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I have McIntosh for many of the same reasons (my dad gave me a MC240 and MX110 so I also had that going for me). When I became tired of fussing with the MX110 (and I wanted to try something a bit different) I bought a used C41 from Audio Classics, in large part because of the tone controls, loudness, mono, etc. features you can't find on a lot of other gear. The C41 is also one of the last all analog preamps McIntosh made before switching to preamps with digital (dacs etc.) built in. I am an old soul in way that likes engaging in the old ways of music reproduction (if I had a land line, I would have a rotary phone). A big reason I wanted to pair Klipsch speakers with the Mac gear, was because of the legacy/story of Klipsch. I like that Klipsch is made in a small town in Arkansas (I grew up in Kansas and have a kinship for that part of the country). I also like the scientific foundations Klipsch is built upon -- similar to McIntosh. I guess I also like stereo equipment that has heft (in more ways than one). At the end of the day, I view my sound system as toy -- an appliance if you will, to create soundscapes that provide pleasure and entertain. For me, a big part of the pleasure is the history/story and being able to participate in a slice of Americana.

Entering the fray here (maybe foolishly). I think it is prudent to acknowledge the limits of knowing and ability to make definitive casual claims. Making a causal claim (which in my mind is required before saying x is better than y) is exceedingly difficult. Of course, we are entitled to our preferences, but we should be clear the limits of what a preference denotes. The task of saying x is better than y becomes even more difficult when you are on the bleeding age of the state of the art, which for the most part, is where we all live in this hobby/forum. Almost all of academia (both the hard and social sciences) is focused on research design and methodologies that allows the testing/validation of causal claims. I think it is also helpful to remember the study of sound and how it is perceived is called psychoacoustics. The point being, psychology plays such an important role when it comes to human perception. Concepts such as confirmation basis, placebo effect, endowment effect, among others are real and cloud our ability to make casual claims, or in other words, to say a Klipsch Cornwall III does not sound as good as a Klipsch Cornwall IV. To even make that argument, we would have to define and all agree on what does "sound better" even mean. A difficult task indeed. Don't get me wrong, when I can, I plan to upgrade my Forte III speakers to the latest Cornwall and I am sure I will "perceive" a noticeable difference -- but I want to be clear about, I would not be able to make the claim the Cornwall sounds "better" than than the Forte -- only that I prefer it. To say x sounds better than y, again, we would need to define what "better" means and carefully articulate what dimension of "better" we are describing and comparing (I think sometimes what we really mean, x sounds different than y and I prefer that difference). Then we could test those claims by designing and administering an experiment, including conducting a sufficient number of trails that rise to the level of statistical significance (n>30 at least), and then see what the data shows to see if our claims are indeed valid. I am not about that. This is a hobby for me and I listen for pleasure and enjoyment. I do, however, think it is helpful to bring some rationality to the conversation, particularly when making claims of superiority. On the amplifier front, all the above applies. While I will agree you will notice the difference between speakers (room/speaker interaction also plays a huge role which I will not address) one is less likely to notice a difference between amplifiers if they are properly compared using a rigorous and scientific methodology. Why? Almost any modern amplifier (and even a lot of vintage amplifiers) are designed to specifications that beyond the limits of human audibility. Think S/N ratio, distortion %, and other design characteristics. The same holds true for digital audio. As we all know, humans perceive louder as better, and it is important that is accounted for when making comparisons. For example, does a more powerful amplifier allow for greater dynamic range/headroom and the perceived increase in dynamics (louder) is the reason we think amplifier x sounds better than amplifier y? I will note, I have a McIntosh tube amp and solid state preamp. They cost multiples of electronics that are equally technical competent. Why do I have them then? Is it irrational on my part? That would be the case if I truly believed is was purely for sonic reasons and not those of aesthetics, build quality, prestige, and in my case also nostalgia (for the tube amp anyways). All of these reasons also effect my perception of sound, and I probably believe my McIntosh gear does sound better (when in reality, I probably can't tell the difference). The important point though is, they make me happy -- which is beyond the limit of science (at least in my view) and that to me is what really matters. Have I tested this theory? No. Again, not a scientist and I don't enjoy these elements of the hobby (in part because I am not capable of conducting experiments with the necessary rigor to derive beneficial knowledge/wisdom) -- I am in it to enjoy the music. But, I am fully aware of the power of my mind and its ability to influence my perception limiting my ability to make causal claims and/or definitive judgements of superiority (and folks have won noble prizes proving this is in fact the case). To the OP, I doubt you can go wrong either way. At the end of the day, both speakers are likely better than 99% of all other speakers out there. I would spring for the Cornwall IV, but I am sure the Cornwall III is also great. We all have tradeoffs to negotiate and only you can decide what value judgements you will make to help you navigate those tradeoffs. I would also agree, listening is still valuable -- the more high quality information (read first hand) you can gather when weighing a decision is always helpful! Anyways, let's all keep having fun, enjoy the tunes, and when the fancy strikes us -- piss off the neighbors.

I have a Schiit Modi 3+ and I power it with usb into wall wart. I am using it with my Sonos Connect, which is limited to redbook or S/N of 96db. The Modi 3+ has S/N of 110db. I wanted to max out the performance of my Sonos. I am replacing a Linn Numerik dac from the early 1990s that I bought in 2007 before streaming was a big thing. I can tell you it was $100 well spent. If I had to do it again, I would probably have sprung for the Modius so I could connect it to my McIntosh C41 with balanced connects (for fun). When I bought the Modi 3+ I was still running my McIntosh MX110. Have fun!

It sounds like @McBlueMeter does not like Fortes. That's fine, we all have our preferences. It could be one does not like the passive radiator or other design choices/tradeoffs of this particular speaker. You know, it could also be a cognitive basis. Unless you are doing a double blind and level matched test with a significant number of trails -- who the hell knows ones speaker preference. The mind is such a tricky devil. I bet the Forte IV's sound real nice. I have a pair of the Forte III's and with classic McIntosh tube magic -- they sound ok to me. The definitive answer on high fidelity? I don't know. Probably not. Fun? Yes! Some may say they don't measure perfectly, but to me, I really like the dynamics and liveness they present. I can concur (in accordance with @Paducah Home Theater, the Forte III's become extremely music dependent at high volumes, >85DB for me. I find the Forte III's really excel at generally normal listening levels. And with the right recording, sound amazing at all DB levels (up to your neighbors tolerance or your pain threshold -- whichever comes first). They are transparent and shine and excel up to the limit of a piece of music's recording/mastering quality. I tend to think their strengths are with simpler music that shows off how they can get the tone/voice right of a single/few instrument(s) (say less than 4). Acoustic guitar/vocal, small jazz combo, female vocal, all sound amazing. With that said, I listen to a lot of rock, classic rock and indie rock and they handle these genres with aplomb. Another plus with the Forte III's, and I wonder if it is a typical Klipsch trait, is the excitement they can bring to music at moderate to low volumes -- a big plus for my wife. Before I bought my Forte III's I took my dad to the World of McIntosh row home in SoHo (read NYC). There, I heard all the top line McIntosh and Sonos Faber offerings (including the mcintosh xrt2.1k's -- $130,000+). To me, my Forte's in my setup, bring a satisfactory experience. I am glad I can conceptualize and integrate into my sense of being the essence of diminishing marginal returns/utility. My Forte's replaced a pair of Rega R5's. I also listened to the latest version of the Rega's, the RX5s, and I preferred the Forte's. My dad rocks Magneplanar 3.7's and felt the Forte's (while completely different) sounded favorably. Having heard both, I am happy with my choice (obviously, with my gear). I will say, I dream of the Cornwall IV's and when space permits -- I am all in.

Fun anecdote/story. When I lived in Brooklyn/Prospect Heights I would see John from time to time out and about. He has a sweet Cadillac CTS-V wagon that he parked on the street in the neighborhood. I was tempted to leave a note on his car to see if I could get an invite to his factory in the Navy Yard. I found myself with Forte III's -- inspired by the Devore O93/96 design approach. I was wanting to find a nice speaker to pair with my McIntosh MC240/MX110. But I was not prepared to spend $8400+ on speakers (yet) -- hence my foray in to Klispch (I could not be happier).

Agree with the need for some clarification. If we are talking Heritage speakers, I can share my MC240 (bench tested by Audio Classics at 55w at 1% distortion) sound really nice with my Klipsch Forte III's. It can rattle the windows.

Adding a couple pictures of my MX110 and MC240 (both restored by Audio Classics). Sounds nice paired with my Forte III's (not pictured).

I have Forte IIIs and run them with a Audio Classics restored MX110 and MC240. Sounds fantastic! If I was starting over, I would consider the MAC7200 (I love tuners!) as mentioned above. I would also consider the MA252 for simplicity and lower cost. If price where no object, I would go with a new MC275 and McIntosh tube pre-amp. I also second checking out Audio Classics. They are really great and have a lot of used McIntosh gear I would be comfortable buying. Their service team is top notch.

I have a pair of Forte III's in a 12x20 room with an MC240 (bench tested at 55 watts a channel) and MX110. At half volume, I am at 90-95+ decibels. If I play with tone controls/loudness toggle, I am rattling the windows and converting my entire NYC apartment to a giant sub-woofer where you can feel the vibrations throughout the entire 1000 sq ft space. The MC275 will be more than enough power. I love the tube sound with the Forte's and suspect you will also be very happy. Klipsch and McIntosh make a very lovely pairing.

I thought I would report back in. I am still loving the new speakers. I played with the tone controls and loudness toggle on the MX-110 and I am now rattling the windows (and I presume pissing off the neighbors). Indeed, McIntosh and Klipsch make a very lovely pairing.

Thanks for the offer Joe. Cornwalls probably would have fit and would have been fun. But I am very happy with the Forte's. I am by Brooklyn Museum on the edge of Crown Heights/Prospect Heights. If you are ever interested in stopping by and listening to the new Forte's let me know. Someday I would love to hear the Klipschhorns and Cornwalls.

I pushed the speakers back closer to the wall/corners. Who knew Klipsch speakers would sound good positioned that way? That has resolved the bass issue and has brought other benefits. Namely, it has broadened the sound stage to take up the entire space between the speakers (much larger/wider), and has tamed the intensity of the horns compared to before. This has resulted in a more life like presentation on a larger variety of recordings -- instead of the best of the best. Overall, very pleased. I don't think I have ever heard speakers that can make music, particularly voices and acoustic music, (small classical, jazz, and folk ensembles) sound so present. Indeed, I think the key feature I am enjoying the most in the speakers is the dramatic dynamic range -- I like I already mentioned above, and still can't quite get over. It is thrilling to hear and experience swings in the energy/loudness of the music as a song ebbs and flows -- especially at lower listening volumes. For me, to sum up the past few days listening to Klipsch speakers, what they do better than everyone else, is allowing you to be present with the music, can't ask for much more than that.

These arrived today. I have been enjoying the music -- spinning a lot of vinyl and listening to Tidal. Initial impressions. Both my wife and I experienced some fatigue after listening to them after about an hour. But, I chalk that up to having speakers that can peak at 95-100db and delivers both all the positives and negatives (tired ears) of live music. When listening at normal volumes -- 70-80db, they really show off what they are capable of without the ears feeling it. I really love the dynamics and being able to be immersed and wrapped in the artists performance. I can feel my energy respond to the musicians as their intensity level changes throughout the song. I also think the speakers are voiced very well -- on par with Harbeths I have heard (hl5 plus and c7es3). Acoustic music is very nice. I also can confirm recording quality really matters. That was the case with my Rega's too, but the Forte's go to a whole new level with well sorted and mastered records. I am looking forward to seeing how the bass changes over the next few weeks. It is good, but not earth shattering, about on par with my Rega's (which I find a bit surprising). Overall, I am happy with the purchase and look forward to getting to know my new speakers better in the coming days/weeks.

Hi all, I thought I would share I ordered the Forte III in cherry from Cory at Metropolis Lake Outfitters. I will of course share pictures and impressions when they arrive (probably early next week). Thanks so much again for all the advice and welcoming me to the Klipsch community. I am sure the Forte's might be a bit overkill for my Brooklyn apartment -- but hey, go big or go home? I look forward to entertaining my friends and the neighborhood with my musical selections for years to come. Malcolm

Got it. And I guess that's what is hard for me to determine, I listen to a lot of jazz and indie rock, that while they have bass, 50hz is probably enough most of the time. My current speakers do some bass, but are not out of the park, and that's okay with me.

Hi all, I am overwhelmed by everyone's welcome and great suggestions. I am still torn between whether the Hersey or Forte would work better. As a reference point, my current speakers are 89 db efficient, and I think go down to the mid 40hz range in the bass department. My wife would be happier with the Hersey, I suspect. I am intrigued by the Quartets and KG4 options -- they where not previously on my radar. It appears the Quartets might be a good in between option. It seems I could refresh the Quartets with Crites parts? I am fine spending up to $2k on speakers, but I am also I fan of getting equal or better performance for less. Maybe I should consider taking a trek out to New Jersey this long weekend. It seems some good options for me are: Forte (used or new). Pros: bigger sound stage and more bass. Cons: bigger and likely more expensive. Hersey (used or new). Pros: nice size and sound. Cons: light on bass. Quartets (used). Pros: nice bass and a bit bigger sound? Cons: used, need refreshed? Considering I may not be able to listen to my purchase before I buy, either purchasing new with a good return policy or getting a good value used seems to make the most sense. I guess what I am now trying to understand is the trade-off between value and quality based on my listening preference. For sound quality that match my preferences it seems the options rank as follows: Forte III (or II) Quartets (refreshed?) Heresy III with a sub Heresy III without a sub Heresy I or II How would you rank the above list for value? Thanks again for everyone that has commented and provided very helpful advice. Malcolm

Hi There, I have spent the past few days reading old threads and thought I should start my own. I am interested in purchasing a Klipsch Heritage speaker to match with my recently restored (by Audio Classics) McIntosh MC240 and MX110. The balance of my system includes: Rega P5 turntable with PSU and Linn Adikt Cartridge, Linn Numerik DAC, and Rega R5 speakers. My room is 12x18x9 (or 10). I live in a pre-war apartment building in Brooklyn that is solidly constructed with concrete slab and plaster (I barely hear my neighbors). Not the best photo, but attached is a picture from the seat I listen to my stereo. As you can see, I sit 6-7 feet away from the speakers. Behind the couch (not pictured) that I am sitting on is a mini office space/desk/bookshelf on the rear wall/corner -- so I can't really get further away from the speakers. I have a large vinyl record collection that contains a lot of jazz, indie rock, classic rock, folk, and limited hip-hop/rap and that is typically the type of music I listen too. I love live music and catch live jazz or an indie rock show once or twice a month (and have for years). I also stream music via Sonos/Tidal. I think my setup sounds very good but I am intrigued to hear a different sound. A few months ago, I went to the World of McIntosh in SOHO and heard all of their fabulous offerings, I was not particularly blown away by most of the McIntosh or Sonus Faber speakers -- but I was intrigued by the scale and presence of McIntosh's crazy expensive XRT2.1K speakers that produced a soundscape similar to being at Brooklyn Steel/9:30 Club or another live concert venue. Last year I listened to the newest Rega version of my speaker, the RX5, but thought mine sounded better. I have wanted to listen to Devore speakers, since he lives in my neighborhood and his offerings are also very efficient and work well with tubes, but they are likely out of my price range, $8-10k is just to much for me at this stage in my life. I have heard Harbeth's in the past and liked them. My Dad has Magneplanar 3.7's but I don't love them -- I wish they where more dynamic and rhythmic (what I love best about my speakers). I would not consider myself an audiophile so much as I would a music lover that is seeking a transcendental listening experience. In another life, I would love to have an art space/bar with my current setup and some KHorns where I would just vibrate the neighborhood and write art/poetry all day long. Long term, I would also consider building my own speakers from a kit or plans. I can get space at a wood working shop space in the area. I have not heard Klipsch speakers before and I don't know where I can in New York. However, I think I might like them and I believe they would pair well with my current gear. Could you all provide further insight if you think a Klipsch Heritage speaker would be a good match with my preferences? Lastly, which one should I consider? The Heresy would fit best in my space, I think. Although I think I would love more bass, but I am not sure if my neighbors would. I am concerned the Forte or Cornwall would overwhelm my listening room/get me evicted. I look forward to the conversation. Malcolm