Audio Video News

Klipsch continues to dip into its product archives to resurrect iconic speakers from its storied past. The latest model to get the revival treatment is the Forte, which was introduced in 1985 but has been out of production since 1996. The speaker went on to become one of Klipsch’s best-selling models of all time.

The new Forte III ($1,800 each) joins the Klipsch Heritage series and features updated cosmetics and the “latest advancements in acoustic engineering,” while maintaining the original three-way design and powerful performance that made the Forte popular.

A 12-inch woofer, bolstered by a rear-mounted 15-inch passive radiator, is mated with a new horn-loaded midrange driver and tweeter, both featuring a titanium diaphragm. The midrange horn incorporates a modified Tractrix design with patented Mumps technology, which is said to improve coverage and control of the mid-frequency band.

The Forte III is 3 feet tall, 16.5-inches wide, but only 13 inches deep, making it ideal for space-challenged environments. It’s rated down to 38 Hz with a maximum SPL of 116 dB and boasts a sensitivity of 99 dB (@ 1 watt/1 meter).

Handcrafted in Klipsch’s manufacturing facility in Hope, Arkansas, each pair of Forte III speakers is grain-matched using wood veneer panels harvested from the same timber and move together through the factory as a matched set. Standard finish options include American walnut, natural cherry, black ash, and a new distressed oak veneer.

As part of the re-introduction, Klipsch is memorializing the launch with two limited-edition versions: one finished in exotic California black walnut veneer with custom lambswool grille cloth ($2,300 each) the other a matte-black finish with silver luster grille cloth ($2,000 each). The walnut hardwood, a mixture of native California walnut and English walnut, is harvested along the West Coast and can range from a pale brown to dark chocolate brown, with darker brown streaks, sometimes referred to as “marbled Claro walnut.”

Klipsch is making only 70 pairs of the special-edition Forte III; each model will include a commemorative back plate hand-signed by the craftsman.

For more information, visit Klipsch.com.