John
On vital statistics, the Klipsch Forte III sells for US$4000/€4400 per pair. A decidedly vintage-looking wooden enclosure houses a 1″ tweeter and 1.75″ midranger that come on kinda plain Jane until we note that each is a compression driver and horn-loaded. Low frequencies are handled by a 12″-er but in lieu of a rear-firing port, we get a 15″ passive radiator. Together, these two paper cones have the Forte III reach down to 38Hz. Similarly, Klipsch rate their Heritage Series loudspeaker at 99dB efficiency and 8 Ohm nominal where flea-watt amplifiers can enter the fray with considerably reduced concern for flabby bass and/or diminished SPLs.
Before we consider possible amplifier switch-ups, we must first locate each loudspeaker’s optimal in-room position. What we hear depends upon each loudspeaker’s proximity to front and side walls, toe-in angle and elevation. The latter might seem an unusual statistic to call up when discussing a floorstander where tweeter height has been optimised by the manufacturer but this Klipsch stands 91cm tall and there’s nothing wrong with a little experimentation. On huggability, we note each Forte III’s 42cm width and 33cm depth. Mentally marry those awkward dimensions with a 33kg scale drop and you begin to better understand why moving the Forte III from point A to point B isn’t a trivial matter, especially if we need to move them more than once.
The answer? Furniture dogs – the direct English translation of German’s Möbelhunde. Americans and Brits will better know them as furniture rollers or dollys. Whatever the language, the wheeled platforms lend our Klipsch some much-needed mobility. That’s not only useful for tweaking speaker placement but essential for this reviewer who will, at least once a week, move the Klipsch to one side to make way for other models.
These Forte III are not review loaners. Darko.Audio contributor Phil Wright took care of that some six months ago. Purchased from the German distributor, these pair are set to become a more permanent fixture around these parts because a) they sound best sat close to the wall and free up some valuable floor space and b) their dynamic capabilities are both brain rush and body slam.
This video puts the show in the show and tell:
Camera: Olaf von Voss | Editor: John Darko
Further information: Klipsch
