Klipsch Forte III: $4000 Per Pair
36h, 16 1/2w, 13d, 72lbs, 99 dB


Forte III is the newest, most advanced Forte ever. Forte III incorporates 70 years of speaker building expertise!

At 99dB SPL, Forte III can be driven by the most modest of amplifiers. No matter what you have, or what it cost, it can drive the Forte III louder than you’ll need. Yet Forte III is tremendously resolving and will reward you for the best possible source and quality (vs quantity!) of amplification.
How about the new McIntosh MA-252 Integrated ($4000, 100×2) amp?!

The most important difference between LIVE and REPRODUCED music is DYNAMIC RANGE. There is a curtain removed between the musician and the audience when dynamic contrast is improved. It doesn’t take a powerful rock band to hear this. In fact, it is MOST noticeable when listening to piano, guitar & vocal. The IMMEDIACY of the Forte III is nothing short of breath taking in comparison to almost all other speaker designs.

As a guy who plays the piano every day, I appreciate Forte’s ability to contrast ppp to fff
as well as any speaker out there. Please play a piano version (try Alice Sara Ott) of Pictures At An Exhibition for example. The differences between quiet and loud ATTACKS on the piano are thrilling
through Forte! Oh, if I could only play like Alice!!

How did we get here? Meaning FORTE VERSION THREE.

Forte (Version 1) Introduced 1985

Forte came out in 1985 in a similar cosmetic form to what Forte III is today. Forte had a 12” paper woofer with NINE POUND MAGNET, supported by 12” rear firing passive radiator.
Forte used a horn loaded tweeter (1”) and midrange (1 3/4”) driver.
Forte only needed to be an inch out from the back wall so it was easy to place.

Reviewers commented on the lack of distortion coming from Forte.
Hi-Fi Classic:
“The 12” Klipsch woofer has a 9 pound magnet structure, and is augmented by a 12” passive radiator. The Forte is a highly sensitive speaker rated to deliver 96dB SPL. The room response of the Forte was one of the widest and smoothest we have ever measured. The Forte’s low frequency distortion was by far the lowest we’ve ever measured. The Forte is so potent in the region where there is real bass content in music, and adds so little bass distortion, that it gives the impression of generating an extra octave of deep bass.”

Forte II Introduced in 1989

Forte II was refined in several regards.
The passive radiator moved up from 12” to 15” to provide even tighter, deeper response.
New Tractrix horns expanded the soundstage and provided improved imaging. Version II produced a wider stage and accommodated a room full of listeners better.
The drivers themselves were updated to be more responsive.
Over the next seven years, Forte was among the best selling speakers in the industry.
Klipsch disco’d the Forte II in 1996 as shoppers went crazy for small plastic “cube” speakers with subwoofers. The sales of full figured, high testosterone speakers, diminished dramatically.

 

 

Forte III TODAY!

Designer Roy Delgado and Klipsch feel the time is right to re-introduce this super charged version of the venerable Forte speaker- now dubbed Forte III.
With the economy doing well and Americans feeling a renewed appreciation for larger, real wood, high performance speakers built in the US, K has redesigned Forte and it has arrived.
The woofer is a stronger version of its prior brethren in a composite pulp fiber configuration.
The new midrange and tweeter drivers are comprised of Titanium, a lighter, stronger diaphragm for
better responsiveness. The tweeter and mid horn designs have evolved to include what Roy calls the “mumps” technology to improve dispersion even further. The 15” rear passive radiator has been redesigned. The cabinet is heavier and stronger- with a more elegant finish- than ever before.

Forte III has joined a marketplace, post recession, that is interested in quality vinyl, tube electronics and artisan woodworking. Forte III fits like a glove.

Forte III is an exciting addition to our store! It looks vintage, but is a true state of the art contender at its price class. It won’t take you over a few seconds to appreciate its lifelike musical presentation. It makes most other speakers sound downright soggy & murky in comparison!