mutfish Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Hello, new to forum but have been reading with interest. Anyway I have the opportunity to buy a pair of Forte II and a pair of Epic CF3s, series 3 both in mint condition for similar money. As much as I'd like to have both...one pair will have to do. I've read gleaming reviews of the Forte's but can't find much info on the Epics. Any insight would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironsave Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 Welcom to The Forums! Both sets of speakers are well regarded. The Forte IIs are 3 way, the Epic C3s are 2 way. I believe the Forte IIs would be better balanced and have smoother highs and more pronounced mids. The Epics are good speakers, but the Forte IIs are considered to be some of the best speakers that "do it all" Klipsch has ever made. (Both speakers make good bass). Try to listen to them both on the same day and decide. Good Luck. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyrc Posted September 7, 2010 Share Posted September 7, 2010 I have no info whatsoever on the Epics, but I know that many people love the Forte IIs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmako Posted September 12, 2010 Share Posted September 12, 2010 I have both CF3s and Fortes (not II's). You cannot go wrong with either, but I tend to prefer the CFs. Those jumbo boxes can make huge sound. Find the money and buy both. Everyone needs more than one system, or set them up for HT. Or, whichever pair you don't buy, post them up here and someone will be very happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hamster Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 The EPIC (3) 2 way has got to b, the most renouned speak up until 2011... there is no doubt about it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwphoto Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 The EPIC (3) 2 way has got to b, the most renouned speak up until 2011... there is no doubt about it! Your point? Frank W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jephdood Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 The EPIC (3) 2 way has got to b, the most renouned speak up until 2011... there is no doubt about it! Your point? Frank W. What I got is that the CF3's "renouned-ness" expires in a couple months? I dunno. [] The Forte II's are an EXCELLENT speaker, especially with the Crites tweeter mod. They would get my vote. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fwphoto Posted October 18, 2010 Share Posted October 18, 2010 The EPIC (3) 2 way has got to b, the most renouned speak up until 2011... there is no doubt about it! Your point? Frank W. What I got is that the CF3's "renouned-ness" expires in a couple months? I dunno. The Forte II's are an EXCELLENT speaker, especially with the Crites tweeter mod. They would get my vote. Ha! You might be onto something! I have Crites titanium tweets in my Forte IIs as well. IMO, they ought to be on most anyone's "short list" of speakers to try. Haven't heard Epic CF3s, though, so I won't comment on the "vs." thing. Frank W. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hamster Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 The two ten's in combo with the fourteen inch horn run extremly well at 200 wats continous. Not to mention the CF3s eat the 1000 wats peaks alive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mutfish Posted October 19, 2010 Author Share Posted October 19, 2010 I bought the mint condition Forte' IIs and am very happy with them. Just received the Crites caps and titanium diaphrams for an upgrade. A friend worked at a Florida high end audio store back when..and said the CF3s simply outshined everything else they sold at any price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bonzo Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 The old Epic Series are unique as they were a nearly complete departure from the "Klipsch" sound. Designed by Roy Delgado, the original CF-4's and CF-3's had heavy woofer cones with neodymium magnets. The compession drivers were also a heavy duty pro type unit with aluminum diaphargms and neo magnet structure as well. If memory serves, there are three incarnations of the CF-4 and 3, the original being the most desireable as they retained all the design features Roy put into them. The later models had some cabinet and tuning modifications, lighter woofer cones etc. which strayed from the original design. I believe the only way to easily tell if you have the original version is by the depth of the port tubes. If they are approx. 6" deep, they are the original and possibly the version 2. If the ports are 2 to 2.5", they are the later version. This is not to say the later versions do not sound good, they were just a change from the original which, IMHO, sound awesome! Another thing to consider with the Epics is the availablilty of replacement parts if needed, especially the original woofers. Now the Forte' II's, solid speakers which sound great and replacement parts and upgrades are easy to find, save for maybe the passive radiators. Just my humble $.02. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Black Hamster Posted October 19, 2010 Share Posted October 19, 2010 As far as stature goes the controlled focus epic three series is a landmark to audio history. Von Broun and his rocket propoltion technology though not readily aknowledged I believe is the basic premise of Klipsch noterity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff. Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 Wow. Just spotted this. I kept my CF-3's. And the KLF C7. The Forte ii' s had the ti diaphragms. In my ad I described them as "floorstanding headphones." The CF-3's have everything the Forte ii's have and more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geoff. Posted January 10, 2017 Share Posted January 10, 2017 These I kept. And I have NO regrets about it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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