Klipsch Heritage Forte IV

The Forte IV belongs to Klipsch's Heritage lineage, the models assembled in Hope, Arkansas, in keeping with the principles championed by Paul W. Klipsch. The original model, introduced in 1985, had been one of the brand's best-selling designs; the version reintroduced in 2017 and subsequently developed into the Forte IV retains its compact silhouette and characteristic sound, with updated aesthetics and completely revised crossover electronics.

The architecture is three-way. The bass is handled by a 12-inch woofer, while the midrange and treble are horn-loaded, a solution that accounts for the high efficiency and immediate sense of dynamics typical of the brand. The K-702 midrange compression driver uses a polyimide diaphragm and operates in a modified Tractrix horn fitted with patented Mumps technology designed to even out horizontal directivity: tonal character therefore varies little as you move around the room. At the top end, the titanium diaphragm is paired with a wide-dispersion phase plug that widens the soundstage. At the rear, a 38 cm passive radiator, driven by the pressure generated by the woofer, extends low-frequency reach without the use of a port.

The crossover circuit has been redesigned with higher-quality components, following the approach proven on the Klipschorn and La Scala, to limit losses between the amplifier and the transducers. The practical result: these floorstanders happily work with modest-power amplification, including valve amplifiers, and respond finely to the qualities of the source.

This model is aimed at listeners seeking a lively, detailed sound rather than a neutral, smooth presentation, in a medium to large room. The rear passive radiator requires leaving clearance behind the speakers to balance the bass. With dimensions of 90.81 cm in height and 32.7 kg per speaker, the Forte IV remains a living-room floorstander that demands thoughtful placement.