Klipsch Heritage Forte IV Floorstanding Speaker - Black Ash - Each

A Refined Step Up in Klipsch's Heritage Line

The Klipsch Heritage Forte IV is a 3-way, horn-loaded floorstanding speaker with a rear-firing 15-inch passive radiator — a genuine step up in refinement from the entry model in Klipsch's Heritage line, in a taller cabinet with deeper bass extension.

Klipsch rates sensitivity at 99 dB into a nominal 8 ohms, with 100 watts of continuous power handling and a maximum SPL of 116 dB — exceptionally efficient for a speaker with real bass extension down to 38 Hz.

The cabinet is available in American Walnut, Black Ash, or Auburn, and sold each, so a stereo pair is two — order one to match an existing speaker, or a matching pair to start a system from scratch.

Where the Passive Radiator Earns Its Keep

Three Horn-Loaded Drivers Plus a 15-Inch Passive Radiator

A K-100-TI 1-inch titanium compression tweeter on a K-79T wide-dispersion horn crosses over at 5,200 Hz to a K-702 1.75-inch compression driver on a K-703-M modified Tractrix horn, crossing over again at 650 Hz to a 12-inch fiber-composite woofer.

A 15-inch rear-firing passive radiator extends the bass well beyond what the active woofer alone could reach, without the extra amplifier draw a powered subwoofer section would add, and without an internal amplifier that needs its own power cord.

The Numbers, and What They Ask of Your Amplifier

Klipsch quotes a frequency range of 38 Hz to 20 kHz within 3 dB. Klipsch rates sensitivity at 99 dB, with power handling at 100 watts continuous, 400 watts peak, and a maximum SPL of 116 dB.

Dual binding posts support bi-wiring and bi-amping. Like most passive-radiator designs, this one is sensitive to how far the cabinet sits from the wall behind it, so exact final placement is worth some trial and error once it's in your room.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Ken Micallef, Stereophile, wrote that the Forte IV "sounded smoother and richer" than its predecessor, with a deeper soundstage, adding that he "immediately heard in the IVs a refinement and poise" the earlier model lacked.

Chris Beeching, The Ear, called the Forte IV "transparent, rivalling the best electrostatics in that department," with "an uncanny ability to make music sound real," calling it "probably the nearest thing to a complete speaker I've had at home."

Who Is This Floorstanding Speaker Best For?

• You want a genuine step up in refinement from the entry Heritage tower — reviewers heard a smoother, richer midrange and deeper soundstage than the model it replaced
• You want real bass extension without a powered subwoofer section — a 15-inch rear-firing passive radiator does that work passively
• Your amplifier is modest — 99 dB sensitivity means even a low-power amplifier plays this speaker loud and clean
• You want one speaker per cabinet, priced and shipped that way — the Forte IV is sold each, so order two for a stereo pair
• You want real floorstanding bass without a separate subwoofer — the Forte IV reaches to 38 Hz within 3 dB on its own. For the deepest home-theater effects, add one of our subwoofers and let the towers do what they do best

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Start the cabinet a few inches out from the wall behind it, then nudge it in small steps until the passive radiator's bass output locks in for your room — see the FAQ below for Klipsch's recommended range.

Dual binding posts accept a single-wire run, or a bi-wire/bi-amp connection if your amplifier supports it.

Two cables, two speakers, and you are listening.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around a pair of Forte IV towers:

• Integrated amplifiers — even a modest integrated amplifier has power to spare at this sensitivity
• Stereo amplifiers — a low-power tube amplifier is a genuine option here, not just a marketing claim
• Speaker cables — single-wire or bi-wire runs, since this model supports both
• Audio racks — house the electronics driving a refined step up in this line

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the price for one speaker or a pair?

One. The Forte IV is sold each, so order two for a stereo pair, or one to match an existing speaker.

What amplifier do I need?

Klipsch rates power handling at 100 watts continuous, 400 watts peak. Its high sensitivity means even a low-power amplifier, including many tube amps, drives it well.

Can I bi-wire the Forte IV?

Yes. Dual binding posts support bi-wiring and bi-amping.

How close to the wall can I place it?

At least an inch of clearance for the rear-firing passive radiator, with the fullest bass typically landing 2 to 10 inches out from the wall.

What's the difference between the Forte IV and the Cornwall IV?

The Cornwall IV steps up to a larger 15-inch woofer and taller cabinet for deeper bass extension and higher sensitivity, at a higher price.

What finishes are available?

American Walnut, Black Ash, and Auburn.

See It in Action

Steve Guttenberg, The Audiophiliac, reviews the Forte IV:

HiFi Huff reviews the Forte IV:

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Learn More

Want to learn more about speaker placement, bi-wiring, or matching a low-power amplifier to a high-sensitivity speaker? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.