
443.0mm (17.4") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
68.50kg (150.7lbs) |
32.73kg (72lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Brown Walnut, Black Ash |
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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk L800 digs deeper - 32Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch Forte IV is more sensitive (99dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch Forte IV is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Polk L800 takes more power (300W vs 100W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch Forte IV is easier to place; Polk L800 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Expandability | depends | Polk L800: bi-amping and Atmos drivers; Klipsch Forte IV: bi-amping. Klipsch Forte IV sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Klipsch Forte IV is cheaper - $4,998 against $5,998, about 17% less. |
A Polk L800 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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Klipsch Forte IV much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Polk L800 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.
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.