Klipsch RF-3 or Forte II

[diamonddelts]

I found a pair of Chorus I's for $500. I'm interested but I'm afraid If I did not care for the Cornwall's tonal balance, I'm most certainly not going to like the Chorus I's. There was also a guy selling a pair of Klipsch KLF 20's in completely rebuilt boxes for $225 for the pair but they sold minutes before I responded to his ad. I want a pair of Klipsch speakers with the accuracy and fidelity of the Fortes but with a low end to match their mids and highs.

So the hunt continues. On a side note, I'm beginning to wonder why do people with a boat load of "upgrades" still consider their speakers as Klipsch speakers. I mean if the crossover is not original, different tweeters, different drivers, etc. I'm certain the sound is not the same as it was when it came out of the manufacturer's factory. Seems with some of these vintage speakers the only original thing with them is their boxes.

 

[HarleySG]

I was not even born yet when the 1984 cornwalls were released

That explains much.

 

[diamonddelts]

That explains much.

Lots of exposure and gear along with good manners in a short lifespan.

 

[HarleySG]

Not as much of any of it. I can assure you of that.

Your manners may be a little better, but that's because my patience wears thin.

 

[diamonddelts]

Not as much of any of it. I can assure you of that.

Your manners may be a little better, but that's because my patience wears thin.

You might try to be less abrasive to others and maybe your patience would not need rogaine. I've been blessed to be very successful at a fairly young age. As a result, I've run through a lot of gear.

And yet I don't feel the need to make sly comments to anyone who does not share my opinions. If you've been on this earth many years than I hope you could master this most basic of skills by now.

 

[diamonddelts]

The KLF20 is a really good speaker and Dingman ir right easier to remove both front and back baffles install your brace work clean out all the original hotmelt adhesive and re install the baffles with white wood glue stronger than the original will last for ever.

I still think that a KLF20 turned into a two way is the way to go. Great woofers and a KLF10 horn would be very nice with a real driver like a EV DH1506. Or as I have done experiment with Karlson K-Tubes for free making Karlson K-Tubes out of paper and tape they sound astounding and can be made up in minutes. I used a CF3 network to build a Karlson version of the CF3 guess you could call it a KF3. Best regards Moray James.

So are you saying you preferred a KLF 10 instead of a KLF 20?

 

[moray james]

no not at all. I prefer a two way over a three way when done properly especially in near field listening situations. So my suggestion was to modify a KLF20 which has great woofers into a two way and one possibility for a horn would be the KLF10 horn or the CF3/4 horn which is even better and is larger which is better and it has a standard 1" screw on mount so more quality drivers become options to use. There are other options. I have used Peavey CH1 horns which are excellent and by far the largest horn I have run with the KLF20 woofers. My choice right now are some very simple Karlson k-Tubes which I like better than any of the horns that I have used.

The KLF10 horn will make a superb replacement for a K79 tweeter in a traditional KLF20 setup if you want to stay three way because it is almost identical in size and in profile to the mid horn of the KLF20, you would have to mount it on top of the cabinet due to its size. It is a perfect tweeter mate to the KLF20 mid as the K79 tweeter drivers swap out to one another. I hope that this is helping but if I have missed something please ask. Best regards Moray James.

 

[diamonddelts]

no not at all. I prefer a two way over a three way when done properly especially in near field listening situations. So my suggestion was to modify a KLF20 which has great woofers into a two way and one possibility for a horn would be the KLF10 horn or the CF3/4 horn which is even better and is larger which is better and it has a standard 1" screw on mount so more quality drivers become options to use. There are other options. I have used Peavey CH1 horns which are excellent and by far the largest horn I have run with the KLF20 woofers. My choice right now are some very simple Karlson k-Tubes which I like better than any of the horns that I have used.

The KLF10 horn will make a superb replacement for a K79 tweeter in a traditional KLF20 setup if you want to stay three way because it is almost identical in size and in profile to the mid horn of the KLF20, you would have to mount it on top of the cabinet due to its size. It is a perfect tweeter mate to the KLF20 mid as the K79 tweeter drivers swap out to one another. I hope that this is helping but if I have missed something please ask. Best regards Moray James.

Your highly detailed posts are very helpful and much appreciated. I've printed out all the modification tips you suggested in this thread should I go that route. Thank you so much again.

 

[moray james]

If you ever make it up to Calgary for business or for pleasure you are welcome to drop by and hear what ever I am working on at the time. Glad to help if you decide to modify in the future. Best regards Moray James.

 

[diamonddelts]

My search is still ongoing. There are two pairs of Fortes near me right now however one seller wants $650 for the pair and the second seller wants $500 for the pair. I'm not willing to go that high for what would be the equivalent of surround speakers in my other systems.

Though lately I am regretting selling the Fortes so quickly. Their high fidelity was undeniable. Just not enough output in the low region for my taste. But I should have just paired them with a small sub and called it a day for my bedroom setup. I have some extra play money at my disposal this month but I'm due to get another big sub to finish my 7.4 system in my living room.

Ah decisions plus impatience is not a good combo. Haha. Still looking everywhere for a pair of KLF 20 speakers but no one in my state has any. Only seen a few listed on ebay. Looking for a pair of KLF 20's is like searching for gold. They show up rarely. And they don't last more than a few days before they disappear.

 

[diamonddelts]

Alright I found a pair of Klipsch CF-4's for $600. I feel like that is a fair price for them. Has anyone heard a pair of these vs. a pair of Fortes or Cornwalls? From the limited reviews I could find online I read one gentleman stated he favors them over his cornwalls, Choruses, Heresy's and Quartets. While another man merely stated they were mid to low fidelity rock speakers. I just dropped $1600 for my second custom subwoofer for my main setup so this second purchase will be biting into my "play budget" for the month.

I want to make sure it counts. I usually prefer 3 ways over 2 ways so I'm not sure if I will like the 2 way CF-4 speakers vs. the Cornwalls and Fortes I've previously owned. Though I don't want to let a good deal get away.

 

[diamonddelts]

Well since no one chimed in on my last question, I went ahead and purchased a pair of Klipsch CF-4 speakers. Had to drive all night to get them. I hope they were with it. Will give listening impressions later this evening. Since these like power, I will try them with ome of my Lab Gruppen amps or my 500 watt monoblock amp.

 

[diamonddelts]

Hooked up the CF-4 speakers last night. Started off with a tube amp. Sound was relatively balanced but the bass was weak in my opinion and the soundstage was much too narrow for a speaker this size.

Moved on to my older Outlaw 200 watt x 7 amp and the sound was a bit nasally with the highs sounding very thin(tinny) and the bass a bit improved but not satisfactory.

Finally i connected them to two of my Emotiva 500 watts each monoblocks. The soundstage came alive. Highs are very prominent now but not piercing. Midrange is smooth but not as detailed as the Fortes. Bass is still average in my opinion. But with bass boost to +4db on the tonal control the lows were pretty good.

I have to say I really like these speakers. Soundstage is fuller and much wider than what I had with the Fortes. However the Fortes do give a bit more detail with music. I think these have an overall more balanced sound from the top down in comparison to the fortes whose highs and midrange are very prominent and detailed but without any lowend in my opinion. I wanted to try these with my second tier Lab Gruppen amp but I don't want to blow up any components so I will not do so.

I can definitely see why opinions vary so much on these. If I was using a lower power amp I would not have found them acceptable. But when backed with a good amount of power they deliver very good fidelity in all the highs, mids, and lows. Definitely a keeper.

 

[Mystery]

I had original Forte.
Good speakers but not so good to keep. I think I sold them for 450.
I have RF3 set as well but never compared the two as RF3'S are for home theater in family room and sound really good.

Forte were miles better than heresy and kg4 but still not as good for that big size.
Klf-10 sounds better for me.

 

[vnzbd]

I am with Mystery on this one. The 10's with solid baffles and the Ti tweets are hard to beat. No listener fatiuge and great tight, tactile bass.

 

[diamonddelts]

I had original Forte.
Good speakers but not so good to keep. I think I sold them for 450.
I have RF3 set as well but never compared the two as RF3'S are for home theater in family room and sound really good.

Forte were miles better than heresy and kg4 but still not as good for that big size.
Klf-10 sounds better for me.

I still have not had the pleasure of hearing any speakers in the KLF series. There was a pair of KLF 10's that sold a few hours before I contacted the seller on CL a few weeks back. I really want to hear a pair of KLF 10's or KLF 20's.

With that being said, I am extremely happy with the CF-4 pair. They bring my bedroom alive! But I know I will not have complete peace about this purchase decision until I can compare them to a pair of KLF 10's, KLF 20's, or KLF 30's.

 

[Dingman]

I still have not had the pleasure of hearing any speakers in the KLF series. There was a pair of KLF 10's that sold a few hours before I contacted the seller on CL a few weeks back. I really want to hear a pair of KLF 10's or KLF 20's.

With that being said, I am extremely happy with the CF-4 pair. They bring my bedroom alive! But I know I will not have complete peace about this purchase decision until I can compare them to a pair of KLF 10's, KLF 20's, or KLF 30's.

That's great that you've gone to the trouble to actually bring the various models into your system\house and test them out. Well done.

Congrats on the CF4's.

 

[diamonddelts]

That's great that you've gone to the trouble to actually bring the various models into your system\house and test them out. Well done.

Congrats on the CF4's.

Thanks. The details I'm hearing in the high frequencies with these is great. They sound almost identical to the Yorkvlle U215's I have in my main living room except with less bass and not as sensitive. I really, really like these speakers.

There was another guy selling a pair of Chorus II's which had me tempted but I'm gonna pass on them. At this point I only need to hear a pair of KLF 20's since they have a horn loaded midrange(3 way) to know which I will prefer for the long haul.

Only other speaker I want to hear at this point is the classic RF-7 I.

 

[cubdog]

I hope you eventually find a speaker to your liking.

Can I ask why you seem to be focused on Klipsch speakers at the exclusion of other companies? You have tried so many Klipsch and found all to be lacking in one area or another. I can't offer any more help because we don't hear the same things from most of the models you've tried.

I just wonder why you seem fixated on Klipsch?

cubdog

 

[diamonddelts]

I hope you eventually find a speaker to your liking.

Can I ask why you seem to be focused on Klipsch speakers at the exclusion of other companies? You have tried so many Klipsch and found all to be lacking in one area or another. I can't offer any more help because we don't hear the same things from most of the models you've tried.

I just wonder why you seem fixated on Klipsch?

cubdog

I'm ecstatic with my CF-4 purchase . I intend to keep them for good. I just want to hear a few other models to make sure these are the best fit for my bedroom. I'm obsessive compulsive when it comes to all of my purchases. For example I will buy and return 7 tv's before I finally settle on one just to make sure I am getting the absolute best bang for my buck.

Once I hear the KLF series and the classic RF-7 I, that will be all I need to shut the book on this speaker journey for my bedroom setup. I only auditioned Klipsch because I will only use speakers which excel with both music and home theater. Klipsch does well with both genres for an excellent price in the used market.

All of my speakers setups in each room can easily loaf around at 120db + with high fidelity to match. So that is the approach I have to everything I buy audio related. Low sensitivity designs and compression at 115-120db will not be tolerated in my home with music nor with movies.