Klipsch forte II what league are they in?


Read some good things on the net about these. Fine, but do these play in the same league as the likes of harbeth, proac and reynaud or are they just a really good, middle of the road, fun, plays loud, good bass, economical, musical, party speaker? Are they a serious audiophile speaker by comparison with the others?
catsmeow
There are many professional musicians, including myself, who feel that horn speakers, driven by tube electronics, are the closest thing you can get to the sound of live music. High-end sound does not have to come at a high price. I have a pair of Klipsch Cornwall 2's myself, and have also heard the Belle's and the Klipschorns, which are also great. The smaller ones aren't quite as efficient, and I haven't actually heard them, but I bet they sound almost as good. I would go for it if I were you. By the way, I do like the sound of the ProAc Studio 140's, which is the only one of theirs that I have heard, but I like the horns even better.
I LOVE THE FULL RICH SOUND, BUT THEY ARE A LITTLE ON THE BRITE SIDE,I BELIEVE IT MAY BE THE HORN TYPE MID'S THAT GIVE THEM THAT PIERCING TYPE OF SOUND, ANY IDEA'S THAT MY CHANGE OF LOWER THE TONE. JAZZ
The Klipsch Original Forte, and the Cornwall 2 are amazing speakers.
Especially when the crossover caps are upgraded, and the titanium diapraghms installed from Bob Crites.
I had Klipschorns, found them bright, and coloration from the folded horn ruled them out for me.
NO speaker is perfect, it is all a compromise.
The nice thing about buying a used Klipsch Heritage speaker is they are easy to re sell, if they dont work out.
Just like a used Harley Davidson, buy them right, and you can unload them if your room dont like em.
The titanium diapraghms are easy to install, and only 60 dollars for a pair.
New caps about 50 dollars, plus a little enjoyable time spent restoring them.
The Cornwall 2's are less amp fussy, the original forte's can be a little bright, not hard, just real vivid, they need a dark sounding amp IMHO, like an NAD, or tubes.
There is just "something about" a high efficiency speaker of low distortion.
I've had several of the classic Klipsch loudspeakers over the years -- the classic stuff is good audiophile level. Mind you, NOT any of their newer lines, after the company was sold in 1989 to distant family, Klipsch became "commercial" and mid-fi.

Once when helping a friend move, we stopped his moving truck at my place and hooked up his B & W 801D in my system -- my Klipsch Chorus II were clearly more resolving and more articulate of micro detail. Though the B & W were more dynamic and extended, strings sounded muddied by comparison.

My poor friend was so blown away at how much more "real" the Klipsch sounded (and PO'd considering the price difference), that instead of moving his B & W's into his new house, we traded them to a local HiFi shop for a set of Sound Labs which I then became jealous, but that's another story...
Regarding Learsfool remark: "...There are many professional musicians, including myself, who feel that horn speakers, driven by tube electronics, are the closest thing you can get to the sound of live music...", that says it all. Own Cornwalls & Belles. Looking to upgrade / trade Heresy 1's for Forte II's (hoping to hook-up with a Forte II-owning "downsizer"). Thing about Heritage Klipsch is you're right there in the club (or concert hall, or fourth row center in the audience) when they're paired with good electronics. I use Scott LK 72 (299D / 7591) with the Cornwalls & 222D (7981) with the Belles. Both int. amps were rehabbed by NOS Valves. Both pairs of speakers contain upgraded with Crites mods - crossovers & tweeters. You can get away with a portable CDP with little degredation of SQ & realism. Just saw LCD Soundsystem at Phila. Naval Yard. Known to play loud, but alway uses best PA gear available. Went back home (after my hearing returned two days later) & listened to Mr. Murphy's CD recordings on the Cornwalls. Like being back at the show - a little frieghtening how similar. Will eventually go the Cornscala route, but these'll do for now. To sum up, if you like the dynamics & undistorted volume levels of sound systems found in high-end clubs, you'll like Klipsch Heritage stuff.