Technical Differences Between the Forte III and Heresy III
While both speakers are a three-way horn design, the speaker components used in each model are different.
The Heresy uses:
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Tweeter: K-107-TI compression tweeter
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Midrange: K-53-TI compression midrange
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Woofer: K-28-E woofer
The Forte III uses:
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Tweeter: K-100-TI compression tweeter
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Midrange: K-70 compression midrange
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Woofer: K-28I woofer
Klipsch has come up with a brand new horn design for the midrange driver on the Forte III. This new patented driver ups the ante on midrange dispersion. The woofers in both are very similar, however, in the Forte III, it is augmented with a 15” rear firing passive radiator.
Listening Tests
When comparing speakers you have to be careful to make sure you compare at the same volume level. This was very easy with the Heresy III and Forte III as they are both exactly the same. We set them up in one of our audio rooms. We used a Prima Luna Proluge Premium integrated amp, which is a low power, all-tube integrated amp. The source was a trusty Cambridge Audio CD player. Everything was connected up with entry-level Transparent cables. We then set the speakers up asymmetrical on the same wall so they were the same distance apart and toed each pair in slightly. We used a tape measure to ensure they were identical both in distance apart and off the back wall.
We started out our listening low key and moved up from there.
The first CD was from Flim and the BB’s called Tunnel. We used the 4th track, Mermaid. This cut has a piano, a clarinet that is very closely miked, and some percussion. The Heresy III portrayed the piano very well with natural tones and good dynamic impact. When the clarinet came in you could hear the tones of the wood body well. The light percussion sounded realistic and clean. All and all a very enjoyable sound. We then switched to the Forte III and started the track over. We could immediately hear more definition on the piano, plus it sounded much bigger. There were far more harmonics on the Forte III with the clarinet as well and both the piano and clarinet were more out into the room. The light percussion sounded pretty similar between the two and since there is not much deep bass in this particular track we could not tell a big difference there.
Next was Norah Jones, the Come Away with Me album, and the cut Don’t Know Why. This has a very rhythmic, plucking bass line and is a more dynamic track than the first test. Since we were on the Forte III we started there. The plucking of the bass and deep bass definition was just astounding for a $4000/pr speaker. The rhythm of the cut also had us tapping our toes to the music. Norah Jones was dead center and her voice was big, rich and smooth. When we changed to the Heresy III, the difference was pretty big. You could tell they just do not go as low, nor are they as defined in the lower end. Those rich harmonics we heard in the voice were there, but not nearly as easy to hear, but the interesting thing that occurred was we did not feel that engaged with the music like the Forte III. We flipped back to the Forte III just to be sure hearing it twice was not tricking us, but that emotional involvement was right back. We also noticed the whole presentation of the sound felt small on the Heresy compared to the Forte III. We’d have to say this track really showed off the benefit of the 15” rear passive radiator and improved midrange horn on the Forte III along with its taller size which seems to give you a much bigger presentation.
Back on the Forte III, we loaded up the Ingido Girls, Shame on You, from the Shaming of the Sun CD. This track is big, fast-paced, and very dynamic. It can also really get your toes tapping with the right gear. The Forte III’s were just spectacular here. Bass hit us in the chest with the percussion sounding super realistic. This track was just a blast to play on the Forte III. The sound was big and filled up the whole room, even extending outside the speakers. Moving over to the Heresy, we were still satisfied with the presentation of a fun rock cut, but again, less bass, less midrange definition, and not quite a much toe-tapping. Again the soundstage presentation was much smaller.
Our final cut is one that we suspect many people have used to test out classic speakers like these: Whole Lotta Love from Led Zepplin II. We cranked up the volume a bit for this one and let it rip on the Heresy III. This track was a lot of fun on the Heresy III. If we had not been switching between them and the Forte III, we would have probably been very happy, but we had so we could not wait to flip over. When we got the Forte III going we noticed a huge difference in bass impact. If you know this track, about 90 seconds in you get a lot of percussion sounds. These were also clearer and more open on the Forte III. It does have a better horn tweeter and midrange, so no surprise there. The next thing that happens on the track is while the percussion stays rock solid, the guitar and vocal lines move all over the place as they really played around with the mix. When this was happening on the Heresy III, it just sounded like the guitar moved from one speaker to the other, like an old stereo effect. On the Forte III, we felt a much more three-dimensional presentation,with it even sounding like the sound was coming from outside the speakers. The light cymbal work also sounded less strained and more effortless on the Forte III. When the music comes back together at the end, things just sounded amazing. This $4000 speaker was giving us rock n’ roll goosebumps.
