In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers. Wharfedale Dovedale 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 Dovedale and Klipsch Forte IV first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Dovedale | Klipsch Forte IV |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome | 1" horn-loaded |
|---|
| Midrange | 5" | 1.75" |
|---|
| Woofer | 10" black woven Kevlar cone | 12" Fibercomposite |
|---|
| Frequency response | 36-20k Hz | 38-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 DB | 99 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6.5 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-250 watts | up to 100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.20kg / 57.6lbs | 32.73kg / 72lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 26.0" x 14.6" x 16.4"
660 x 370 x 417mm | 35-3/4" x 16-5/8" x 13"
909.0 x 423.0 x 331.0mm |
|---|
Dovedale 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
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
Both Dovedale and Forte IV are 3-way speakers.
Wharfedale DovedaleKlipsch 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 Dovedale |
Klipsch Forte IV |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5-inch |
1 x 1.75-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10-inch
|
1 x 12-inch
|
Dovedale features a 1" soft dome Tweeter, a 5" Midrange and 1 x 10" black woven Kevlar cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 560Hz and 2900Hz. 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
Dovedale has a frequency range of 36-20k Hz whereas Forte IV has a frequency range of 38-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Dovedale can go slightly deeper then 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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Dovedale is a 6.5 ohms speaker compared to the Forte IV which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Dovedale sensitivity is rated at 89 DB and the Forte IV's is rated at 99 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch Forte IV a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale Dovedale, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
Dovedale can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Forte IV has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 150 watts less than the Dovedale.
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 Dovedale and Forte IV features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Dovedale's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Dovedale 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 Dovedale's and Klipsch Forte IV's external dimensions. Wharfedale Dovedale has external dimensions of 660 x 370 x 417mm (23.6 x 14.6 x 16.4 inch) 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).
Wharfedale Dovedale is 53mm narrower and 249mm shorter than Klipsch Forte IV but it is also 86mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Dovedale and Klipsch Forte IV in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Dovedale 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 Dovedale is approximately 1542.9cm2 / 239.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch Forte IV is approximately 1400.1cm2 / 217.0inch2. The Dovedale requires 10% more surface area than the Forte IV which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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