Short answer: the Klipsch Forte IV for better sound quality, the Polk Audio XT60 for the lower price. The Klipsch Forte IV ranks #35 of 59 floorstanding speakers at $5499.98. The Polk Audio XT60 ranks #36 at $229, $5270.98 cheaper.
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, plus a 15” passive radiator for extra bass reinforcement. Set against that: 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.
What the Polk Audio XT60 gets right: Passive-radiator-loaded design (6.5” woofer plus two 6.5” passive radiators) gives deeper bass than the driver size alone would suggest - 43.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, genuinely competitive extension for a budget tower. Watch for: Bass alignment Q is the highest, least-controlled figure in this entire batch, consistent with owner reports of a slightly loose, boomy low end at higher volumes.
Buy the Klipsch Forte IV if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Polk Audio XT60 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Forte IV | Polk Audio XT60 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,499.98 | $229 |
| Ranked | #35 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #36 of 59 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Sensitivity | 93.8dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer rates 99dB in-room / ~94dB anechoic) | 86dB (1W/1m) |
| 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 | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5" bilaminate polypropylene woofer, 2x 6.5" passive radiators |
| Weight | 117.3 lbs / 53.2 kg | 20 lbs / 9.07 kg (20 lb) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | Passive radiator-loaded |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Dimensions | 36"H x 16.5"W x 13"D (914.4 x 419.1 x 330.2 mm) | 19.05 x 92.5 x 23.09cm (7.5 x 36.4 x 9.09 in) each |
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- Infinity Primus 360 vs SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
- Klipsch Heresy IV vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- PSB Imagine T65 vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Polk T50
- Definitive Technology BP-9020 vs Klipsch Forte IV
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch Forte IV: $5,499.98 Amazon Crutchfield
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.
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 $5,000/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) |
| 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) |
| Weight | 117.3 lbs / 53.2 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator |
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- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Infinity Primus 360
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Definitive Technology BP-9020
- Klipsch Forte IV vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Polk Reserve R500
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Klipsch RP-5000F II
- Klipsch Forte IV vs ELAC DF63
- Klipsch Forte IV vs SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle
- See all 24 comparisons
Polk Audio XT60: $229 Amazon Bhphotovideo Crutchfield
Pros: Passive-radiator-loaded design (6.5” woofer plus two 6.5” passive radiators) gives deeper bass than the driver size alone would suggest - 43.9Hz at -3dB / 38.1Hz at -10dB, genuinely competitive extension for a budget tower. Hi-Res Audio certified, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X compatible, and works with either 4- or 8-ohm amplifier outputs.
Cons: Bass alignment Q (lfq 0.96) is the highest, least-controlled figure in this entire batch, consistent with owner reports of a slightly loose, boomy low end at higher volumes. On-axis deviation (nbd_on_axis 0.512) is also the roughest measured figure in the batch. The vinyl-wrapped (not wood veneer) cabinet reads as budget up close per owner reviews, and at least one owner reported blowing a driver under sustained heavy bass - some caution is warranted with bass-heavy source material at volume.
Full Polk Audio XT60 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.1Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43.9Hz (measured, spinorama.org) |
| Dimensions | 19.05 x 92.5 x 23.09cm (7.5 x 36.4 x 9.09 in) each |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 6.5" bilaminate polypropylene woofer, 2x 6.5" passive radiators |
| Impedance | 4/8-ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (1W/1m) |
| Weight | 20 lbs / 9.07 kg (20 lb) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | Passive radiator-loaded |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Klipsch Heresy IV
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Definitive Technology BP-9020
- Polk Audio XT60 vs KEF Q11 Meta
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Klipsch RP-5000F II
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Polk Reserve R500
- Polk Audio XT60 vs ELAC DF63
- Polk Audio XT60 vs PSB Imagine T65
- Polk Audio XT60 vs Q Acoustics 5040
- See all 15 comparisons