New Forte III’s being shipped today

fredgarvin said:
my guess is that Klipsch may have thought since everyone is buying Crites replacement Ti diaphragms for their older models that switching to Ti would be looked at as an improvement to potential buyers.
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The switch to titanium has been industry wide (Klipsch doesn't make their drivers). Exotics, like beryllium drivers, are gone even though they were prominent on mid priced speakers from the 70s to 90s. Phenolics, which were more common are also gone. Stamped titanium drivers are probably a compromise of cost/performance. On this board and on the Klipsch board there are some who prefer the phenolic over the titanium and vice a versa.
 
fernarias said:
I said that it could have been the positioning or the amp but there was much less bass. The first time I heard the Klipsch lineup in 85 they were all positioned in the middle of a large room (it was the heresy 1.5, the forte I, the cornwall I, the la scala and the klipschorn) and you could definitely hear the low bass the forte provided compared to everything but the klispchorn. The setup I heard this summer had the forte IIIs about 8 feet apart and 12 inches from the wall (can't remember the amp) in a very large but narrow showroom. Compared to my Is and IIs bass was lacking and midrange/highs couldn't tell a difference (they allowed me to play the music on my phone so it was music I was familiar with).
Really hard to compare the three versions unless you have all 3 in the same room running the same amp. But looking at the specs that Klipsch published the 3 does not go down as far as the 1 or 2 (and I do like my bass), 38hz vs. 32hz (it's huge).
As for the titanium driver, I'm sure it's being used because it's cheaper to make than the phenolic and not because it sounds better (a press can stamp titanium drivers really easy while a phenolic requires a press, injection molding and curing time).
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Wow , I don’t want to get into a pissing match with you but
#1. It has been published that the Forte I and II were not tested with the technology of today and they did NOT actually go down to 32hz incorrect specs
2. Titanium 100 % improves the sound of the diaphragm vs phenolic. I replaced the phenolic diaphragms with titanium in my KG4’s and the difference was night and day. AudioKarma Forum has 100’s of members that love the titanium diaphragm upgrade due to improved clarity , smoothness of the highs and most importantly LESS HARSH sounding!! With Klipsch going to titanium in the entire Heritage line up has Zero to do with cost , it’s the difference in sound. Amplification has EVERYTHING to do with a phenomenal speaker sounding “ Phenomenal “ or just Mediocre , so maybe that’s why the III’s didn’t impress you and their placement is crucial to their sound . Not performing even close to its potential. Crossover network has been improved , midrange driver design has been changed and improved the 12 “ woofer has been changed and the rear passive is 15” vs 12” But hey , whatever floats your boat!! Glad you like your I’s and II’s but don’t tell me that they sound better than the “ New & Improved III’s “ because that’s saying that all the hard work and effort in engineering & design that Klipsch put into these speakers did nothing. The reviews are extremely positive and this speaker is being raved about for a reason. They sound incredible. Now if I can talk my wife into letting me purchase a McIntosh Tube / AV Receiver hybrid!! Only $15,000 !! Yikes!!
 
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Brian Tambe said:
Wow , I don’t want to get into a pissing match with you but
#1. It has been published that the Forte I and II were not tested with the technology of today and they did NOT actually go down to 32hz incorrect specs
2. Titanium 100 % improves the sound of the diaphragm vs phenolic. I replaced the phenolic diaphragms with titanium in my KG4’s and the difference was night and day. AudioKarma Forum has 100’s of members that love the titanium diaphragm upgrade due to improved clarity , smoothness of the highs and most importantly LESS HARSH sounding!! With Klipsch going to titanium in the entire Heritage line up has Zero to do with cost , it’s the difference in sound. Amplification has EVERYTHING to do with a phenomenal speaker sounding “ Phenomenal “ or just Mediocre , so maybe that’s why the III’s didn’t impress you and their placement is crucial to their sound . Not performing even close to its potential. Crossover network has been improved , midrange driver design has been changed and improved the 12 “ woofer has been changed and the rear passive is 15” vs 12” But hey , whatever floats your boat!! Glad you like your I’s and II’s but don’t tell me that they sound better than the “ New & Improved III’s “ because that’s saying that all the hard work and effort in engineering & design that Klipsch put into these speakers did nothing. The reviews are extremely positive and this speaker is being raved about for a reason. They sound incredible. Now if I can talk my wife into letting me purchase a McIntosh Tube / AV Receiver hybrid!! Only $15,000 !! Yikes!!
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1. forte was tested by stereo review and it goes down to 32hz
2. there are no tests that prove what you said and there is plenty of testimony saying that either people can't hear the difference, or they prefer the phenolic or they prefer titanium so it's a wash. Titanium is just another cost saving measure that doesn't change the sound quality.
 
It is well documented that titanium will extend higher then their phenolic counterparts with ease. Which from a physics point of view makes perfect sense, it is a lighter, thinner, more rigid material. That being said, Ive heard them both and personally I dont mind phenolic diaphragms. The ti varations do seem somewhat more crisp and light, but overall phenolic sound just fine to me. YMMV.
 
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I was at my local Heritage dealer recently. He had a new pair of Forte IIIs, Cornwall IVs, and a Pre owned pair of original Fortes. They all sounded great! I did feel the Forte IIIs had a slight edge over the Fortes. I don’t know that it was the titanium driver. The Cornwall IV has a polyimide driver and I thought it sounded better than both of the Fortes. I bought the Cornwall IVs.
 
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capt.chaos said:
I was at my local Heritage dealer recently. He had a new pair of Forte IIIs, Cornwall IVs, and a Pre owned pair of original Fortes. They all sounded great! I did feel the Forte IIIs had a slight edge over the Fortes. I don’t know that it was the titanium driver. The Cornwall IV has a phenolic driver and I thought it sounded better than both of the Fortes. I bought the Cornwall IVs.
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Just to clarify in regards to your Cornwall 4's, are you talking about the diaphragms in the Mid range horns, the tweeters or both?
 
My actual point is that I feel the Forte IIIs sounds slightly better than the original Fortes. Both sound great. I was able to listen to them back to back. We also moved them around in the room.
 
capt.chaos said:
The mids. Both the Cornwall IV and Forte III have titanium tweeters.
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I recall reading a thread where one of the members asked Bob Crites if he should "upgrade" his mid diaphragm to titanium. Bob replied that if anyone were to do that that the entire crossover network would have to be adjusted and suggested he keep the original diaphragm. To me the titanium variation as I said earlier seem more "light and crisp". And likewise the phenolic ones seem to have a "meatier" sound. It is interesting to me that Klipsch keeps the Cornwall mids phenolic. Perhaps they are simply better suited for mid range performance.

I would love a set of Cornwall IV's.
 
Bugetnirvana said:
I recall reading a thread where one of the members asked Bob Crites if he should "upgrade" his mid diaphragm to titanium. Bob replied that if anyone were to do that that the entire crossover network would have to be adjusted and suggested he keep the original diaphragm. To me the titanium variation as I said earlier seem more "light and crisp". And likewise the phenolic ones seem to have a "meatier" sound. It is interesting to me that Klipsch keeps the Cornwall mids phenolic. Perhaps they are simply better suited for mid range performance.

I would love a set of Cornwall IV's.
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The Cornwall IV is using a polyimide mid diaphragm and not a phenolic one.
 
I preferd the old tweet on my 1"s over
The so called upgrade.. it's rolled off.

That said I am sure at this time they have the 3"s dialed in, enjoy!
 
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Boozehound said:
I prefersd the old tweet on my 1"s over
The so called upgrade.. it's rolled off.

That said I am sure at this time they have the 3"s dialed in, enjoy!
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Thank you , I’m enjoying them very much!! Getting used to the midrange and the sound of a 3-way Loudspeaker. My KG4’s being a two-way didn’t have the detail that the Forte III’s deliver. The separation of high frequency to low end frequency is different on the Forte III’s but each time I listen to them the midrange is adding a distinct sound that allows me to hear instruments, percussion , symbols , etc that I’ve NEVER heard in music that I have been listening to for 20 plus years. It’s cool , ya know? I will be listening to a song or arrangement ( I love smooth jazz ) and hear an added sound of an additional piece of that song or arrangement!! Loving It.
 
Brian Tambe said:
Holy Cow I just listened to my first spin of vinyl “ Eagles Greatest Hits “ New 180 gram pressing of the 1976 album and OMG it sounds amazing on the new Forte III’s.. I’m hearing sounds ( percussion ) that my ears have been deprived of until now!!
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Nice! I love what my Quartets do. The right here live sound is awesome.
 
Congrats on the Klipsch. I’ve been a fan of their speakers for what seems like forever. I’m 55 and I’m excited to order a pair in the coming months. My wife...not so much. LOL!
 
fernarias said:
The switch to titanium has been industry wide (Klipsch doesn't make their drivers). Exotics, like beryllium drivers, are gone even though they were prominent on mid priced speakers from the 70s to 90s. Phenolics, which were more common are also gone. Stamped titanium drivers are probably a compromise of cost/performance. On this board and on the Klipsch board there are some who prefer the phenolic over the titanium and vice a versa.
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Agreed.
 
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