Short answer: the GR-Research NX-Treme for open-baffle soundstaging, the Klipsch Forte IV for a heritage three-way. The NX-Treme’s open baffle radiates in all directions for a huge soundstage, but it is very tall and needs an open baffle subwoofer on each side. The Forte IV pairs a 1” titanium tweeter and 1.75” compression driver with a 12” woofer, and the notes say it runs contrary to the classic Klipsch reputation for brightness.
On the GR-Research NX-Treme side: Amazing in terms of soundstage and imaging as the speaker can radiate in all directions and not have internal reflections due to there not. The catch: Very tall and will require GR-Research open baffle subwoofers one on each side.
The case for the Klipsch Forte IV: Three-way heritage design: a 1” titanium tweeter and 1.75” compression driver for the midrange mated to a 12” woofer. Set against that: Contrary to the classic Klipsch reputation for being forward and bright.
Buy the GR-Research NX-Treme. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4162.02 you would save on the Klipsch Forte IV does not close the gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| GR-Research NX-Treme | Klipsch Forte IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9662 per pair for the kit with subs (assembly required) | $5,499.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #1 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #41 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | <20Hz (With GR-Research open baffle subwoofers) | 82Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 85"H x 17"W x 20"D (2159 x 431.8 x 508 mm) (plus a subwoofer on each side) | 36"H x 16.5"W x 13"D (914.4 x 419.1 x 330.2 mm) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| Drivers | Eight 6.5" M165 open baffle woofer, Two 6.5" M165NQ open baffle midrange, GR Neo 3 Magnetic planar open baffle tweeter; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers | 1x 12" (305mm) fiber-composite woofer + 15" passive radiator, 1x 1.75" compression driver midrange on horn, 1x 1" titanium compression tweeter on horn |
| Sensitivity | 94.5dB | 93.8dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner; manufacturer rates 99dB in-room / ~94dB anechoic) |
| Woofer Cabinet | open baffle | passive radiator |
| Weight | (35.3 lbs (16 kg)) | 117.3 lbs (53.2 kg) |
| DIY Kit | Yes | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 3.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 5.72 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How GR-Research NX-Treme compares with other leading options:
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs KEF Blade Two Meta
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs Revel F328Be
- JBL Studio 698 vs GR-Research NX-Treme
Prices on this page were last checked September 23, 2026 at 11:24 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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The Two Speakers In Full
GR-Research NX-Treme: $9662 per pair for the kit with subs (assembly required) Gr-research eBay
Pros: Amazing in terms of soundstage and imaging as the speaker can radiate in all directions and not have internal reflections due to there not being a speaker box. One of the highest sensitivity speakers around. Open baffle mids, highs and bass (using GR-Research Open baffle subs). If you have not heard open baffle bass, you must hear it in person, there’s no going back. Amazing in terms of imaging as the speaker can radiate in all directions and not have internal reflections due to there not being a speaker box. Can easily be driven by tube amps due to the mild impedance. Measured bass extension of <20Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Very tall and will require GR-Research open baffle subwoofers one on each side
Full GR-Research NX-Treme review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | <20Hz (With GR-Research open baffle subwoofers) |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | Yes |
| Dimensions | 85"H x 17"W x 20"D (2159 x 431.8 x 508 mm) (plus a subwoofer on each side) |
| Drivers | Eight 6.5" M165 open baffle woofer, Two 6.5" M165NQ open baffle midrange, GR Neo 3 Magnetic planar open baffle tweeter; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers; Three 12-inch Rythmik Audio servo-controlled subwoofers |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94.5dB |
| Weight | (35.3 lbs (16 kg)) |
| Woofer Cabinet | open baffle |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs KEF Blade Two Meta
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs Revel F328Be
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs JBL Studio 698
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs Revel Concerta2 F35
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs Polk T50
Klipsch Forte IV: $5,499.98 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Three-way heritage design: a 1” titanium tweeter and 1.75” compression driver for the midrange mated to a 12” woofer, plus a 15” passive radiator for extra bass reinforcement. Genuinely resonance-free cabinet, a clear improvement over the notably boomy, resonant Heresy 4 in the same lineup. Surprisingly wide, expansive soundstage that beat both the Heresy 4 and a KEF LS50 Wireless 2 in direct comparison - images occasionally appeared several feet outside the physical speaker location. Deeper bass extension than the Heresy 4 (F3 of 82Hz, about 10Hz lower). Distortion measures well below 1% at 86dB and stays mostly within 1% even at 96dB. Comes as a factory-matched serial-numbered pair, backed by an unusually generous 10-year warranty. Mostly above 4 ohms impedance, so it’s compatible with AVRs, solid-state, or tube amplifiers. More neutral overall than other Klipsch models the reviewer has tested, making it a reasonable pick for listeners who already like the “Klipsch sound” but want something more balanced. Measured bass extension of 82Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 93.8dB.
Cons: 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. A peak around 6kHz reads as sibilant and “painful” when seated exactly on the tweeter axis; sitting a bit above that axis reduces it somewhat. Klipsch’s marketed 99dB sensitivity figure is an in-room rating that assumes 3-6dB of boundary gain - anechoic sensitivity measures closer to 94dB, which the manufacturer does disclose but can still mislead buyers comparing spec sheets. Radiation width isn’t consistent across all frequencies - a noticeable notch around 2-3kHz interrupts otherwise wide dispersion, which can cause a fundamental tone and its harmonics to image in slightly different places in the soundstage. Uses shallow low-pass crossover slopes (despite Klipsch’s steep-crossover marketing, which applies only to the high-pass side), likely contributing to some of the measured dips and possible cone-breakup artifacts. Some compression shows up around the midrange crossover point at very high output (102dB), though likely only audible at extreme volumes. At around $5500/pair, a significant investment, and still needs a subwoofer for material extending below about 50Hz.
Full Klipsch Forte IV review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 36"H x 16.5"W x 13"D (914.4 x 419.1 x 330.2 mm) |
| Drivers | 1x 12" (305mm) fiber-composite woofer + 15" passive radiator, 1x 1.75" compression driver midrange on horn, 1x 1" titanium compression tweeter on horn |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 93.8dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner; manufacturer rates 99dB in-room / ~94dB anechoic) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.78 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.72 |
| Weight | 117.3 lbs (53.2 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Infinity Primus 360
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Polk Audio XT70
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Definitive Technology BP-9020
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Polk Audio XT60
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- Klipsch Forte IV vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Polk Reserve R500
- Klipsch Forte IV vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63
- See all 46 comparisons