Short answer: the Klipsch Forte IV on measured sound quality, the Polk Audio XT70 on price. The Klipsch Forte IV ranks #41 of 71 floorstanding speakers at $5499.98. The Polk Audio XT70 ranks #42 at $319, $5180.98 cheaper.
What the Polk Audio XT70 offers: The flagship tower in Polk’s current Monitor XT lineup, sitting above the XT60 and XT15 in the same series, adding a second 6.5” woofer and dual 8” passive radiators for more low-end output. Rated for both 4 and 8 ohm operation. Watch for: On-axis smoothness (0.274) and listening-window smoothness (0.303) are unremarkable for a tower this size, with a pronounced +0.28dB per octave upward tonal tilt giving it a brighter-leaning balance and a predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.31. Directivity-index standard deviation of 3.33 is unremarkable either way.
What the Klipsch Forte IV offers: 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. 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. 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.
Buy the Polk Audio XT70 when the price outweighs sound quality for you, and the Klipsch Forte IV when sound quality outweighs the price instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio XT70 | Klipsch Forte IV | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $319.00 | $5,499.98 |
| Ranked | #42 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #41 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Enclosure | Ported, critically-braced MDF | - |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 2x 6.5" Dynamic Balance woofers, 2x 8" passive radiators | 1x 12" (305mm) fiber-composite woofer + 15" passive radiator, 1x 1.75" compression driver midrange on horn, 1x 1" titanium compression tweeter on horn |
| Dimensions | 40.4H x 9.25W x 12.5D in | 36"H x 16.5"W x 13"D (914.4 x 419.1 x 330.2 mm) |
| Weight | 35 lbs each | 117.3 lbs / 53.2 kg |
| Sensitivity | 89dB @ 1W/1m | 93.8dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner; manufacturer rates 99dB in-room / ~94dB anechoic) |
| Impedance | 4/8 ohm compatible | 8 ohms |
| Country | China | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 39Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 82Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | passive radiator |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 8, 2026 at 6:02 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
Polk Audio XT70: $319.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: The flagship tower in Polk’s current Monitor XT lineup, sitting above the XT60 and XT15 in the same series, adding a second 6.5” woofer and dual 8” passive radiators for more low-end output. Rated for both 4 and 8 ohm operation.
Cons: On-axis smoothness (0.274) and listening-window smoothness (0.303) are unremarkable for a tower this size, with a pronounced +0.28dB per octave upward tonal tilt giving it a brighter-leaning balance and a predicted in-room smoothness of just 0.31. Directivity-index standard deviation of 3.33 is unremarkable either way.
Full Polk Audio XT70 review and specifications →
| Country | China |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 40.4H x 9.25W x 12.5D in |
| Drivers | 1" Terylene dome tweeter, 2x 6.5" Dynamic Balance woofers, 2x 8" passive radiators |
| Enclosure | Ported, critically-braced MDF |
| Impedance | 4/8 ohm compatible |
| Sensitivity | 89dB @ 1W/1m |
| Weight | 35 lbs each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
Klipsch Forte IV: $5,499.98 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.
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 |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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