Short answer: it depends on which compromise you accept. The SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle is a large curved-baffle tower, with a 1” dome tweeter between two 5.25” midranges above two 8” mid-bass drivers, but a dip followed by a peak around 2-3kHz makes vocals shouty and forward, and toe-out alone does not resolve it. The Klipsch Forte IV’s 12” woofer and 15” passive radiator cut a bigger figure, yet it is recessed around 1.5-4kHz.
Buy the Klipsch Forte IV if sound quality is the priority over the price, or the SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle if the price is the priority over sound quality.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch Forte IV | SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5,499.98 per pair | $2,499.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #42 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #53 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 82Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) |
| Sensitivity | 93.8dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer rates 99dB in-room / ~94dB anechoic) | 88dB |
| 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” diamond-coated tweeter, dual 5.25” midranges, quad 8” woofers |
| Weight | 117.3 lbs (53.2 kg) | 96.8 lbs (43.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | passive radiator | - |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms nominal |
| Dimensions | 36”H x 16.5”W x 13”D (914.4 x 419.1 x 330.2 mm) | 50.2H x 11.8W x 18.1D in |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.78 | 4.91 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.72 | 6.13 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | 3-way passive, dual rear ports |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Klipsch Forte IV compares with other leading options:
- GR-Research NX-Treme vs Klipsch Forte IV
- KEF Blade Two Meta vs Klipsch Forte IV
- Klipsch Forte IV vs MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition
- Klipsch Forte IV vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- Klipsch Forte IV vs Revel F328Be
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The Two Speakers In Full
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 |
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SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle: $2,499.00 per pair Amazon SVS eBay
Pros: Flagship three-way tower with a diamond-coated tweeter, dual midranges and four force-balanced 8-inch woofers. Erin measured exceptional 27Hz extension, broad roughly +/-75-degree horizontal coverage, an 88.1dB sensitivity and a 4.91 preference score even without a subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 41.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: The 5.25-to-8-inch transitions and complex array do not produce class-leading smoothness: 0.184 on-axis, 0.226 predicted in-room and 3.64 directivity-index consistency. At 96.7 pounds each, these are difficult to position, and their Q of 1.25 indicates some bass emphasis. A dip in the upper midrange followed closely by a peak around 2 to 3kHz gives vocals a shouty, forward quality that toe-out alone does not resolve.
Full SVS Ultra Evolution Pinnacle review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner via spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 50.2H x 11.8W x 18.1D in |
| Drivers | 1” diamond-coated tweeter, dual 5.25” midranges, quad 8” woofers |
| Enclosure | 3-way passive, dual rear ports |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 88dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.91 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.13 |
| Weight | 96.8 lbs (43.9 kg) each |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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