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RF3 vs Forte 2

Last post 11-17-2009 8:17 AM by stormin. 21 replies.
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  • 11-03-2009 3:42 PM

    RF3 vs Forte 2

    hi there im a klipsch rf 3 recent owner and wud like to know if i can hv my hands on a forte 2 klipsch ,wud that be an upgrade from the rf3s or not . ill be using my quad 303 pre power amp to power em , n im a music man mostly . plz help out and suggest something quick. thanks in advance
    dr sherry


    RF 3s,
    kenwoods LS 707M
    CELESTION 9 bookshelves
    QUAD 303 power amp, quad 33 pre amp combo
    sony X33ES
    Pioneer DVS 737 , also sony RDR A1
    jvc axz911 integrated amp
    sony ta av 570 prologic
    wires: van den hul
    oelbach interconnects
  • 11-03-2009 7:21 PM In reply to

    • Johnlw7
    • Not Ranked
    • Joined on 12-09-2006
    • Mountain Home,Arkansas
    • Posts 221

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    The Forte 2's will best the Rf3 in my opinion by a good margin.They are one of the most popular Klipsch speakers.i have had 4 pairs.All gone.

  • 11-03-2009 7:51 PM In reply to

    • dtel
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 03-01-2003
    • south mississippi
    • Posts 5,756

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    The forte ll will be better than the RF3 by far, IMO.  I use them for 5.1 HT but there a very good 2 CH speaker.

    "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
    safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,
    Champagne in one hand - strawberries with whipped cream in the other hand, body
    thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!"

  • 11-03-2009 9:17 PM In reply to

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    IMHO, yes, the Forte II (I'm an owner) is going to be a significant step up.  I may have heard the '3s long ago at Klipsch and they are good. There were many demoed for us at a Pilgrimage.

    My guess is that Klipsch went to the RF series to have a product which is stylishly tall and thin -- and reach price points.

    However, in my view, the Forte II must work better because of the greater area of the direct radiator, the big passsive radiator, the large tractrix midrange, and the tweeter.  Those items made it expensive to manufacture and, in comparison, not so thin.

    I'd suggest you find some Forte II, Quartets, or Chorus II.

    Wm McD

     

  • 11-03-2009 11:48 PM In reply to

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    Perhaps the fact that I used to have RF-7s and replaced them with Forte IIs will tell you something.
    -Mark
    --1992 Oak Oil Klipsch forté IIs with Bob Crites (BEC) networks & titanium diaphragms
    ---1994 Medium Oak Klipsch KG 3.5 surrounds
    ----SVS CS-Ultra
    -----Samson S1000 pro amp
    ------Marantz SR7001 THX Select2 receiver
    -------Sony PlayStation 3 (60gig)
    --------Nintendo Wii
    ---------Mitsubishi WD65C9 65" DLP HDTV - 1080p 120Hz
    ----------Klipsch ProMedia 2.0 in the office

  • 11-04-2009 12:44 AM In reply to

    • dtel
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 03-01-2003
    • south mississippi
    • Posts 5,756

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    wuzzzer:
    Perhaps the fact that I used to have RF-7s and replaced them with Forte IIs will tell you something.

     

    And the RF 7 would kill a Rf 3, not that the RF 3 were bad, just not as good IMO. 

    "Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving
    safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways,
    Champagne in one hand - strawberries with whipped cream in the other hand, body
    thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO - What a Ride!"

  • 11-15-2009 8:16 AM In reply to

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    dear william .mc d

    i dont get it , why would a more newer speaker (rf-3) or any of the reference line gear,  be less of a pleasure than the oldier models , which were bulit in times of lesser technology and lower tech machinery in those same  factories owned by the same company ;)  

    and

    why are the so called AV speakers always less pleasing or less  desirable than the older MUSIC dedicated  speakers like heritage series or the legends.

     

     

    dr sherry


    RF 3s,
    kenwoods LS 707M
    CELESTION 9 bookshelves
    QUAD 303 power amp, quad 33 pre amp combo
    sony X33ES
    Pioneer DVS 737 , also sony RDR A1
    jvc axz911 integrated amp
    sony ta av 570 prologic
    wires: van den hul
    oelbach interconnects
  • 11-15-2009 9:20 AM In reply to

    • Bill H.
    • Top 50 Contributor
    • Joined on 09-28-2000
    • Bonita Springs, FL !
    • Posts 6,017

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

     Forte is a 3 way speaker.  Fuller, richer and Much smoother sound.  IMHO

     I truly wish Klipsch could find a way to update this speaker and bring it Back, but I also understand it would not be cost efficient to do this...............

     


  • 11-15-2009 3:10 PM In reply to

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    i listened to a forte 2 coupled with an adcom

    the experience was nothing special

    i came home and had a detailed listen to the same tracks on my bookshelf spkrs

    and  i dreadfully say that the klipsch adcom combo had failed to  impress me

     

    itt felt as though the highs from that super tweeter were restrained and the amp wudnt

    let go the speakers to brighten up on the highs range

    i felt as if there were no tweeters

    Tongue Tied

    dr sherry


    RF 3s,
    kenwoods LS 707M
    CELESTION 9 bookshelves
    QUAD 303 power amp, quad 33 pre amp combo
    sony X33ES
    Pioneer DVS 737 , also sony RDR A1
    jvc axz911 integrated amp
    sony ta av 570 prologic
    wires: van den hul
    oelbach interconnects
  • 11-15-2009 4:39 PM In reply to

    • Romak
    • Not Ranked
    • Joined on 03-21-2008
    • Posts 53

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    My first experience with Forte's was the same, only they were hooked up to Marantz. They sounded flat and lifeless. After all the reading I had done on Forte's/Klipsch, I knew it had to be the amp,  I bought them anyway. After I got them home and hooked up to my Carver's they came to life in a BIG way. I bought a Denon AVR 3805 and they sound great!  I now own 3 pair of Forte's Big Smile



  • 11-15-2009 4:58 PM In reply to

    • willland
    • Top 500 Contributor
    • Joined on 05-13-2007
    • Kissimmee, FL
    • Posts 556

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    Get a modern SS setup to power your RF-3 HT and a vintage Marantz or tubes to power a pair of Forte's for 2 channel. 

    The main reason I think the Heritage/extended Heritage line of speakers sound better for 2 channel is the midrange horn.

    Take a look at my system setups at bottom of page.  Forte's and Quartet's sound awesome with low power vintage or high power seperates.

    Bill

    Family Room(5.1 System)

    Onkyo TX-SR705 Receiver
    B&K Reference 4430 3-Channel Amp(200w)
    Klipsch RF-63(cherry) Fronts
    Klipsch RC-64(cherry) Center
    Klipsch RSX-4 Surrounds
    Klipsch RSW-10d(cherry) Sub
    Onkyo DV-SP1000 Universal Player
    Panasonic DMP-BD30K
    Mitsubishi 57731 DLP
    Dish VIP211k HD
    Monster HDP 2400

    Family Room(2-channel)

    Luxman R-115 receiver
    Denon POA-1500 2-Channel amp(150w)
    Denon DCD-1500 CD Player
    Denon TU-800 Tuner
    Klipsch Quartet's(oak oil/black)
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Spare Bedroom(Vintage 2-Channel System)

    Marantz(1977) 2252b Stereo Receiver---2 channel setup
    HH Scott(1987) DA952 CD Player---2 channel setup
    Klipsch(1985) Forte's(oak oil)---2 channel setup
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Master Bedroom(3.1 System)

    Onkyo HT-R500 Receiver
    Klipsch RVX-42's LCR
    Klipsch RW-10d Sub
    Toshiba HD-A30
    Samsung LN37A550 LCD
    Dish VIP211k HD
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  • 11-15-2009 10:49 PM In reply to

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    quadklipsh:

    i listened to a forte 2 coupled with an adcom

    the experience was nothing special

     

    i dreadfully say that the klipsch adcom combo had failed to  impress me

    Well thats no surprise. There have been many of us preaching that for years. Adcom + Klipsch especially the Forte II/Chorus II is a big fat no no.

     

    Chorus II's
  • 11-16-2009 2:06 AM In reply to

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    hi there willland

    thats a heck of a rack of gear uv got !!! great job man

    can u tell how much the stuff has been costing u

    also plz suggest  prices for chorus and fortes and of quartets equally

    well

    given the small differences in the looks are these extended heritage speakers any different in their

    sounds too?

    and wot differences were made in the mk 2 of each of these

    plz illuminate

     

    dr sherry


    RF 3s,
    kenwoods LS 707M
    CELESTION 9 bookshelves
    QUAD 303 power amp, quad 33 pre amp combo
    sony X33ES
    Pioneer DVS 737 , also sony RDR A1
    jvc axz911 integrated amp
    sony ta av 570 prologic
    wires: van den hul
    oelbach interconnects
  • 11-16-2009 2:16 AM In reply to

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

     

    dear romak

    isnt that a mix between analogue kind speaker and a digital amp

    i mean the 3805 vs the klipsches u hv

    plus who so ever does a denon or a yamaha with the klipsches ,i just feel hes not doin justice,and his sound outcome  wud stay

    amateur

    pls share ur experiences

     

    dr sherry


    RF 3s,
    kenwoods LS 707M
    CELESTION 9 bookshelves
    QUAD 303 power amp, quad 33 pre amp combo
    sony X33ES
    Pioneer DVS 737 , also sony RDR A1
    jvc axz911 integrated amp
    sony ta av 570 prologic
    wires: van den hul
    oelbach interconnects
  • 11-16-2009 11:05 AM In reply to

    • smokarz
    • Not Ranked
    • Joined on 03-13-2009
    • West Hartford, CT
    • Posts 167

    Re: RF3 vs Forte 2

    willland:

    Get a modern SS setup to power your RF-3 HT and a vintage Marantz or tubes to power a pair of Forte's for 2 channel

    The main reason I think the Heritage/extended Heritage line of speakers sound better for 2 channel is the midrange horn.

    Take a look at my system setups at bottom of page.  Forte's and Quartet's sound awesome with low power vintage or high power seperates.

    Bill

     Sorry, don't mean to hijack, but when you say 'vintage marantz', what models specifically? And does that statement also apply to the Cornwalls? thanks

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