Short answer: the Polk T50. It ranks #21 of 25 floorstanding speakers at $249; the Klipsch Forte IV ranks #24 and costs $5499.98, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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. The catch: Contrary to the classic Klipsch reputation for being forward and bright.
What the Polk T50 gets right: Pretty deep bass for the price. The tradeoff: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up.
One note: the Polk T50 is discontinued, but it still ranks #21 of 25 floorstanding speakers, ahead of most of what is still sold new, so it is worth considering used.
Buy the Klipsch Forte IV if the price matters more than the ranking. Buy the Polk T50 if the ranking matters more than the price.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Forte IV | Polk T50 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,499.98 | $249.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #24 of 25 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #21 of 25 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz | 38Hz |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz | 47Hz |
| Sensitivity | 94dB | - |
| 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 | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators |
| Weight | 117.3 lbs / 53.2 kg | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg |
| Impedance | - | 4 ohms |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch Forte IV: $5,499.98 Crutchfield Amazon
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.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz |
| 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 |
| Sensitivity | 94dB |
| Weight | 117.3 lbs / 53.2 kg |
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Polk T50: $249.00 Discontinued Amazon
Pros: Pretty deep bass for the price. Distortion at 86dB SPL/1m is reasonably controlled outside a narrow spike around 250Hz. The reviewer notes performance is “not too bad for a budget speaker” once the two main tonal issues are addressed with EQ.
Cons: 5dB peak at 1khz, 4dB bright top end from 11khz on up. Just okay vertical off axis. Impedance and phase show several resonances between 200Hz-1kHz, with a minimum impedance of 4.2 ohms. Distortion rises substantially at 96dB SPL/1m across the midrange, with repeated peaks between 100Hz-2kHz. Discontinued.
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38Hz |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 47Hz |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5" bi-laminate paper cone woofers, 1x 1" Terylene dome tweeter + 2x 8" passive bass radiators |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Weight | 75.4 lbs / 34.2 kg |
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Product prices and availability were last checked August 9, 2026 at 6:57 AM UTC 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.