Short answer: the Revel F226Be, if you are buying new. The Revel F206 ranks higher than the Klipsch Forte IV (#29 vs #101 of 188 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Revel F226Be, is rated 4.6/5 at $8,469.90 and is still sold new.
Why pick 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. Watch for: 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.
The Revel F206 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. CEA2034 spinorama shows a pretty even on-axis response. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.51 against 3.78 for the Klipsch Forte IV. Its bass reaches about 60Hz before falling 3dB, against 82Hz for the Klipsch Forte IV. The tradeoff: Some directivity error and a small peak around 4.5kHz show up alongside the directivity error around 3kHz.
Buy the Revel F226Be, the replacement for the discontinued Revel F206; it is rated higher for sound quality than the Klipsch Forte IV.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Forte IV | Revel F206 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,499.98 per pair | $2,000 per pair used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #101 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #29 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 93.8dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer rates 99dB in-room / ~94dB anechoic) | 87dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| 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 | Dual 6.5” (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25” (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1” (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
| Weight | 117.3 lbs (53.2 kg) | 57.3 lbs (26 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | ported, front |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 36”H x 16.5”W x 13”D (914.4 x 419.1 x 330.2 mm) | 40.3”H x 8.4”W x 12.2”D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.78 | 5.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.72 | 7.52 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for Revel F206:
- Revel F206 vs KEF Blade Two Meta
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- Revel F206 vs Revel F226Be
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The Two Speakers In Full
Klipsch Forte IV: $5,499.98 per pair Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Same family: the Klipsch Heresy IV (smaller floorstanding, ranked lower, rated 2.3/5), the Klipsch Cornwall IV (larger floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 2.8/5), the Klipsch La Scala AL6 (larger floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 2.8/5) and the Klipsch Klipschorn AK7 (larger floorstanding, ranked lower, estimated 3/5).
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
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Revel F206: $2,000 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Revel F226Be, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5.
Same family: the Revel M105 (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Revel M106 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.6/5), the Revel F208 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, rated 4.5/5), the Revel Performa3 C205 (smaller center, rated 4.1/5) and the Revel Performa3 C208 (larger center, rated 4/5).
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pretty even on-axis response. Predicted in-room response is excellent, with a smooth downward slope. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±65 degrees is wide, if a bit uneven. Distortion is very nice at 86dB SPL/1m, falling below the frequency range where human hearing is most sensitive, and stays excellent even at 96dB SPL/1m. Near-field measurements of the individual drivers show nice suppression of port and woofer resonances. Really amazing value for the performance. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: Some directivity error and a small peak around 4.5kHz show up alongside the directivity error around 3kHz. Vertical directivity means listening position needs to stay within the tweeter axis, though the reviewer notes there is some leeway. Minimum impedance dips to 3.3 ohms, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Discontinued.
Full Revel F206 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.3”H x 8.4”W x 12.2”D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 6.5” (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25” (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1” (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs (26 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons