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.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk L800 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 L800 and Forte IV are 3-way speakers.
| 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.
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
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. 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.
L800 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 L800.
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 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
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 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.
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 loudspeakers2 Large Grilles2 Small grillesTwo 15-feet SDA interconnect cables8 Rubber feet8 Spike feet2 Jumper-wires (pre-installed)2 Cleaning cloths2 Hex-keysOwners ManualOnline Registration
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
 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 (423x331mm)
vs
2028cm2 (458x443mm)
|
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 |