Clarity and bass response

none

I''ve had these speakers for quite some time, and they simply sound amazing! My listening tastes range from rock to jazz, and when auditioning speakers there was simply nothing else around that compared. I listen to tons of music, and do not consider myself an audiophile. Rather, I''m a lover of music and not components. These speakers bring out great detail, and have an unbelievable bass response without sound "muddy".

Incredible accuracy, tight bass, beautiful midrange

I've had my Forte IIs for ten years now. I'm writing this because I nearly sold them yesterday as I just moved onto my sailboat and don't have room for them right now. I've decided not to sell.

I found myself a high-end audio store in Georgia with a very generous return policy in 1990 and I abused it badly. I purchased five pairs of speakers (one after the other) including Klipsch KG-4s and various Bose (talk about overrated!) and brought each pair home to evaluate them at my leisure over the course of four weeks. I also listened to everything they had in the showroom and my ears kept drifting to the Forte IIs I really couldn't afford (still in college at the time). I eventually couldn't stand it anymore and picked them up for around $1200, as I recall.

I have never spent $1200 more wisely. These speakers deliver tight -- I mean deadly tight -- base down to 32Hz and no distortion. The high efficiency midrange horns are crisp and clear. In a fairly liberal neighborhood I used to live in, generous neighbors let me prop my Fortes in the window and have at it -- and I did. The clean, crisp 119dB maximum continuous output was seldom complained about (assuming blasé music choice). I listen to a broad mix of music (jazz, classical, rock, some alternative) and have over 300 pieces of vinyl (Mirantz 7600 vintage '76 turntable, by the way), and every bit of it is as smooth as silk.

Writing this has been a real affirmation for me in the sense of making the right choice ten years ago. Like I said, I won't let them go and expect to get another 10-15 years out of them, at which time I will take a hard look at the market and then probably barter for replacement parts. You can toss multiple thousands of dollars into speakers, but at some point you reach a margin of diminishing returns. I would suggest the Forte' II is right on that curve. If you can get a pair, do it, and don't let go of them. I know I won't.

Similar Products Used:

Bose, Klipsch, Polk

Incredible depth and tightness of bass. Phenomenal presence and clairity in the midrange and high end.

None. Except perhaps Klipsch does not make them anymore.

I have owned many speakers over the last 30 years. I have owned Klipsch, Thiel, JBL, B&W, Martin Logan and many others. My original set of Fortes were purchased in 1987. I have had them since. Each speaker system tends to 'color' the sound in its' own way and some sets 'color' a particular type of music dramatically. Both for the good and ill. Of all the speakers that I own or have owned or auditioned, the Klipsch Forte is without fail the finest example of all around music reproduction I have ever had the pleasure of hearing, with the least amount of full range 'coloring.' These speakers will faithfully play anything. From Bach to the Beach Boys. One set of Fortes that I have will go down to 26hz. The other pair, alas, only makes it down to 28hz (whine). If you listen to a wide range of music types then you can do no better than the Klipsch Forte no matter how much money you spend. I have other speakers that I use with particular amps to listen to specific music styles or particular artists. Speakers such as Thiel CS 3.6 or B&W 801's are superior when listening to Celtic music or artists such as Enya at low to medium volume levels as they are very 'correct' in the dominant frequency ranges of that music style. however don't try to listen at high levels, or to any rock and roll at any level with those. It will make your head hurt. Not so with the Fortes. Any music, any level, anywhere, anytime. I have many amplifiers and many preamps. I will say that the finest combination to use with the Klipsch Forte speakers, regardless of price, is the New York Audio Labs 'Minuet in A' hybrid preamp coupled with the New York Audio Labs 'Moscode 600' hybrid (tube/mosfet) power amp. If you are lucky enough to find the above componets on ebay or Audiogon and you put it all together (speakers, preamp and amp) you will, hands down, have the finest system of music reproduction that I have ever heard (and I've heard alot), regardless of price. The Fortes are just wonderful with solid state quality amps (Carver, Sunfire, Krell, etc) but their Forte (no pun intended) is to be used with full tube or hybrid amps/preamps. Due to their effeciency, they can be used with amps as low as 50 or 60 watts. One final note. I have heard Fortes sound bad in only two situations. The first being placement. It is very important to have the speakers from 6" to 12" from the wall at the rear. The wall needs to be 'live' (no curtain or drape hanging between the speaker and wall). I have heard Fortes that were sitting about 3' from the wall and it almost brought tears to my eyes to hear them with so much of their life gone. The second situation in which the Fortes do not sound at all good is when the amplifier can not tolerate the changing impedence of the speakers. The Fortes are not a particularly easy load to drive. Depending on the frequency and power level, I have seen the load vary from 2 ohms to over 30 ohms. Some amps just don't do well under those circumstances. It is just not some cheap little amp either. I have owned some very expensive amps that were not capable of keeping up with the Fortes' demands. One final note. My review only applies to the original Forte. Not the Forte II (2). The Forte II is a different animal that was produced during Klipschs' bean counter days (when the accountants were running the show). Out of defference and respect to those who own Forte II's and love them I will not go into all of their shortcomings here. Suffice it to say that there is little common ground regarding music reproduction between the Forte and Forte II. I have owned Forte IIs and I know whereof I speak.

Similar Products Used:

JBL L220, Thiel CS3.6, Klipsch Cornwalls, Klipschorns, B&W 801, JBL L300.

Incredible sound, Durability, Looks

Only that they don't make them anymore, so you'd have to find 'em used, but it's worth looking!

I used to have big wild parties and always found that any speakers I had were a disposable commodity; they were always blowing up. Not so once I got my Forte's. They sounded so perfect in the showroom, the night they came home with me, I listened to every CD I owned, you could hear nuances in the music all the other speakers wouldn't reproduce. I never was able to blow these up! I've had my original pair over 11 years now and I have always said, Klipsch are the same speakers GOD has! I found my second pair at a pawn shop, for 25 cents on the dollar (my first pair, were $1200 and my second pair, used, cost me $300.) As soon as I saw them, knowing what they are, I said Load 'em up!! I even did a stint as a wedding DJ for a while with both pairs; one pair on the dance floor, and one pair just above them on the stage, and that huge VFW hall never sounded so good! If I could rate Klipsch Forte an eleven out of five, I would! All the other reviews are right, in my book there's no other speaker anywhere close for near the money. I suggest looking in the classifieds or pawnshops to find some, once youre an owner you'll never let 'em go!

Similar Products Used:

Sansui, Fisher, JBL, JVC, Sony, Speakerlab, Bose, Advent, KLH, and others

Clarity throughout, Power, Highs/mids/lows

sometimes too clear??

I saw these, these being Klipsch Forte II's, for a discontinued sale about 5 years ago. Just seeing the name Klipsch I knew I had to give them a listen. After what I describe, "love at first listen" I purchased a pair right away. I took them home and immediately delved into my CD collection. I listened to everything from Beethoven #5 to a bass CD. Everything sounded fantastic! I noticed one day that there was a loud popping noise coming from one speaker whenever bass hit. After a inspection I discovered that the bass radiator in one of the speakers had torn away from the basket. I quickly brought the pair back and was given a brand new pair. I also discovered that the original pair I bought had mismatched serial numbers, so in a way it was good the radiator tore! Well it has been five years and no more problems. Bass is always there when needed and gone when not neccessary. The highs and mids are always fluid and perfectly balanced. This also goes for listening to DVD movies. I have no need for a subwoofer because the bass that comes out of these things is awesome! That saves me at least another $1000 right there!! This pretty much pays for the speakers right there. If you don't believe me just call all the neighbors that live around my house. I have received some unhappy phonecalls about plates rattling around in cupboards!! The rest of my system consists of:

Sony 555es receiver
Monitor Audio Silver 3's for surround
Monster Cable Bi-wire all around

I am stuck with a center channel speaker that is good for...just having a center?!?! I am saving for the Klipsch legend series center that is voice matched to the Forte II's, than I will be a very happy man.

In summary these speakers are probably the best all-around value for sound quality. From the highs to the lows, they are tip-top. These speakers do their own bragging too. Invite anyone over for a listen and you'll find that the word spreads that Paul Klipsch and Co knows completely everything there is to know about building awesome, versatile sounding speakers!! The bang-for-the-buck is worth whatever you need to pay to get your hands on these things. FIVE STARS ALL AROUND!!!

EXTREMELY BALANCED SOUND

NONE

FIRST OF ALL THANKS VERY MUCH PAUL KLIPSCH.
I'VE OWNED JBL,CERWIN VEGA,INFINITY,BOSE AND POLK AND
NOTHING COMES CLOSE TO KLIPSCH.THE FORTE II SPEAKER SYSTEM
ROCKS THE HOUSE WITH PLENTY OF CLEAN BASS. MOST SPEAKERS EITHER HAVE BASS W/OUT TREBLE OR TREBLE W/OUT BASS NOT THESE
BIG DOGS.I'D SADLY HAD TO LET GO SOME HERESYS TO PURCHASE THESE GOLIATH LIKE SPEAKERS BUT ONE MUST KEEP IMPROVING.

Similar Products Used:

NA

Dynamics, life-like transients, bass reproduction, wide/smooth frequency response, high sensitivity, low distortion, absence of coloration, and high power handling.

Treble can be a bit harsh when mated with the wrong electronics or cables.

I've owned a pair of Klipsch original Forte speakers since early in 1989. I was captured by their effortless dynamics and ultra low distortion. I was in an audio salon in So. California (while visiting relatives) when I heard what sounded like real live drums coming from the room next door. I wandered in that direction expecting to see someone sitting at a drum kit blistering the skins... imagine my surprise when I discovered that incredible sound was coming from a pair of speakers.

Upon returning home I immediately collected a bunch of my favorite CD's and records and went in search of a Klipsch dealer. After spending 4 or 5 hours over a two-week period I took a pair of Fortes home. I spent the next several weeks breaking them in and carefully listening to the music. What I began to notice is that I'd forget that I was supposed to be critically listening to the speakers, and I kept getting lost in the music. To me, that's what it's all about.

In the eleven years since that time I've listened to dozens and dozens of speakers. Always looking for that magical moment when I'd forget the equipment and immerse myself in the music... always wondering if I'd find another pair of speakers that would equal or beat the Fortes. Well I've found a few that do one or two things better, and I've even found a couple that beat the Klipsch in many areas... but never for anywhere near the price.

I like the speed and detail of the Joseph Audio RM-22 and RM-25 - at $2,300 and $3,200 respectively. I love the sheer musicality of the Soliloquy 6.3 - at $3,000. I'm captivated by the Vienna Acoustics’ Mozart, its midrange is glorious; vocals are a pure delight - at $2,400. I love the ProAc Studio 150 at $2,300; as well as their Response series which begin with a $2,000 mini-monitor and go up from there... way up! I also think the Hales Design Group Revelation 3 is the finest speaker there is below $3,000 - it's $2,200 price tag makes it a bargain.

All these speakers do something better than my Fortes, but then again we're comparing them to a $1,250 pair of speakers... roughly half the cost of everything I've found that is somehow a little better in one way or another. Yet at twice, or even three times the price, what these other speakers can't do as well as my decade plus old Klipsch is "boogie". Their dynamics aren't as good, and their distortion levels are much higher in the lower base regions. Klipsch is still King in terms of realism - dynamics, slam, transients, and ultra low distortion.

Now for the down side: care must be used in mating the Forte's with electronics and cables. The highs can get out of hand if asked to coexist with harshness of any kind in the source or gain stages. Don't use them with any equipment that adds "sizzle" to the upper mids or highs... and avoid equipment that has any glare or harshness. You won't be pleased with the combination, that I can assure you.

However, with careful system matching, the Forte's can be glorious: detailed, yet not harsh; dynamic, yet refined. They bring the music to life and let you sink into the experience.

My system:
Klipsch Forte speakers
Citation Twenty-two amp
Citation Twenty-one pre
Ah? Tjoeb 99 CD player w/ AC Noise Killer, SuperCrystal, and Amperex 7308 tube output stage upgrades (for older CDs)
MSB Link DAC III w/ HDCD board (for newer CDs)
Audioquest Ruby interconnects
Audioquest Digital Two coaxial digital cable
Audioquest CV-4 speaker cable

I give the Klipsch Forte speakers 5 stars for value, and 4 stars overall (since there are things some more expensive speakers can do better).

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Way, way too many makes and models to list - but here's a few brands for comparison's sake: Boston Acoustics, NHT, KEF, M&K, Mirage, Martian-Logan, Definative Technology, Monitor Audio, Paradigm, Energy, B&W, Celestion, Phase Tech.

incredibly clean; stunningly dynamic; deep, distortion-free bass; efficient; LOUD!!; handles all musical styles well; great imaging

directional, but that's horns (and efficiency) for you; mercilessly accurate (shows weaknesses of recordings and systems)

Boy am I glad that wives (generally) don't like big speakers! That is why these are readily available on the used market. Nobody sells them because they WANT to. Destined to become a classic alongside K-horns and LaScalas. I'm enjoying rediscovering my CD collection, though I am really disappointed by the bad quality(distortion, coloration, limited range) of some of the recordings. The speakers' distortion is so low that every upstream flaw comes through loud and clear. Must be listened to at realistic volume levels to fully appreciate (this is actually a characteristic of recorded music and human hearing, not the speakers.) Buy some, now! (After checking with your wife, of course.)

Similar Products Used:

Heresy, KLF-20, Polk, Genelec, Meyer, Mackie, Celestion, Klipsch pro cabinets, Cerwin-Vega pro cabinets, numerous homebuilts

Great highs, mids and base lowest have heard without a subwoofer

none

Increadible speaker for movies or music. They reproduce music effortlesly. I would say more but everyone else has done it for me. Just wanted to give a rating of what i think is Kilpsch finest speaker ever made.

Similar Products Used:

lascalas, kg-3.2'S

Sound real and clear, detailed, very efficient, Good lows, mid and hoghs, can handle a lot of power and play very loaud. Grate wood finish.

Need a corner and a large room. Miss bi-wiring.

My right pointer were the grate Klipsh Horns. The Forte II were as close, with
boxs I could live with.
I use them with:
Carver TFM-35X (2x250W RMS)
SONY ESD-2000 Digital Pre.
Audio Alchemy - Anti-Jitter
SONY CDPx -505ES CD Player
Van Der Hall - The Second cables (Pre to Power) 60cm long
Monster COAX
Audio Technica ToseLink Optical cable
#10 German proffesional speaker cables.

The speakers sound just grate. I play classics, jazz, vocals, instrumental and
more. I own as over 100 Audiophile CD's and they sound grate.
No other speaker came out so nice with drums.
It also play grate in A/V setup, using a KG4.5 in center and a pair of BOSE 201
at the rear.
I love the sound and did not found anything to sound better or as close for under $5K.
I love them, I enjoy them and all my friends understand me.

Similar Products Used:

KEF 104.2, Infinity Kappa 8.2, Martin Logan Aurus.