jaredwray34

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $100.00 from Private Owner

Summary:
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE these speakers. They sound better than anything I've ever heard, and boy did i get a deal on these! i just now noticed how much they sell for anywhere else. I mostly listen to music on these because they're in my room and i watch movies in my living room. They have great bass. They get loud enough to hurt your ears!, never heard any distortion either.

Strengths:
Great bass.
Great mid and high range.
Perfect for almost any usage.

Weaknesses:
The only thing is they weigh like 56 pounds.

Similar Products Used:
Kg's. quintets.

oldwiz

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $250.00 from local private seller

Summary:
I didn't really need these Forte II's but couldn't resist a bargain price plus I'm a big Klipsch fan (I have a total of 17 of their speakers now). I've used these to replace a pair of 1960s vintage Electrovoice Wolverine LS series units at my office stereo system. I presently have them hooked to a 1963 Fisher X-100 tube amplifier (40 wpc) that I recently had rebuilt by Craig Ostby at NOS Valves.

They sound superb and seem to be a perfect match for an older, warmer sounding tube amp. The first thing I noticed is how much more efficient the Fortes are compared to the old EVs. Also, the bass is considerably more expansive and "punchy". [I have some other, later produced Klipsch reference floor standing units and the bass is not as good.] The trebles from the horns are clearer/ more defined, which I really notice on vocals (I'm listening to Bryn Terfel's "Something Wonderful" at the monent....wow, what a voice).

These Forte IIs really have "presence" and I love turning up the volume. Unfortunately I have them in a small room. They deserve a bigger space. I stayed up until 2:00 am listening on the first day I got them and my teenagers came downstairs to complain about the noise! Hehehe.

Strengths:
Qulaity of the components. Design of th enclosure and passive radiators. Excellent value for the money, similar to most other Klipsch products. Classic good looks.

Weaknesses:
Large and heavy is about the only thing I can mention. They are going to be expensive to ship if you are not able to find a pair from a local seller.

Similar Products Used:
Klipsch reference series. Klipsch KSF series. Electrovoice. SVS. ADS L series.

PMartinez

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5, 1.00 votes

Price Paid:  $400.00 from eBay

Summary:
Let me preference my remarks by saying that I travelled 1500 miles to purchase a pair of these speakers from a guy who was using an antiquated Sony receiver with them. These speakers have become a cult classic with the SET and general triode audio subcultures, so I had to steal a pair. These were well taken care of and the fit and finish was superb. The golden oak matched my Nomadic furniture stereo unit perfectly.

Components:
Yamaha Carosel CD
Better Cables Silver Serpent interconnect
Kimber Silver Streaks IC
Bottled Foreplay III Pre-amp with Auricaps & Brimar 13D5s
Bizzy Bee TAD-60 amp in triode mode with KT-66s & Telefunken tubes

Sound:
The sound can only be described as clarion. These speakers provide the best overall balance of any speaker that I've auditioned. The violins in orchestral music are to die for. They're perfectly rendered! As for rock, I haven't been able to listen this genre, particularly Metallica, on all but a few systems. The Fortes just cruise effortlessly @ 4 watts output and shake your serpentine soul with their brashness.

There is a negative with the 'vanilla' version of the Fortes: the bass is a little soft and I could never make out the fingering on the bass player's line when present. Also, the detail is just pretty good and the soundstage is slightly to the rear of the speakers. I opted to purchase an after market, K-Net network from Chris Munson of Richardson, Tx. These crossovers have greatly improved components of audiphile grade. They even eliminate the electrolytic capacitor, which are viewed with some trepidation by audiophiles.

There were a few glitches with the installation. One of the power resistors had been sheared off in shipping, so I had to resolder. Also, my version of the Klipsch network board did not match that of the instructions. Otherwise, installation simply involved swapping the old wires with the new.


Impressions with the 'new' crossovers:

Sound:


At first I heard a great deal of sibilance with vocals, but this was reduced after about 25 minutes of play.

Detail: improved across the board, although the blending provided by the old network was quite pleasant.

Bass: Dramatically improved. It's much tighter and seems to go about 1/2 octave deeper, which may be a psychological effect. Because of the detail, you can now hear the fingering on a bass viola on jazz pieces. I really missed this with the old network.

Soundstage: The most surprising effect was how the vocals now came forward and instruments were much better separated. It's almost a 'mixed blessing' effect, since this now causes me to listen to individual instruments too much and miss the overall impact of the music.

The speakers really recede with this network. A mild criticism of the former incarnation is the flatness of the soundstage.


Conclusion: This was easily the least expensive way to coax the most sound from tube-based system. I'm always amazed at the sound that the Fortes produce. Their drivers are pretty amazing. It still shocks me to see that Klipsch no longer produces speaker lines of this quality.

Strengths:
+ the most balanced sound in my experience
+ lovely vocals, both male and female
+ excellent detail on all music
+ rendering of orchestral and rock music in a class by itself
+ the 'blending' provided by the 'vanilla' Forte is very musical
+ excellent construction
+ low price
+ high efficiency - may be used by 'flea' amp lovers
+ after market enhancements can provide dramatic improvements in the overall music experience, taking an exceptional product in the stratosphere.

Weaknesses:
- slight megaphonic sound that most horns present
- bass on 'vanilla' version is slightly soft.
- network can be improved with after market add ons
- I tried with Fortes with SS amps and did not have the positive experience that so many reviewers have expressed. With the Monarchy SM-70, the sound is much more compressed and the soundstage is small.
- does require some amplifier matching

Similar Products Used:
Madisound Odin, Tyler Linbrooks, ScanSpeak Bookshelf, Von Schweikert 4, Soliloquy 6

thedonn

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $550.00 from Used HiFi store (loc

Summary:
More than 80 reviews of these speakers, and all seem to agree. WOW! That in and of itself, should tell you something. I thought I might offer some help to the Ebay buyer or person lucky enough to find them local. My Fortes are series 1, circa, 1986. The cost was $1200.00 new. I have not encountered a spaeker system that has the build quality of these in a long time. Built like a tank! 70lbs each. They have an almost "retro" 70's look to them and compliment my vintage system well. I do not subscribe to the $500.00 interconnect club nor do I believe that mega buck speaker wire "brings my system to life". I am practical and realistic with my buying decisions. I enjoy Rock music 90% of the and these speakers do it well. They will THROW DOWN! They require very little amplifier power! I use a 45 watt vintage Marantz, and I am impressed everyday, with the output! Everyday! I enjoy the sound I have received from my Kef speakers and have owned B&W's in the past. I think the British speakers generaly have a nice flat responce. In most respects the Klipsch Forte's capture that "flat" overall presence. Yet the Forte's are able to outperform the Brit's in one critical area, They play Rock music like no other speaker I have heard. (Must admitt, JBL can take the "pepsi challange" with many of thier vintage models.) The are American made rock & roll speakers! If you don't understand the importance of a speakers sensitivty, you should read up on the subject. The klipsch Forte's can play loud all the time! Even a modest amp or receiver can drive these powerhouses. Bass is Powerfull, (I do not see the need for a sub. with 2 channel music, however in a home theater a sub. could be a great addition ) mids and high's, detailed. Strings sound like strings, voices sound as they were recorded. The soundstage is not as broad as in some speakers I have owned, however that may have more to do with my placement. I have owned MANY loudspeakers in my past. I will not own many more, these will be handed down to my Son someday, as they will never be sold! Sound is subjective, but everyone that hears my Klipsch, is blown away. They are everything you have read in the other reviews. Stereo Review did a write up on these, years ago. It was a glowing, gushing review from what once was a conservative group. They loved them to. Buy them if you can, the are wonderful!

Strengths:
Build quality and construction that if purchased today, would be BIG $$$$!!!!!! Southern built furniture. Requires nominal wattage. Rock&Roll MACHINES! A truly wonderful speaker.

Weaknesses:
Size does matter. The laws of physics win! They are big. But if you buy a hummer, why would you complain it's to big?

Similar Products Used:
JBL, B&W, KEF, BOSE, ALTEC, JAMO, B&O.

fatglide1

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Visitors rate this review
2.33 of 5, 3.00 votes

Price Paid:  $850.00 from United Audio/Now Twe

Summary:
I have owned my Klipsch Forte II's since late 1993, early '94. My system has the following components: Adcom GTP 500 II Preamp/Tuner Adcom 5500 Amplifier Adcom GCD 600 CD Player Velodyne HGS 15X Subwoofer Prior to the amp listed above the original amp I had when the speakers were purchased was an Adcom GFA 555II. These are the cleanest sounding speakers I have ever set ears on. Capable of the most demanding loads, your ears will give out before you put these speakers to the test. I respect the other reviewer's opinions, however I do not detect any harshness from my non-tube amp. You need a large room for these speakers, my recommendation is nothing less than 700 Sq. feet. Aim them dead on, or straight out, no angling. Also no closer than two feest to a wall. I have enjoyed these life time speakers for over 12 years now, they have not given me any problems what so ever. You can spend more but why?

Strengths:
Clarity, Responsiveness, Monster Sound, & Craftsmanship.

Weaknesses:
Nothing, other than size.