Short answer: the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. It ranks #12 of 228 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.6/5, at $5,698. The Klipsch Forte IV ranks #122, rated 4.0/5, at $5,499.98, $198.02 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower is the more accurate, deeper-bass pick. Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 6.97 against 3.78 for the Klipsch Forte IV. Its bass reaches about 38.7Hz before falling 3dB, against 82Hz for the Klipsch Forte IV. The catch: Listening window smoothness measures a moderate 0.40 and on axis deviation runs 0.286dB average, both trailing the tighter figures posted by some smaller passive AsciLab and Ascend bookshelf models.
What the Klipsch Forte IV does well: A heritage horn tower with a huge, wide soundstage, low distortion and a quiet, resonance free cabinet. The catch: Contrary to the classic Klipsch reputation for being forward and bright, this model is actually somewhat recessed in the 1.5-4kHz “presence” region, which can make some tracks sound dull or lacking in detail.
Buy the Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $198.02 saving on the Klipsch Forte IV is not enough to make up the difference.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Highly accurate three way bamboo towers with a ribbon tweeter, deep tight bass and a long warranty.
A heritage horn tower with a huge, wide soundstage, low distortion and a quiet, resonance free cabinet.
Prices on this page were last checked October 31, 2026 at 7:11 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower | Klipsch Forte IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,698 per pair | $5,499.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #12 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #122 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Enclosure | ported | - |
| Drivers | RAAL 70-20xram ribbon tweeter, 6” SEAS Excel Curv midrange (sealed sub-chamber), 2x 6” SEAS Excel aluminum woofers | 1x 12” (305mm) fiber-composite woofer + 15” passive radiator, 1x 1.75” compression driver midrange on horn, 1x 1” titanium compression tweeter on horn |
| Dimensions | 43”H x 7.5”W x 10.5”D (1092 x 190 x 267 mm) | 36”H x 16.5”W x 13”D (914.4 x 419.1 x 330.2 mm) |
| Weight | 56 lbs (25.4 kg) each | 117.3 lbs (53.2 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 87.5dB @ 2.83V/1m anechoic (manufacturer) | 93.8dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer rates 99dB in-room / ~94dB anechoic) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 400W continuous, 600W peak | - |
| Frequency Response | 36-27,000Hz +/-3dB anechoic (manufacturer) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 38.7Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 82Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 28.5Hz (measured, spinorama.org vendor data) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Warranty | 7 years parts and labor | - |
| Country | United States | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 6.97 | 3.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 8.42 | 5.72 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | passive radiator |
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