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Klipsch Forte Twos


Thos1000

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Hi Guys

 

I own a pair of Forte II. I was wondering how to read and get info out of the sticker on the back.  I found it before but forgot where. Any help would be great. I'm considering selling them soon. I live in Branson MO.

 

Thanks in advance

Tommy

 

It says

 

P/N 09000531111

FII   Oak Oil

S/N 60765

W/O 11938

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Thos1000,

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Hope this helps.

 

KLIPSCH S/N FORMATS

DATESDESCRIPTIONEXAMPLE

1946-1947###001 (ending #021)

1948-1961†####0121 (starting #0121

1962-1983##letter####20Y1234

1984-1989YY WW ####89281234

1990-1997DOY Y2Y1 ####135791234

1998-2000YY WW ####00281234

1962-1983 Letter format

A = 1962  F = 1967  K = 1972  R = 1977  X = 1982

B = 1963  G = 1968  L = 1973  S = 1978  Y = 1983

C = 1964  H = 1969  M = 1974  T = 1979 

D = 1965  I = 1970   N = 1975   U = 1980 

E = 1966  J = 1971   P = 1976  W = 1981 

NOTES

1946-1961 dates can only be found in log book (eng. Library)

DOY = day of the year

YY = year (i.e. 99,00…)

Y2Y1 = 2nd digit of year, 1st digit of year

WW = week of the year

Date code on drivers (1994) Example - 9429 = 1994, 29th week of the year / YYWW

† Klipschorns of this vintage had the s/n hammer stamped into the tailboard, woofer access door or inside 

the woofer chamber.

 

Bill

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why would you want to see such a fine loudspeaker? They can be easily upgraded with titanium horn diaphragms and fresh capacitors in the networks for the cost of a used pair and it would cost you at least 3 - 5K to buy better new speakers. Do some serous modifications to them and put them up onto some quality four post Skylan stands and you could not match them for 10 - 15K. But hey there are always people who want to buy used Forte ll, did you ever wonder why?

Someone will give you the link to the build date data I have forgotten where it is on my old drive I fear. Good luck with the sale. Best regards Moray James.

Edited by moray james
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Well that's great news Moray. I kind of need someone to talk me out of getting rid of them.  I always wanted a pair of Klipsch from when I heard this guys system, a long time ago. They were x air force guys. And they using turn tables that were hung from the ceiling because of the DBs. When I got these, 3 years ago, I just didn't and don't have a good deck to drive them.

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Well that's great news Moray. I kind of need someone to talk me out of getting rid of them.  I always wanted a pair of Klipsch from when I heard this guys system, a long time ago. They were x air force guys. And they using turn tables that were hung from the ceiling because of the DBs. When I got these, 3 years ago, I just didn't and don't have a good deck to drive them.

Forte ll go a good bit lower than a Khorn and they stage and image better. They won't play as loud and they are not as efficient but overall a better loudspeaker. If you wanted to step up a set of solid KLF30 or better yet a set of CF3 or CF4 would be the best but you do need to give them what they need (power wise)to sing. Keep the Forte ll modify them upgrade them keep them as a reference and then experiment with the KLF30 and the CF3/4. You can't go wrong.Lots you can do tho them. Few do so few know. Best regards Moray James.

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  • OK, I'm probably an idiot because I still can't identify these speakers. Here is a picture of the sticker on the back, can someone tell me a little about my speakers

Thanks in advance

Tommy

 

Using this set, you are interested in the S/N:

 

P/N 09000531111

FII   Oak Oil
S/N 60765
W/O 11938
 
F2's were made between years 89-96. You will be using one of these:
 
1984-1989YY WW ####89281234
1990-1997DOY Y2Y1 ####135791234
 
If the speakers were made in 1989, then the first two digits would be 89 using the above chart. This means they must have been made between 1990-1996. Using the second set, you would break down 60765 as (day of year)(second digit of year)(first digit of year).
 
60765
 
6th day of the year would make them 1970's, which does not fall between 90-97
60th day of the year would make them 196's, which also don't fall between 90-97
There are no 607 days in a year, so that also fails.
 
This leads us to possibly use the W/O number as the date code and the S/N as the item specific build code.
 
Using the W/O 11938, again we know they weren't made in 1989.  Using the second set, you would break down 11938 as (day of year)(second digit of year)(first digit of year).
 
1st day would mean they were made in 1991 which fits. But then what does the 38 represent? 
11th day would mean 1939. Fail..
119th day would use all the digits nicely, and would make them built in 1983. Also fail, since that date would have a letter.
 
We are down to parsing the long P/N which I assume is a part number. Using 09000531111 again we know they weren't made in 1989.  Using the second set, you would break down 09000531111 as (day of year)(second digit of year)(first digit of year).
 
09th day would make them 2000. Fail, cause they didn't make F2's after 1996
090th day would make them 2000 also. Fail again...
There are not 900 days in a year.
 
You are very correct in not finding your date of manufacture from the provided schedule.  One thing you know it that those speakers were built somewhere between 1989 and 1996. 
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Forte ll's and from 89-96, probably as close as you can get. :o 

 

My vote would be to keep them, it would take a lot more money to get better sound, they are a really good all around speaker. imo

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