KLIPSCH IS BACK WITH THE CLASSIC FORTE III
Following the shock change of distribution of Klipsch in Australia earlier this year it’s now full steam ahead for the brand via seasoned distributors, QualiFi.
But what better way than to kick the brand off once again down under than with a new, ‘old’ product?
Klipsch are digging deep into their heritage having already reintroduced the famed and iconic Klipschorn and Heresy speakers. Then there was the Cornwall and La Scala speakers with an original release dating back nearly 50 years.
The most recent release tips the hat to 1985 and one of Klipsch’s bestselling speakers of all time, the Forte.
Part of the Klipsch Heritage range, they say that Forte III has benefited from cosmetic upgrades along with the “latest advancements in acoustic engineering,” to soon grace the floors of retail outlets and the rooms of music lovers once again.
A three-way design, Forte uses a 12” woofer, supported by a 15” rear-mounted passive radiator, and a new titanium diaphragm horn loaded midrange driver and tweeter.
The new Tractrix design horns with patented Mumps technology is said to improve the coverage and control of the mid-frequency band, no doubt the result of access to today’s computer modelling not available back in ’85.
The Forte is hand-built in their Hope, Arkansas based factory, and each pair is grain matched using wood veneer available in American walnut, natural cherry, black ash, and a new distressed oak veneer.
There will also be a limited edition available in California black walnut veneer with a Lambswool grill cloth, and a matte black finish with silver luster grill cloth. Only 70 pairs of this edition will be made and each will feature a commemorative back plate hand-signed by the craftsman.
Like the original Forte, Forte III is just 13” deep and Klipsch says they’re suitable for narrow, shallow spaces. They are 16.5” wide and 3 feet tall, with a frequency response rated down to 38Hz and a sensitivity of 99dB. Klipsch says that the maximum SPL is rated at 116dB which is more than enough to get any party started.
Available from October this year, the Standard Edition will sell locally for $8,900 RRP, while the Special Edition will sell for $11,900 RRP pair.
For more information visit the Klipsch brand page.
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Marc Rushton
StereoNET’s Founder and Publisher was born in England and raised on British Hi-Fi before moving to Australia. He developed an early love of music and playing bass guitar before discovering the studio and the other side of the mixing desk. After a few years writing for audio magazines, Marc saw the future in digital publishing and founded the first version of StereoNET, known at the time as Planet Audio, in 1999.
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