Klipsch Forte acceptance
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The Forte is an excellent speaker. I have two pairs of the original Forte, oak and walnut. They are being used in two different systems, tube and solid state and I am pleased with the performance every time I use them. Both pair are completely original with no mods, but I have read many posts that the Crites upgrades are well worth the money spent. Some don't care for the Forte or Klipsch line, just a matter of preference as some dont like the sound of horns as they may be harsh. Each to their own. Enjoy
I too have original Forte's with Crites crossover and ti tweeter diaphragms. I have had a boat load of speakers over the years and can honestly say, the Forte's are one of the best.:yes: They are a perfect match for my Fisher 500c. For the money, there are a select few that can match its sound IMHO.
ymarko
Super Member
What does it mean?
moray james
Super Member
the response of a Forte is smoother and more extended compared to a Khorn I was told by Al Klappengerger that the Forte has an honest average efficiency of about 95 db and I would think that is accurate. Different rooms will impact this number as would be expected. I have run both Forte and Forte ll with a SET 2A3 amp and was pleased with the output level which was more than reasonable and 30 - 40 tube watts plays them very loud YMMV with amp to amp. I am more surprised with the difference in the rated efficiency of the Epic series CF3 and how it responds to larger amplifiers, those in excess of 150 watts per channel.
I think that if you raise your Forte up so that the centre of the mid horn is at your seated ear level (which is usually between 36 and 39 inches high) that you will find that Forte image very well. My Forte ll have the stock risers removed and are up on four post 12 inch high stands. I imagine that your Mac does a great job driving your Forte. My Heresy 3 which run the same horns as a Forte are up on four post stands also with the centre of the K701 up at 36.5 inches and they image extremely well. Hope this is of interest. Best regards Moray James.
I have heard, and have owned, Fortes. I thought they sounded boxy, shouty, shrill at volume, imaged poorly, had boomy bass, non-coherent drivers, and poor presentation of timbre among other things, in comparison to various other speakers I have liked. But if it helps somebody to think that I disliked them because they didn't cost enough, feel free to.
moray james
Super Member
well ok
but John how do you really feel about them? I don't know if you have noticed but I usually recommend that owners upgrade to ti diaphragms rebuild the cabinet redamp the cabinet the drivers and rebuild the crossovers. Sometimes I metre this all out so as not to frighten off potential owners. This for me applies to virtually all Klipsch, but it also applies to just about any speaker out there I might want to consider. So few are well built and most need a lot of help if you plan of anything like a realistic price. Have you seen the current MSRP for the HL5 with a nice veneer on them? Ouch.
Just a question, how do you feel about output level and quality of sound with your Harbeth? I have had HL5 in the house and could not live with them as they are but at moderate level I do like the balance that has been struck with them. My modified Heresy 3 to me dance circles around the HL5 in every way the owner of the HL5 was himself impressed enough to discuss a pair of H3 for himself but is unsure what return he might get for his Harbeth. Best regards Moray James.
but John how do you really feel about them? I don't know if you have noticed but I usually recommend that owners upgrade to ti diaphragms rebuild the cabinet redamp the cabinet the drivers and rebuild the crossovers. Sometimes I metre this all out so as not to frighten off potential owners. This for me applies to virtually all Klipsch, but it also applies to just about any speaker out there I might want to consider. So few are well built and most need a lot of help if you plan of anything like a realistic price. Have you seen the current MSRP for the HL5 with a nice veneer on them? Ouch.
Just a question, how do you feel about output level and quality of sound with your Harbeth? I have had HL5 in the house and could not live with them as they are but at moderate level I do like the balance that has been struck with them. My modified Heresy 3 to me dance circles around the HL5 in every way the owner of the HL5 was himself impressed enough to discuss a pair of H3 for himself but is unsure what return he might get for his Harbeth. Best regards Moray James.
hotroady
Well-Known Member
Yeah, but tell him what you really think! lol
I think we're all listening for different aspects of the sound. I've heard the Harbeths sound laid back and dull with too little power and a lackluster source behind them, and I've heard them jump with dynamics, image incredibly with natural tone/timber and completely lose a sense of being a "box" with good source and amplification gear...which I've never heard a pair of Heresys (or Fortes) do, even when I heard them the last time powered by some really nice Cary and Rogue Audio gear.
I'm not arguing that anybody who likes them is liking them for some wrong reason, as there are no right or wrong reasons to like any of this stuff. I'm just saying, they probably are impressed by different things than I am. It's a big playground, we have different favorite rides. I like the slide, somebody else likes the balance beam.
My admittedly too-blunt point in my last post was just to say, though, that them not being expensive was not why a lot of us don't like them. There are cheaper speakers I like better.
gagelle
Super Member
I can't believe how good my Forte 1s sound with a Sansui 9090DB. When my son hooked them up in his room, I was amazed. These are stock speakers. Imagine how they will sound with Crites upgrades. I do notice that they need a bit more power than some other Klipsch models but it's not a big deal.
lawnerd
Active Member
I have unmodified Forte II's and love em. They sounded best when paired with a Marantz 1250 amp (they do great with the "warm" Marantz sound). I have a Sony STR se-835 hooked up to them now and while not as good as with the Marantz, they still produce good bass and midrange with incredible treble (I guess I love horns). I've toyed with the idea of doing an upgrade, and if I do - I'm considering the AK upgrade as the crossovers seem to be a true improvement over stock, whereas the Crities upgrade seems to be "stock" with high end caps. I'll never trade or sell the Forte's and they are the heart of my Man Cave.
moray james
Super Member
well said well said
Your observations speak volumes to matching components properly. I had the chance to listen to the Harbeth HL5 on a half dozen or more alplifiers and some multiple combinations. When I had them here at my home I used modified Quad 405 amps (two identical units) and also some Yulong Amp one units (two identical). I was able to run the speakers with a single stereo amp and vertically bi amped . In both cases the vertical bi amp set up sounded best when compared to using a single stereo amp. The small Yulong amplifiers (2x40) which are quite inexpensive sounded very good better in fact than a number of larger more expensive amplifiers I have heard with the Harbeth.
I agree with you that we all listen for different target parameters of performance which I suspect accounts for out differing tastes in components. I find your "too - blunt" description just perfect by the way. I would rather know exactly where someone stands. Thank you for your input and comments. When it comes to Klipsch I would say that I would not buy a new Klipsch which used a K701 mid horn as it takes too much effort to make it work well.I much prefer the KLF20 with modifications to either Forte and I much prefer the CF3 to the KLF20 again with modifications. The larger new horns are simply better sounding to me. I have owned and modified the Heresy the Forte the Forte ll the KLF20 (twice) the CF3 and a set of Quartet's My son presently has my Forte ll on 12" high four post stands running with NuForce Ref 8 mono blocks and they sound quite good and they play very loud which for a university kid is great. My daughter has a set of my KLF20 modified also and they sound very nice. My second set of KLF20 is very likely going to undergo some major transformations this year not 100% decided on exactly what yet.The modifications which I have developed experimenting with all these loudspeakers have become very powerful tools and I can now manipulate a loudspeaker to obtain desired results. I spent over twenty five years running electrostatic loudspeakers and I can say now I m achieving all the great ESL qualities I love and also getting the dynamics slam and output level that Klipsch is known for. My last couple of years working with Klipsch have been very fruitful and a lot of fun. Best regards Moray James.
Your observations speak volumes to matching components properly. I had the chance to listen to the Harbeth HL5 on a half dozen or more alplifiers and some multiple combinations. When I had them here at my home I used modified Quad 405 amps (two identical units) and also some Yulong Amp one units (two identical). I was able to run the speakers with a single stereo amp and vertically bi amped . In both cases the vertical bi amp set up sounded best when compared to using a single stereo amp. The small Yulong amplifiers (2x40) which are quite inexpensive sounded very good better in fact than a number of larger more expensive amplifiers I have heard with the Harbeth.
I agree with you that we all listen for different target parameters of performance which I suspect accounts for out differing tastes in components. I find your "too - blunt" description just perfect by the way. I would rather know exactly where someone stands. Thank you for your input and comments. When it comes to Klipsch I would say that I would not buy a new Klipsch which used a K701 mid horn as it takes too much effort to make it work well.I much prefer the KLF20 with modifications to either Forte and I much prefer the CF3 to the KLF20 again with modifications. The larger new horns are simply better sounding to me. I have owned and modified the Heresy the Forte the Forte ll the KLF20 (twice) the CF3 and a set of Quartet's My son presently has my Forte ll on 12" high four post stands running with NuForce Ref 8 mono blocks and they sound quite good and they play very loud which for a university kid is great. My daughter has a set of my KLF20 modified also and they sound very nice. My second set of KLF20 is very likely going to undergo some major transformations this year not 100% decided on exactly what yet.The modifications which I have developed experimenting with all these loudspeakers have become very powerful tools and I can now manipulate a loudspeaker to obtain desired results. I spent over twenty five years running electrostatic loudspeakers and I can say now I m achieving all the great ESL qualities I love and also getting the dynamics slam and output level that Klipsch is known for. My last couple of years working with Klipsch have been very fruitful and a lot of fun. Best regards Moray James.
This all brings up a point in regards to Klipsch (and many other points). That when I say "I've heard Fortes and Heresys and didn't like them"...who's to say that I would dislike all the seemingly infinite variations of them? I'm not anti-Klipsch, for what its worth. I tend to not just go all-in against anything. Two weeks ago I listened to a pair of LaScalas for a long time, and loved every minute of it. Same for a pair of Belles a while back, and a long time ago with what I believe was a pair of CF-3s. I like Cornwalls, too, quite a bit.
Its interesting what you say about the ESLs, as in my setup here my SHL-5s sound a lot like my Quad ESL-63s, but with better dynamics. Or, at least, different dynamics as I've been able to squeeze a bit of that out of these particular ESLs with different pre/power combinations.
I'm still hoping to hear a pair of Heresies that I really like, as I think its a nice looking speaker on those little risers that's perfectly sized for my needs.
Happy listening....to whatever speakers...
He means they lack "Snob Appeal"
Yes, say the difference in-between a Cadillac SUV & Land Rover in Manhattan, NY.
anytune
Super Member
Well, I wasn't much of a Klipsch fan until I got a set of Fortes. Just goes to show...
My Fortes have the Crites tweeter & crossover upgrades plus an internal brace installed. I never heard factory stock Forte speakers. Perhaps the brace removes some of the boxiness sound one reported. The Mids are at ear level in my room, perhaps another plus.
I am building (err...contracting others skills) so say assembling rebuilt Altec 604Ds in custom Stonehenge cabinets with latest aftermarket crossovers. We shall see how the Fortes hold up. I better get my dreams finished before my ears go. Does anyone make earviagra?
Not really sure which side you're landing on here, as the Escalade has a certain snob appeal by itself, but there are significant performance differences between a Cadillac and a Land Rover. At least, the Range Rover. Which might have something to do with this conversation, and might not. The thing with the Range Rover, it can back up everything it says. I've taken the Land Rover off-road qualification training, in a Range Rover (wasn't mine, I did their ads), and it's almost hard to believe what that vehicle is actually capable of, at least in its 2004 guise. The Cadillac, on the other hand, is a sheep in wolf's clothing. Try to cross a river in it with water up to the windshield, or descend a 45 degree rocky slope, or whatever, and you will likely either break an axle at best or drawn at worst. Which is to say that sometimes, in both automobiles and audio, there are reasons that one person carries themselves like their **** is a bit better. Because, well..it is. The Range Rover is an awesome piece of machinery that BMW (used to own LR) spent nearly a billion dollars getting right. The Escalade is....a facade. It will leave you stranded. But I'm sure there is somebody somewhere who is an unabashed "Detroit metal!!!" fan who will swear otherwise, but it doesn't change reality. Some stuff is better than other stuff. And its not because its more expensive, its because it does what its supposed to do, in a superior manner. The Range Rover is an $80,000 vehicle. And it will, in no uncertain terms, pretty muck kick the ass of any other vehicle when asked to leave the highway. I've seen Land Rover Discovery's pulling jacked up Jeeps and raised Ford pick-ups with giant off-road tires out of mud, and the Discovery wasn't nearly the vehicle the Range Rover. Sorry for the somewhat metaphorical tangent but it seems a perfectly apt parallel to the idea that some stuff that costs money, really is THAT much better.
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