Wharfedale Denton 85 vs Klipsch Forte IV Comparison

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Wharfedale Denton 85

Passive Bookshelf | 45-20k Hz

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Klipsch Forte IV

Passive Floor-standing | 38-20k Hz

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Wharfedale Denton 85

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Klipsch Forte IV

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Wharfedale Denton 85

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Klipsch Forte IV

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Wharfedale Denton 85 vs Klipsch Forte IV Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. Wharfedale Denton 85 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Forte IV is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale Denton 85 and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Key Specs	Wharfedale Denton 85	Klipsch Forte IV
Brand	Wharfedale United Kingdom · founded 1932	Klipsch United States · founded 1946
Design	2-way	3-way
Tweeter	1" Soft-Dome	1" horn-loaded
Midrange	—	1.75"
Woofer	6.5" Woven Kevlar	12" Fibercomposite
Frequency response	45-20k Hz	38-20k Hz
Sensitivity	88 dB	99 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Power range	20-120 watts	up to 100 watts
Weight	9.00kg / 19.8lbs	32.73kg / 72lbs
Dimensions (H x W x D)	13-7/16" x 9-7/16" x 11-15/16" 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm	35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13" 909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm

Denton 85 and Forte IV are members of Klipsch's Heritage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

Wharfedale Heritage Series History

Model	Body	Frequency	Sensitivity	Impedance	Woofer
Wharfedale SUPER LINTON	Bookshelf	39-20k Hz	90 dB	6Ω	1 x 8"
Wharfedale LINTON	Bookshelf	40-20k Hz	90 dB	6Ω	1 x 8"
Wharfedale Denton 85	Bookshelf	45-20k Hz	88 dB	4Ω	1 x 6.5"
Wharfedale Super Denton	Bookshelf	52-20k Hz	87 dB	6Ω	1 x 6.5"
Wharfedale Dovedale	Bookshelf	36-20k Hz	89 DB	6.5Ω	1 x 10"
Wharfedale Heritage Centre	Center Channel	54-20k Hz	90 dB	6Ω	2 x 6-1/2"
Wharfedale Denton 80	Bookshelf	44-24k Hz	86 dB	6Ω	1 x 5"

The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.

**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Denton 85 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.

Wharfedale Denton 85

Klipsch 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	Wharfedale Denton 85	Klipsch Forte IV
Driver Setup	2-way	3-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	1 x 1.75-inch
Woofer	1 x 6.5-inch	1 x 12-inch

Denton 85 features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. 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

Denton 85 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Forte IV can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Denton 85's min frequency of 45Hz.

The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Denton 85

Forte IV

Min

Average

Median

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

Denton 85 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 Denton 85 can provide this impedance level.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Denton 85 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Forte IV's is rated at 99 dB. This 11 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Denton 85, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Denton 85

Forte IV

Min

Average

Median

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.

Denton 85 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Denton 85.

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.

Amplifier - change this

Distance

Playing as

Wharfedale Denton 85

Klipsch Forte IV

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

Both Denton 85 and Forte IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.

Wharfedale Denton 85's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both Denton 85 and Forte IV have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.

If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.

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 Wharfedale Denton 85's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Wharfedale Denton 85 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm (13-7/16 x 9-7/16 x 11-15/16inch) 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).

Klipsch Forte IV is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 183mm wider, 567mm taller and 27mm deeper than Wharfedale Denton 85.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Denton 85 and Klipsch Forte IV in scale.

Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 85 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 Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm² / 113.1inch² and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm² / 217.0inch². The Denton 85 requires 48% less surface area than the Forte IV which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of Wharfedale Denton 85?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Denton 85:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
2 Grilles
4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
Pair of white cloth gloves
User Manual

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

Reasons to choose Wharfedale Denton 85 over Klipsch Heritage Forte IV

Max Input Power	120 watts vs 100 watts	Handle more power from your amplifier
Height	342mm vs 909mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	729cm² vs 1400cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	999USD vs 4998USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose Klipsch Heritage Forte IV over Wharfedale Denton 85

Driver Setup	3-way vs 2-way	Have a dedicated mid-range driver
Sensitivity	99 dB vs 88 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 6.5 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	38 Hz vs 45 Hz	Generates deeper bass
Passive Radiator	rear-firing 15-inch vs None	Increases the bass performance

Wharfedale Denton 85 vs Klipsch Forte IV Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Wharfedale Denton 85	Klipsch Heritage Forte IV
Brand	Wharfedale	Klipsch
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Floor-standing speaker
Power Range	20-120 watts	up to 100 watts
Sensitivity	88 dB	99 dB
Impedance	4 ohms	8 ohms
Impedance	3.8 ohms	n/a
Frequency Response	45-20k Hz	38-20k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	6.5"	12"
Woofer Composition	Woven Kevlar	Fibercomposite
Woofer Surround Material	Rubber	Rubber
Tweeter Size	1"	1"
Tweeter Type	Soft-Dome	horn-loaded
Aimable Tweeter	No	No
Midrange Driver	No	1.75"
Crossover Frequency	3100Hz	n/a
Firing Direction	rear	rear
Physical Specs
Height	342.0mm (13.5")	909.0mm (35.8")
Width	240.0mm (9.4")	423.0mm (16.7")
Depth	304.0mm (12")	331.0mm (13")
Weight	9.00kg (19.8lbs)	32.73kg (72lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Passive Radiator
Finish	MDF/Wood Veneer	MDF/Wood veneer
Available Colors	Walnut, Mahogany, Black	Black
Mounting Bracket	No	No
Recommended Stand Height	24-28"	n/a
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

Verdict

A bookshelf against a floor-standing. They are built for different places in a room, so start with where these have to go rather than which looks better on paper.

Area	Better	Why
Bass	B	Klipsch Forte IV digs deeper - 38Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out.
Amplifier needs	B	Klipsch Forte IV is more sensitive (99dB vs 88dB), 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	evenly matched	Similar power handling (120W vs 100W).
Size	depends	Wharfedale Denton 85 is easier to place; Klipsch Forte IV is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides.
Type	depends	A Passive Bookshelf against a Passive Floor-standing - a different job rather than a better one.
Cabinet	depends	Ported vs Passive Radiator.
Expandability	depends	Wharfedale Denton 85: bi-amping; Klipsch Forte IV: bi-amping. Klipsch Forte IV sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later.
Price	A	Wharfedale Denton 85 is cheaper - $999 against $4,998, about 80% less; arguably a different class.

A Wharfedale Denton 85 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 Forte IV measures better, Wharfedale Denton 85 costs about about 5x 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. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Wharfedale Denton 85 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, Klipsch Forte IV has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Wharfedale Denton 85 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.